History, Institutions, Policies of the EU Flashcards
1
Q
What can be said of European integration?
A
- cooperation vs. integration
- process of integration: transfers of national sovereignty
2
Q
What did the professor say about European integration? (what it looks like)
A
- like a train moving along which started with the Treaty of Paris in 1951
3
Q
What are the institutions of Europe-those in the EU, and not?
A
- European Commission
- EU Parliamentarians
- Council of European Union
- European Council
- Council of Europe not part of the EU supranational
- Eurobank (ECB)
- European Court of Justice
- European Court of auditors
4
Q
What is considered the first step to European Integration?
A
- the establishing of the Council of Europe along with NATO in 1949
5
Q
What were the 3 communities established in the 1950’s?
A
- ECSC in 1951
- EEC 1957
- Euratom
6
Q
What is the timeline of EEC enlargement? (and later EU enlargement)
A
- 1950: France, West Ger, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
- 1973 (first enlargement): Denmark, Ireland, U.K.
- 1981 (2nd enlargement): Greece
- 1986: Spain, Portugal
- 1995: Sweden, Finland, Austria
- 2004: Cyprus, Estonia, Czech Rep., Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Malta, Slovakia
- 2007: Romania, Bulgaria
- 2013: Croatia
7
Q
What are the 2 spectrums of the EU parliament?
A
- left—right
- Pro EU—EU skeptic
8
Q
What can be said of the recent EU parliamentary elections?
A
- a shift to the right
9
Q
What can be said of the timeline of Europe from 1949-1971?
A
- 1949: creation of NATO/Council of Europe
- 1950: Schuman declaration and EU convention on Human Rights
- 1951: Treaty of Paris
- 1955 West Germany joins NATO–Warsaw Pact signed
- 1957: treaties of Rome signed
- 1961: First UK (plus Ireland, and Denmark) application for EEC membership & construction of the Berlin Wall
- 1963: First French Veto of U.K.’s application (De Gaulle)
- 1967: second U.K. (plus Ireland & Denmark) application for membership
- 1968: Customs Union established
- 1971: President Nixon ends U.S. Gold standard
10
Q
What can be said of the timeline for Europe from 1973-1991?
A
- 1973: 1st enlargement of EEC
- 1974: European Council established
- 1975: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) introduced
- 1979: European Monetary System (EMS) ad Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) established; first direct Euro Parliament elections
- 1981: 2nd enlargement
- 1986: 3rd enlargement–Single European Act signed
- 1989: declaration of end of Cold War (Malta Summit)
- 1990: reunification of Germany
- 1991: dissolution of Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics (USSR) and Warsaw Pact
11
Q
What took place between 1991-1995? (in relation to European integration)
A
- the Balkan wars
12
Q
What took place between 1992–2013 in relation to Europe?
A
- 1992: Treaty of Maastricht signed
- 1995: 4th Enlargement
- 1996: Russian Federation joins Council of Europe
- 1997: Treaty of Amsterdam signed
- 1998-1999: Kosovo War
- 2001: Treaty of Nice signed
- 2002: the Euro introduced
- 2004: 5th enlargement of EU; and constitutional treaty signed
- 2005: “No votes” in France and Netherlands
- 2007: 5th pt. 2 enlargement, Treaty of Lisbon signed
- 2009-2011: EU wide recession; sovereign debt crisis
- 2013: Croatia joins EU (sixth enlargement)
13
Q
What can be said of the timeline in Europe from 2014-to the present day?
A
- 2014: Russia annexes Crimea and Donbas region
- 2016: Brexit referendum, election of Donald Trump in the U.S.
- 2017: Le Pen comes second in French Presidential election (a shift to the right)
- 2017-2018: Article 7 procedure launched against Poland and Hungary
– infringement of key provisions in rule of law - 2018: Cinque Stelle/Lega coalition in Italy
- 2019: European Parliament (EP) elections a victory for Front National, Lega, Brexit Party
- 2020: the U.K. leaves the EU, COVID-19 crisis, Next Gen EU
- 2022: Le Pen comes second at French Pres election, RN wins 89 Parliamentary seats, election of Fratelli d’Italia
- 2024: shift to far right in EP elections
14
Q
What comprises the “EU constitution”?
A
- Treaty of Rome
- Maastricht treaty
15
Q
What are the sources of EU law?
A
- Primary Law: treaties negotiated and agreed by member states–all member states ratify and agree on treaties
- Secondary law: legal acts passed by EU institutions
–directives-legally binding - Case Law: judgements of European Court of Justice and general court
– jurisprudence, precedence
16
Q
What is true of EU law?
A
- it takes precedence over domestic law of the member states
- EU law now covers individuals, businesses
17
Q
What are areas of expenditure in the EU?
A
- total budget 2021-2027: (MFF and NGEU)
- 1.824 trillion Euros
- MFF (Multiannual Financial framework)
- 1.074 trillion Euros
- direct member state contributions, member states contributions via VAT, customs duties
- NGEU (next gen EU)
- 750 billion euros
- NGEU temporary recovery mechanism financed through borrowing by the commission
- 750 billion euros
- the MFF is ~1% of EU GDP
18
Q
What is the European Council?
A
- a supranational organization, made up of 27 heads of state from European member states
- “captain of the ship”
- under treaties meet 2 times every 6 months
- elects someone who is the president of the European Council
- have NO direct role in proposing legislation
19
Q
What is the Council of the EU?
A
- ministers, ordinary legislature procedure–qualified majority voting, 55% of ministers must represent 65% of the EU
20
Q
What is true about the European Commission?
A
- members nominated by member states, and confirmed/voted by parliament
- 1 commissioner per member state
- supports smaller states
- parliament votes for leaders of the commission
21
Q
What are the roles of the European Commission?
A
- propose legislation
- enforce EU law with Court of Justice overseeing
22
Q
What is true about the European Parliament?
A
- 720 MEP’s
- sitting by ideologies (political parties)
- more populous member states have more MEP’s
- made up of 24 committees
- legislative role have say over legislative budget
- elect a Parliament President
- decides bills/times each bill gets
- democratic oversight
- looks over other bodies
23
Q
What is true about the EU single/common market?
A
- internal market: area of free movement of goods, services, capital and persons including workers
- established to boost member states’ economies and strengthen member states in the face of international cooperation
- established by lowering/removing barriers to movement (physical, technical, fiscal), and introduction of policies to even the playing field
24
Q
What are examples of fiscal barriers brought down in the new common market?
A
- taxes, sales taxes
25
What can be said about businesses and barriers remaining to the movement of goods, etc.?
- some barriers remain in the movement of goods, etc.
- however for the case of Renault they were able to move some of their car plants from France to Slovakia due to cheaper costs potentially
26
How can some member states be more competitive towards others?
- there exist different economic situations, levels of employment, etc.
- regulation, taxes, public services also
27
What can be said about the Monetary Union?
- single monetary policy exists--one interest rate for all member states, inflation target of ~2%
- single monetary authority (ECB)
- single currency: Euro
- economic policy coordination: Eurogroup and EcoFin council
- 1 interest rate exists for all member states in the Eurozone
28
What can be said about the U.S. and Europe economically speaking?
- the EU is more uneven economically than the U.S.
29
Since the sovereign debt crisis, what can be said about the economic union?
- the balanced budget rule to be enshrined in national legislation
- monetary system to present draft budget to commission each year
- creation of European stability mechanism
---- in a way a European IMF
30
What other measures have been put in place since the debt crisis in 2010?
- one member state cannot take on the debt of other member states
- new stricter rates introduced to make sure member states would follow the convergence criteria after joining
- the commission has oversight over member states budgets to make sure debt to GDP is around 60%
- the better a states credit rating, the lower in interest rate states will get when borrowing
31
What can be said about regional cohesion policy of the EU?
- EU's main investment policy -- strengthen economic, social and critical cohesion
- aims to boost economic growth, jobs, improve quality of life
- structural and investment funds used--to maximize transport networks and energy supply
- facilitate access to employment and education
- support small and medium size businesses
- support research and innovation
- investment in environmental policy
32
What can be said about the structural and investment fund of the EU?
- European regional development fund
- European social fund
- Cohesion fund
- European agricultural fund for Rural development
- European maritime and fisheries fund
33
What is true about the structural and investment fund (not its uses)?
- used only in member states where GDP is 20% less than the EU average
- it has leveled out the playing field among member states
34
What can be said of enlargement in the EU?
- it acts as a part of foreign policy
-- exert foreign policy in its neighborhood
-- for others to become more like the EU
- desirability of EU membership
-- membership hasn't been as desirable in recent years
35
What are the impact of enlargement on the EU?
- more members in parliament
- clogs up institutions (slows the EU down)
- especially if big member states join--could shift the EU geographically
- ex: 2004 enlargement shifted the center of the EU to Eastern Europe
- France wants to restrict EU enlargement to keep itself more in charge
36
When enlarging what could be said of the U.K. and its role in the EU?
- after coming into the EU, the balance in Europe was shifted to the U.K. from France
- the U.K. brought the Commonwealth, and its special relationship with the U.S. to the table
37
When enlarging what could be said about Ireland and its role in the EU?
- Ireland wanted more regional development for rural and poorer areas
- as well they wanted rules for the budget discussions
38
When enlarging what could be said about Greece and its role in the EU?
- 7 years after a military junta ended, difficult economic state, so wanted to consolidate Democratic reforms over the past 7 years
39
What could be said about Spain when being allowed into the EU?
- Spain had been democratizing since 1975, but had been isolated on the international stage
40
What did the Copenhagen summit do in 1993?
- established the Copenhagen criteria
- criteria for joining the EU (enlargement)
41
What did the Thessaloniki summit do in 2003?
- acknowledged the European perspective for Western Balkan partners
- promised membership to Western Balkans if they followed Copenhagen Criteria
42
What are the political criteria of the Copenhagen criteria?
- stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy
- rule of law
- respect for Human rights
- respect for and protection of minorities
43
What are the Economic criteria of the Copenhagen criteria?
- existence of a functioning market economy
- capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union
- can't enforce quotas or tariffs
- administrative criteria: acquis commentaire
-- ability to adapt EU laws into national laws
44
What can be said about the membership process for membership in the EU?
- application by prospective member state-fulfillment of political and economic criteria
- commission opinion
- reports published in autumn on candidates progress
-- then green light from the commission comes first
- unanimous decision of the European Council to begin negotiations
- negotiation of chapters
- free movement of goods, etc.
- 32 or 33 chapters to get through
- each chapter to be negotiated by.a unanimous vote
- negotiations led by Council Presidency and Commission
- accession treaty: adoption by Council, Commission, and European Parliament
- ratification by all member states' parliaments
45
What is true about the membership process into the EU?
- it can last decades especially in this age (21st century)
46
What is the financial assistance for the membership process?
- instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA)
- beneficiaries=candidates and potential candidates
5 thematic windows:
- rule of law, fundamental rights, and democracy
- good governance, EU acquisitions, good neighborly relations
- green agency and sustainability connectivity
- competitiveness and inclusive growth
- territorial and cross-border cooperation
47
What are policies exclusively handled by the EU and not by the member states?
- Customs union and Common commercial policy
- competition rates
- monetary policy
48
What are policies shared between the EU and member states?
- internal market
- economic, social, and territorial cohesion
- agriculture and fisheries
- environment, energy
- freedom, security, and justice
49
What are policies that are coordinated between the EU and member states?
- human health
- culture
- tourism
- education, youth, and sport
- common foreign and security policy
- not legally binding--intergovernmental approach
50
What is true about trade deals and their relations to the EU?
- all trade deals are done at the EU level (supranational) no treats can be done at the national level (led by member states)
51
What are some facts about the European Council?
- set up by Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union
- heads of state/government meetings are "summits"
- a permanent President created in 2007
- someone who isn't a head of state
- elected by QMV of MS serve a 2.5-5 year term
52
What are the roles of the President of the European Council?
- chair meetings, ensure continuity, facilitate consensus, cooperate with Commission President
53
What can be said about the meetings of the European Council?
- it meets 2 times every 6 months
- seen as a form of elite socialization" leaders meet multiple times a year
- alliances begin to form--cooperation can be affective
- when parties are in power they tend to be less skeptic--in opposition tend to be more skeptic
54
What can be said about the Council of the European Union?
- "little brother of the European Council"
- brings together Government ministers
- meets in 10 different thematic configurations
- foreign ministers (2 times a week)
- finance ministers (some thematic config.)
- education ministers (some thematic config.)
- energy ministers (some thematic config.)
-- the council of the EU meets 100 times a year in Brussels
- Shares legislative power with Parliamentary members
55
What can be said about the Treaty of Lisbon?
- rotation Trio (3 states work together somewhat for an 18 month period
- come up with a common agenda
56
What are the roles of the Council of the EU?
- 2 different bodies pass legislation
- council of the EU shares with EU parliament
- shares budgetary power with Parliament
- 7 year budget (7 different headings)
- each year is annualized
- parliament authorizes
- it represents the EU on the World stage
- high representative for Foreign Affairs and security policy also a member of the council
- also the Vice President of the European Commission
57
What are the top 5 parties of the European Council?
1) EPP (European Peoples Party
2) Socialists and Democrats
3) Renew/ALDE
4) ECR
5) Other
58
What did the Treaty of Paris do?
- 1951
- Created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
- free trade in coal and steel, had a high authority
59
What did the Treaty of Rome do?
- 1957
- Created the European Economic Community, Euratom,
60
What did the Merger Treaty do?
- 1965
- merged the 3 high authorities already created into one
- ECSC
- Euratom
- EEC
61
What did the Single European Act do?
- signed in 1986
- complete single market
- QMV, strengthen EP (cooperation, assent)
- new policy domains (R&D, Social Policy, environment...)
- like a double sided Vinyl
62
What is Qualified Majority Voting (QMV)?
- 2/3 votes needed
63
What did the Treaty on European Union (or Maastricht) do?
- 1992
- created economic and political union (EMU, CFSP, JHA)
- EU citizenship
- further QMV, strengthen EP (co-decision), committee of the regions
64
What did the Treaty of Amsterdam do?
- 1997
- furthered QMV and Co-decision, HR CFSP
65
What did the Treaty of Nice do?
- 2001
- Prepared for EU enlargement, (seats, voting)
- further QMV and co-decision, modified composition of Commission (1 Commissioner per Member state)
66
When did European integration peak?
- 1991
- EU skeptic parties started to gain popularity
67
What did the Treaty of Lisbon do?
- 2007
- consolidated treaties of the European Union
- treaty on European Union
- treaty on the functioning of the EU
- legal personality--EU gave ability to sign Intl treaties
- greater unity, (President of the European Council, HR, FASP & EEAS)
- further QMV and co-decisions ordinary legislative procedure
- citizens initiative
- procedure to leave the EU
68
What was the context of the Treaty of Lisbon?
- 2004 member states signed and began ratifying the constitutional treaty act, but had failed referendums in France and the Netherlands
69
What is the EEAS?
- European External Action Service
- diplomatic service
- can guide member states to pursue a more European foreign policy
- hope with this: member states don't contradict EU positions
- passing legislation--pass legislation together
70
What is the Citizens initiative?
- allow citizens of member states to propose legislation
- need 1 million signatures collected within 1 year
- from 25% of member states
71
What is the Article in which a member state invokes to leave?
- Article 50
72
What are some trends that can be seen in each of the revisions to the treaties?
- at first wanted to create closer ties b/w EU countries
- but over times saw more skepticism over EU policies/institutions and closer ties, especially with Brexit
- as closer economic ties came, states began to give sovereignty away to EU level--more Euroskepticism came
- an increased scope of policies
- a balance b/w intergovernmental and supranational bring people closer to institutions
- euro citizenship
- ongoing effort to increase EU representatives on world stage
73
What can be said about the current makeup of the EU parliament?
- Group of European People's Party (largest)
- 187 seats
- Germanys CDU
- Civic platform
- Partido Popular
- Les Republicans
- Forza Italia
- Group of Progressive Alliance for Socialists & Democrats
-136 seats
- Partito Democratico
- Partido Socialista
- Social Democrat Party
- Parti Socialiste
- Patriots for Europe Group
- 86 seats
- Rassemblement National
- Lega
- Fridesz
- Austrian Freedom party
- Vox
- European Conservatives and Reformists group
- 78 seats
- Fratelli d'Italia
- Law & Justice
- Renew Europe (alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe)
- 77 seats
- Renaissance
- Horizons
- Movement Democrate
- Free Democrats
- VVD
- Group of Greens/Europeans Free Alliance
- 53 seats
- Die Grünen
- Les ecologists
- The Left
- 46 seats
- 5 Stelle
- La France Insomise
- Die Laike
- Europe of Sovereign Nations
- 25 seats
- AFD
- Confederation
- Non-attached
- Sakra Wagenkmenkht alliance
- Se acabo la fiesta
74
Who is the current president of the European Parliament?
- Roberta Metsola (2022)
- Malta, Centre-right/EP
- second term (2024-2026)
- 14 vice presidents
- 20 specialized standing committees (25-90 full members)
75
What can be said about the European Court of Justice?
- Created from Article 19 of the Treaty of European Union
- comprised of 2 courts:
- Court of Justice
- General court
- the general court assists the Court of Justice for similar cases already ruled on
- ECJ: 1 judge per member state
- GC: 2 judges per member state
- judges serve 1 6 year term
76
What are the roles of the ECJ?
- ensure correct interpretation and application of EU law
- determine whether actions of the EU institutions and member states are in conformity
- failure to act, failure to fulfill and obligation, action for annulment
- the European Court of Justice is an Appeals Court**
- provides national courts with interpretations of EU law
- preliminary rulings
77
Who can bring a case before the ECJ?
- any legal person can bring a case against a state, an organization
- can argue against a state, or anyone can bring cases against EU institutions
78
How do the different institutions interact together?
- The European Council gives big ideas that the EU should pursue to the European Commission
- The European Commission then proposes budget, and initiates laws with the Council of the EU
- The Council of the EU alongside the Parliament vote/decide on the budget, and laws
- The European Parliament chooses and votes for Commissioners, and President of the Commission
79
What is the legislative procedure in the EU?
- use of co-decision procedure involves the Council of the EU, and European Parliament (EP)
- usually qualified majority voting used in Council of the EU
- up to 3 readings by Council of EU and EP--both must approve legislation
- conciliation committee small group from parliament, and the council come together to discuss
80
What is the implementation and enforcement procedure of laws in the EU?
- implementation is generally ensured at the member state level
- governments, sub-national authorities...
- as "guardian of the treaties" commission ensures implementation
- ultimately commission can bring case to European Court of Justice (ECJ)
- if one fails to fulfill their obligation the ECJ can fire member states
