How the institution was formed+works+theories Flashcards
Why was Europe united?
First the league of nations was formed to spark peace and conversation (before ww2) but after ww2, proper economic cooperation was established (can’t trust the ms: Neofunctionalism) (coal and steel union) - also left winged parties were rising in popularity: wanted to prevent by rebuilding economy with collaboration
Why was CEEC (now OEEC: Organization for european economic cooperation) set up?
To distribute the aid from the Marshall plan evenly
Why coal and steel for the ECSC (European coal and steel community)
Because coal was the no 1. energy source, and steel was to make weapons. Therefore there was a need for overseeing these industries, in order to insure end of conflicts
Why was the EUF formed? (European union of federalists)
A movement of federalism spread between resistance fighters in ww2. Leading figure was italian Spinelli (because he wrote a manifest). it was formed in 1946. the idea was to break down national states and unite europe (an end to nationalism and wars). EUF founded the Council of Europe, which formed the ECSC
Who was Monnet and why was he central in the foundation of ECSC?
Monnet was a french technocrat who was the head of Economic planning commission. He wanted coal and steel to only be the beginning (spill-over) and wanted a common market and supranational agency. No federalism just collaboration
Intergration theory: Neofunctionalism (school, actors, role of states, key-points, blind spots, central quote)
Liberal school, non-state actors, states are dangerous (nationalism=war), spill-over effect, transnationalism, blind spot: why EU countries step out of EU, critic of spill-over: Therefore spill-back, spill-around. Central quote: Always more
Intergration theory: Liberal intergovernmentalism (school, actors, role of states, key-points, blind spots, central quote)
School: Realism, states as actors (but also domestic non-state actors), role of states: states are rational, key-points: economic balance is key and intetgovernmental bargaining: most powerful wins. Blind spots: The creation of the key points as foul, central quote: The EU ain’t broke
Governance theory: Multi-level governance (actors, role of states, key-points, blind spots, central quote)
Changing actors (both public and private), role of states: Non-hierarchical decision making - they are all equal. EU is a complicated system: Ever negotiating, bargaining and exchange of ideas. blind spots: some actors have more official power (states). Perhaps, more a concept than a theory
Governance theory: new institutionalism
Examines the contrast between the logic of consequences and the logic of appropriateness (norm-driven changes).
Institutions matter in the EU context because they are biased and shape political action!
‘New’ because both formal as well as informal matters: Formal institutions (Governments, parliaments, courts) and informal institutions (rules and norms, institutional culture).
Three different kinds; each different assumptions and understandings of institutions
Rational: Rules
Historical: Time
Sociological: Culture
Rational choice institutionalism (New institutionalism)
Formal rules matter. The rules constrain actors, and therefore to understand the action of actors u must understand the rules within that institution.
Ex in policy areas, supranational: interest groups are likely to turn to the Commission, because it has the key powers in negotiating with other states
Ex in policy areas where unanimity applies: The actors lobby at national level, where they are most likely to get the desired results
Historical institutionalism (New institutionalism) - general + path dependence + informal/formal
Time matters to policy and institutional evolution. Political relations have to be viewed over time, because their preferences might change. PATH DEPENDENCE: once a decision is made, the policy is more likely to develop in a certain direction. Decisions are made according to perceptions and within constraints that are structured by already existing institutional relationships.
Values and behavioural norms are important
Sociological institutionalism (New institutionalism) - general + norm entrepreneur + formal/informal
Culture and social context matters. It is the relations within the institutions that shape political outcomes. The most informal emphasis of the three. There’s a deeper relation between institutions and actors because it involves identity. Norm entrepreneur: An individual who seeks to change social norms within the institution. Though, still believes that formal structures shape, because the institutions create a frame for the human action
What is Europeanization?
Europeanization refers to the mutual influence of the European Union (EU) and its member states, to interactions within and between member states driven by the EU, and to the effect of the EU on EU applicant states
Europeanization: Key mechanism, Downloading: top-down. What, good fit vs bad fit
The EU policies laws and norms are implemented by MS.
Good fit between EU policies and domestic systems= smooth
Poor fit=stronger pressures to reform (can be politically sensitive or logistically difficult)
Europeanization: Key mechanism, Uploading: bottom-down: what, how
Member States influence EU-level policymaking by “uploading” their domestic preferences into EU regulations.
Lobbyism: National governments and interest groups lobby EU institutions, particularly during the drafting of legislation, to shape policies in ways that align with their interests.
Europeanization: Key mechanism, crossloading: horizontal process: what, how, significance
Crossloading: the exchange of policies and practices between Member States (facilitated by the EU)
How: Through formal programs, or informal emulation approaches to policy challenges is shared
Significance: Crossloading helps harmonize practices across the EU (fosters mutual learning)
Different uses of Europeanization:
Top-Down Impact, EU Governance Development, Two-Way Interaction, External Boundaries and Neighborhood, ‘Smokescreen’ Justification
The ways different scholars have used the term Europeanization.
Top-Down Impact: Effects of EU membership on domestic policies, institutions
EU Governance Development: Growth in EU competences and its role as a political reference point
Two-Way Interaction: The interaction between national and EU-level processes, where domestic actors shape and adapt EU initiatives
External Boundaries and Neighborhood: Europeanization extends to non-EU states through enlargement policies and partnerships like the European Neighborhood Policy
‘Smokescreen’ Justification: Domestic actors using EU requirements to legitimize internal political choices
Generations of research: How has the theories/terms to explain the EU changed?
First generation: Focused on formal structures, top-down approaches, an assumed misfit between European and domestic levels, expected increasig cross-national convergence
Second-generation studies: Broadened the focus to less formal subjects such as ideas, discources, identities (ex NI and constructivism), more complex (Top-down, bottom-up, horizontal)
What is Constructivism?
Explores how norms, values, and identities are shaped and reshaped by the Europeanization process.
Reality is a product of human interaction and agreement
Actors do not act purely on self interest, but also through values etc.
Norm-entrepreneurs
Eurosceptism (hard and soft definitions)
Hard: Opposition to the project in itself. Power shouldn’t be held by supranational insitutions
Soft: Opposition to the current direction of the EU
what is the Critique of Europeanization
Is domestic changes directly from the EU or from other influences/factors? Opposition to European integration: Brexit, eurosceptism ex.
what is the Connections between Europeanization and competition policy (downloading, uploading, crossloading, enlargement+external europeanization) - why this connection matters
Competition policy is a central element in EU’s governance system, and Europeanization describes ‘downloading’ where EU rules are adapted domestically - top-down pressure.
But also ‘uploading’ national preferences has influenced competition policy: Ex. Germany’s strong tradition of anti-cartel laws influenced EU cartel regulations
Crossloading: MS learn from other’s implementation of EU rules, National competition authorities exchange expertise, often facilitated by the European Competition Network (ECN)
because of enlargement the new MS reformed their state aid systems and established competition authorities.
Global influence: EU competition laws influence non-EU countries through trade agreements and partnerships
Why it matters: Europeanization explains how competition policy has become a cornerstone of the the EU’s efforts to make a single market
what is European Competition Network (ECN)
The European commission and the national competition authorities cooperate with each other through European Competition Network.
Specifically to avoid cross-border practises that restrict competition
treaty of lisbon, when and what
2007 - The treaty that has shaped the EU we live in today
‘treaty of the parliaments’
Internationally:
reform the other treaties, reinforce the possibilities for the EU to react externally
Climate:
Focus on climate change, and identified environmental issues as a shared competence
Democracy aspects:
The broad principles governing the EU, such as its commitment to democracy
QMV is extended
The general role of the institutions
Topic of enlargement:
The principles governing who may apply to join the EU
A formal procedure on how to leave the EU
what is TEU (+what differs it from TFEU)
treaty of the european union.
what is TFEU (in depth)
treaty on the functioning of the european union
has a role of functioning the internal policies, economy and political intiatives.
This being; Single market, EMU, Agriculture, Environment and Climate, Freedom, security and justice, and Trade and development.
Do not mix up:
* The Council of Europe (formerly “Council of Ministers”)
* The European Council
What is the difference?
Council of Europe (NOT part of the EU) Is a multinational organization
Be sure to use the names correctly, otherwise it will be seen as a mistake/flaw.
What is the 5 major insitutions?
- European Council (EUCO)
- Council (CM)
- European Commission (EC)
- European Parliament (EP)
- Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
QMV (Qualified Majority Voting) - what it takes to get QMV
55% of MS + min. 65% of population
THOUGH min. 4 MS must vote ‘yes’, even though 3 MS represent more than 65% of the population
A vote can only take place if a majority of MS is present (at least 14 MS)
The European Commission - function (represents, what they do)
Represents the interests of the union (in contrary the council represents the MS)
Public face of the union (represents internationally)
- Guarding the treaties, enforcing the legislations of the EU
- Main initiator of legislation (suggestions by EUCO…)
- Drafts and executes annual budget
- Coordinating, executing and managing functions
- Represents EU in international
The Commission (in terms of the European Commission) years in office, members. who is president designated by?
5 years in office
27 members - 1 per member state
- including president, commissioners, high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy
President is designated by the Council
Role of European Council (EUCO)
Members, president, function
Since treaty of lisbon: a formal institution
All of the head of states gathered (ex. Emmanuel Macron, Mette Frederiksen)
The most powerful institution of EU
They meet 4 times a year (decides mostly by consensus)
Discusses EU’s further development
- Defines general political directions & priorities
President: Elected by EUCO members (QMV): 2,5 years - renewable once (full-time job) (right now Portugal)
- Presents the report to the EP after EUCO meeting
- when tension between MS - president is broker
NO legislative power
- They define the policies and not the laws
The Council of the EU (the council of ministers) (CM) - members, function, voting)
(Has had different names throughout history)
Represents the interests of the member States
- the members are the ministers from MS
-exercises legislative power with EP
- adopt the EU budget
The president of the council changes every 6 months: 2. half of 2025: Denmark
- otherwise no hierarchy
Voting procedure:
- QMV
- Unanimity (enstemmighed) on important matters
- Simple majority (procedural and adminstrative issues)
what is High Representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy?
Appointed by Council but part of the Commission
One of the vice presidents of the Commission
Presides the Foreign Affairs Council -> generally has responsibility for the foreign and security issues of EU
What is European Parliament? (EP)
Represents, MEP, political groups)
Does all ms have the same amount of MEP?
Represents the EU citizens
- Since 1979 elected by EU citizens
1 president
720 MEP (incl. president)
- according to MS. Ex. larger countries has less MEP pr. capita, whereas smaller countries have more (similar to US voting system)
8 political groups
Functions of the EP
Exercises legislative and budgetary functions
Co-legislative with the Council, but has a say over them
Approves the EU budget
Role of the National Parliaments
Meet at conference:
Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs (COSAC)
The overall objective is always to bring together the right people, on the right topic, at the right time
Can object if subsidiarity principle not respected
The court of justice of the european union (members, role: EU, national level, international level)
1 judge pr MS
Less visible than the other institutions, but major role in construction of the EU
Role: ensure that EU law is complied with, and that the Treaties are correctly interpreted and applied.
As well as make sure that the law is treated the same in every member state
Another main function: to settle dispute between two EU institutions, or ex. If the commision brings a case against a MS
Legal norms: European Union Legal Order: Primary vs secondary legislation, regulations vs directives
Primary legislation: treaties
Secondary legislation: regulations, directives, decisions, etc.
Regulations: addressed to everyone and are directly applicable in all MS.
Directives: Main purpose: align national legislation. Binding as to the results, but not to the form and method use
EU crises
Financial crisis (2008)
Wave of Refugees (2015)
- Schengen agreement made movement possible
- Division of opinion to refugees (Germany vs Poland ex)
- Spike of right wing politics and nationalism
Brexit (2016-2020) -> populist movement
what happened during the empty chair crisis (and after)
France decided not to attend council meetings until they had their way in 1965.
This was because they did not agree (nor want) with the agricultural market.
This went on in 6 months, but they suffered financially because of this, so they came back
Veto voting was introduced when politics that may impact a nation greatly was discussed
teleological jurisprudence (method of CJEU) (3 pillars)
1) direct effect: certain EU laws can be on a person which ensures law is immediately applied (and therefore do not affect the entire ms)
2) supremacy: EU law overrules national law
3) Principle of conferal: The EU can only act within their competence/powers -> which has been given by MS
what is postfunctionalism
Integration theory
Integration is in NF and LI assumed to bring ‘happiness’ to the citizens, but postfunctionalism goes against this claim (Brexit)
three steps of this theory:
1) scale: the reason EU has been made responsible is because it’s larger scale has made certain policy areas more efficient
2) actors: postfunctionalism is departing from the elite-focused approaches of NF and LI. Instead, policy-areas are pushed into an arena of mass media, political parties etc. which all affect the outcome
3) spill-back: European integration ‘activates identity issues’ - some citizens puts more pressure on national identity and self-rule than on the functional benefits of the union
Which three decision making processes is there?
Exclusive competence
Shared competence
Suplementing competence
