Relationship between Branches - Aims and Institutions of the EU

Question 1

When was the EEC created? What was it created by?

Answer 1

The Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community in 1957.

Question 2

When did the EEC become the EU?

Answer 2

The EEC became the EU through the ratification of the Maastricht treaty - this was because of the increased economic and political integration.

Question 3

What is the main fundamental aim of the EU and why?

Answer 3

Key aim of the EU has been to create an ‘ever-closer union among the people of Europe’

This was to prevent the likelihood of war between member states unlikely.

Question 4

What are the five aims of the EU summarised?

Answer 4

1. Removing steel and coal production from national control.
2. All treaties following the Treaty of Rome have increased the process towards fuller EU integration.
3. Pooling sovereignty.
4. Increasing membership e.g., in 2013, there were 28 members states but in 1957, there were only 6.
5. They try to encourage peace, prosperity and liberal democracy.

Question 5

Who were the original six member states?

Answer 5

Belgium
Germany
France
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands

Question 6

The Four Freedoms - when were they laid out and why

Answer 6

The main economic aim of the EU was to aspire to integration by creating the single European Market.

The Four Freedoms were initially laid out by the Treaty of Rome and created the ideas of the European Single Market.

Question 7

What are the Four Freedoms?

Answer 7

1. Free movement of Goods - member states cannot impose tariffs on goods from another members state.
2. Free movement of Services - businesses should open up and operate in any member state
3. Free movement of Capital - capital should be able to move freely throughout member states
4. Free movement of People - no internal barriers should stop the citizens of the EU working in any member states or claiming the same social benefits.

Question 8

What does an Ever Closer Union actually mean?

Answer 8

The EU has pursued ever-closer union in terms of social, political and monetary unity.

Many Eurosceptics criticised the closer social, political and foreign policy integration as damaging for UK sovereignty and the ability to make decisions that were suited for UK conditions.

Question 9

MONETARY UNION

What does this mean?

Answer 9

This was outlined by the Maastricht Treaty 1992, and it established the EU integration process. In 1999, the euro was established as the trading currency, and in 2002, the founding states started replacing their currency with the euro.

The Maastricht Treaty also created the European Central Bank in order to set a common interest rate for the members of the Eurozone. By 2019, there were 19 members in the Eurozone.

Question 10

SOCIAL UNITY

What does this mean?

Answer 10

1980s President of the European Commission, Jaques Delors stated that the European integration should include workers’ rights.

The Maastricht Treaty consequently included the Social Chapter which established the rights that all EU workers could claim e.g., health, safety, freedom from discrimination.

Question 11

PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

What does this mean?

Answer 11

2000 - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union was proclaimed and became legally binding on all member states when they ratified the Lisbon Treaty in 2007.

The main difference between the ECHR and the Charter is that the charter only applies to areas connected with EU law.

Question 12

POLITICAL UNION

What does this mean?

Answer 12

All EU treaties since the Single European Act in 1986 have restricted the occasion on which the nation states have exercised the veto in the Council of Ministers/EU council in order to progress integration.

The Maastricht Treaty 1992 changed the name of the EEC to the EU.

Question 13

COMMON FOREIGN + DEFENCE POLICY

What does this mean?

Answer 13

The Maastricht Treaty committed the EU to a common foreign and defence policy.

This was progressed by the 2007 Lisbon Treaty because it provided the EU with a legal identity so when negotiating with nation states, it is doing so on equal terms. The Lisbon Treaty also created the High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - both of whom represent the EU when negotiating with world leaders.

Question 14

EU INSTITUTIONS

The European Commission

Answer 14

This is the government of the EU - each member state sends off a commissioner who represents their interests of the EU, not their own states.

Headquarters in Brussels.

They are responsible for developing EU policy and ensures it is initiated properly.

Question 15

EU INSTITUTIONS

The Council of the European Union

Answer 15

one of the Legislative body of the EU - relevant government ministers decide whether to or not to accept the legislative proposals of the Commission.

Question 16

EU INSTITUTIONS

The European Council

Answer 16

They convene four times annually - this happens when the leaders of the EU and their foreign ministers meet. The council develops EU foreign policy and makes decisions concerning the future.

Question 17

EU INSTITUTIONS

The European Parliament

Answer 17

The only DIRECTLY ELECTED body - it sits in Brussels and Strasbourg and shares the budgetary and legislative control with the Council of the EU.

Parliament elects the president of the Commission, and so the EU Commission is held accountable by Parliament.

Question 18

EU INSTITUTIONS

The European Central Bank

Answer 18

This implements the EU economic policy and sets the common interest rate for the 19 members in the eurozone.

Question 19

EU INSTITUTIONS

The European Court of Justice

Answer 19

The EU court of Justice is based in Luxembourg and ensures that European Law is applied to equally and is interpreted successfully.

Question 20

TIMELINE

When did Cameron announce the possibility of a referendum?

Answer 20

Cameron announced the possibility in 2013 when he said if the Conservatives win, it would be proposed.

Question 21

TIMELINE

What happened in the referendum?

Answer 21

48% vote remain, 52% vote leave.

Cameron resigns.

Question 22

TIMELINE

When did May set a surprise general election? What happened?

Answer 22

April 2017, based on predictions that the CONS party will win easily, though this is incorrect and means that the party loses its majority.

Question 23

TIMELINE

Resignations, resignations, resignations

Answer 23

July 2018, Brexit secretary, David Davis and Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, resign after the Chequers Agreement.

Question 24

TIMELINE

When was May’s vote of no confidences done?

Answer 24

December 2018 - CONS MPs who no longer believe in May trigger a vote of no confidence and she wins 200 to 117.

In January 2019, she wins another vote of no confidence. This happened because her Brexit agreement was voted down by MPs - she wins with 19, though 10 of these were from DUP.

Question 25

TIMELINE

What happened the Boris came into power?

Answer 25

July 2019 - BOJO becomes the PM and he secures an extension in October until January 31st.

In the December 2019 election, he has a commons majority of 80.

We finally left the EU in Jan 2021.

Question 26

SUCCESSES OF THE EU

What are the four aims that have been fulfilled?

Answer 26

1. Implementation of the Four Freedoms mean that the EU is now the largest single market in the world providing EU citizens with the right to work, study or live in a member state.
2. EU has the second-biggest economy in the world… it represents 22% of the value of the global economy.
3. EU has provided a global lead on issues such as combatting climate change and has been responsible for the most environmentally friendly legislation in the world.
4. The expansion of the EU has encouraged democracy in the former Communist states in Eastern Europe.

Question 27

FAILURES OF THE EU

What has the EU failed to fulfil successfully?

Answer 27

1. The austerity programmes demanded by the European Commission and European Central Bank in response to the Euro crisis have undermined support for the EU in Southern European Countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
2. Migrant crisis = exposed significant tensions between the liberal approach to the German and French governments and the more defensive approach of states such as Hungary and Italy.
3. Little progress has actually been made in establishing a European sense of identity. National identities have been strengthened as a result of austerity, the free movement of workers and the migrant crisis.