[M1] Video 2 — Evolution of the EU

Question 1

What did the Treaty of Paris do?

Answer 1

The Treaty of Paris (1951) established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), a precursor to the European Economic Community (ECC). The European Coal and Steel Community consisted of 6 countries: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, West Germany, and the Netherlands.

Question 2

What did the Treaty of Rome do?

Answer 2

The Treaty of Rome (1957) established the European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), thus providing a basis for common policy regarding trade and agriculture.

Question 3

What did the Single European Act do?

Answer 3

Representing the first major revision to the Treaty of Rome (1956), the Single European Act (1986) established an internal market with voting by a qualified majority rather than unanimity, and made cohesion policy an exclusive competence.

Question 4

What did the Treaty of Maastricht do?

Answer 4

The Treaty of Maastricht (1992) officially founded the European Union, broadening EU authority and strengthening European infrastructure, as well as introducing the three pillar structure.

Question 5

What did the Treaty of Amsterdam do?

Answer 5

The Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) increased the power of the European Union and strengthened the position of the European Parliament.

Question 6

What did the Treaty of Nice do?

Answer 6

The Treaty of Nice (2001) managed a comprehensive reform of the European Union’s institutional structure, including:

• Re-defining the maximum number of MEPs to 732.
• Increasing the European Parliament’s legislative power through broadening the scope of co-decision procedure and by requiring Parliament’s assent for the establishment of enhanced cooperation.
• A reform of the judicial system, empowering the Court of Justice to sit as a chamber (3-5), a grand chamber (11), or the full court.
• Added a paragraph to Art. 7 of the Treaty on European Union to cover any case wherein a breach of fundamental right(s) has not yet occurred but a ‘clear risk’ is present.

Question 7

What did the Treaty of Lisbon do?

Answer 7

The Treaty of Lisbon (2009) amended the Treaty of Maastricht (1997) and the Treaty of Rome (1956). Crucially, the treaty (referred to as the ‘Reform Treaty’) granted the European Parliament new law-making powers and revised the Parliament’s position, putting it on equal footing with the Council of Ministers in deciding how money is spent and ‘what’ the EU does.

Question 8

What is another name for the Treaty of Rome and the Treaty of Maastricht?

Answer 8

• The Treaty of Rome: The Treaty on European Union (TEU)
• The Treaty of Maastricht: The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)

Question 9

Who ascended to the EU between 1973 and 1986?

Answer 9

1973:
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Denmark

1981:
- Greece

1986:
- Spain
- Portugal

Question 10

Who ascended to the EU in 1995?

Answer 10

1995:
- Finland
- Sweden
- Austria

Question 11

Who ascended to the EU in 2004?

Answer 11

2004:
- Cyprus
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Malta
- Estonia
- Czech Republic

Question 12

Who ascended to the EU between 2007 to 2013?

Answer 12

2007:
- Bulgaria
- Romania

2013:
- Croatia

This brought the total to 28, which dropped to 27 following Brexit (2020).