Lecture on Institutions Flashcards
What is the Treaty of Rome?
A far-reaching document: it laid out virtually every aspect of the economic integration implemented up to the 1992 Maastricht Treaty
How is the Treaty of Rome re-labelled by the 2009 Lisbon Treaty?
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
What is a unified economic area?
An area where firms and consumers located anywhere in the area would have equal opportunities to sell or buy goods throughout the area, and where owners of labour and capital would be free to employ their resources in any economic activity anywhere in the area
A key element of the Treaty of Rome are the 4 freedoms, what are they?
Free movement in goods, services, workers and capital
What does free trade in goods mean?
Elimination of tariffs, quotas and all other trade barriers
Why have common trade policy with the rest of the world?
Avoid trade deflection (“tariff cheating”)
What are the 5 main elements of the treaty of rome?
- Unrestricted trade in services
- Free movement of workers
- Free movement in capital
- Exchange rate and macroeconomic coordination
- Common policy in agriculture
The treaty of Rome was silent with respect to which important policy areas?
Social and tax policies
Under which pillar are most economic-related policies and some of the judicial and police related policies?
Supranational pillar
Under which pillar are most foreign and security policies?
Intergovernmental pillar?
In what three ways does Supranationality arise in the EU?
- The commision proposes new laws are then voted by Council of Ministers and EU Parliament.
- The commision has direct executive authority
- Rulings by the European Court of Justice
The EU is now based on which two treaties?
- Treaty on the European Union (TEU)
- Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)
To which area in EU law does “deep supranationality” apply
To all areas except those that are explicitly excluded
How is the EU’s legal system created?
Case law
What are three principles of Eu legal system
- “Direct effect” of EU law
- Primacy of EU law
- Autonomy from national legal systems
What are the “Big-5” institutions?
- European Council (heads of state and governments)
- council of the EU (member nations’ ministers)
- European Commission (appointed eurocrats)
- European Parliament (directly elected)
- EU Court (appointed judges)
What is the highest political-level body in the EU?
The European Council (heads of state and governments), they initiate the most important EU initiatives and policies
By which body are all EU major strategic choices made and in which way?
The European Council by consensus - implicit backing of every EU leader
What is the EU’s main decision making body?
The Council of the European Union
Which powers does the Council have?
- to pass european laws (jointly with European Parliament)
- coordinate the general economic policies
- pass final judgment on international agreements
- approve the EU budget
What are two main decision making rules for the Council?
- Unanimity for most important issues
- Qualified majority voting
What is the executive branch of the EU?
Th European commision
What are three ways they enforce treaties and drive forward European Integration?
- It proposes legislation the the Council and Parliament
- It administers and implements EU policies
- It provides surveillance and enforcment of EU law
What are 3 legislative procedures?
- Ordinary legislative procedure > main one and gives Parliament and Council equal power
- Consultation procedure > only parliament gives opinion
- Consent procedure > Council adopts legislation after obtaining the consent of parliament
