S7 Topic 04 - EU Issues and challenges Flashcards
Schengen Agreement
Agreement allowing for passport-free movement across most European Union member states. Named after a border town in Luxembourg. Began in 1995.
Four Freedoms
Free movement of Goods/Services/Capital/People across the EU.
ECSC
1951/1952. Early European organization aimed at pooling coal and steel resources among member states to promote peace and economic cooperation.
EEC
- Precursor to the EU, establishing a customs union and a single market among member states.
EU
- Political and economic union of European countries aiming for deeper integration and cooperation.
Council of European Union
Represents member state governments and makes decisions on EU legislation and policies (Heads of state or Ministers)
European Commission
Executive branch of the EU responsible for proposing legislation, enforcing EU law, and representing the EU internationally (Commissioners and President)
European Parliament
Directly elected legislative body of the EU, sharing power with the Council of the European Union and overseeing the European Commission. (MEPs)
Common Market
The single market made up of 27 member states and supported by the four freedoms.
Deepening
Relations between member states improve
Treaty of Rome
- Laid the foundation for the European Economic Community (EEC)
Treaty of Maastricht
- Formally established the EU
Treaty of Lisbon
- Gave EU legal powers to represent and sign international treaties on behalf of all member states. Amented existing EU treaties.
EU accession
Application and subsequent joining of the EU
Enlargement
The widening and addition of new countries to the EU
EFTA
European Free Trade Association (Allows some EU benefits without being EU member)
EEA
European Economic Area (Mostly EU states, but some exceptions, Lichtenstein, Norway, Iceland)
EU candidate countries
A country that is formally in the process of joining the EU
Copenhagen Criteria
Are the rules that define whether a country is eligible to join the European Union (Free and fair market, Democracy, Human Rights and Acquis)
TEN-T
Trans-European Transport Network is a planned network of roads, railways, airports and water infrastructure in the EU. (E.g Croatia case-study)
Widening
Enlargement of the EU by including new member states.
GDP, Literacy Rate
Indicators of inequality
Cohesion Funds
An attempt to bring EU countries closer together and to reduce inequality (Different funds are available to do so, TEN-T, ERDF, ESF+)
ESF+
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the European Union (EU)’s main fund for investing in people and supporting people and employment.
ERDF
The European Regional Development Fund is one of the European Structural and Investment Funds allocated by the European Union. Its purpose is to transfer money from richer regions, and invest it in the infrastructure and services of underdeveloped regions.
Employment and social inequality
An understanding that unemployment levels may impact inequalities across a society. This may be overcome with training and support from the EU ESF+ fund.
Green economy
An investment and movement towards economically sustainable practices, slower rates of growth with minimal impacts on the environment.
Sustainable transport
This can be supported by the EU TEN-T project which aims to bring about cohesion and support the four freedoms.
Carbon Footprint
Total amount of CO2 a person produces
Carbon sink
A carbon sink absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits
European Green Deal
Aims to make the Europe climate neutral by 2050
Spheres of sustainability
Economic, Social, Political, environmental - recognising that sustainability is not only an environmental concern.
Varying Earth orbits
Paths of the Earth around the Sun (Milankovitch) - causing differential heating and being a physical trigger for climate change.
Volcanic activity
Eruption of magma and gases from the Earth crust (trapping warmth, or absorbing more energy on dark surfces)- Natural trigger for climate change
Sunspots
Solar activity results in cooler and darker spots called Sunspots - Natural trigger for climate change.
EU Climate Goal 2030
Carbon emissions reductions by 2030 within the EU
Changes in ocean and air currents
If there are significant changes in ocean or air currents this could trigger a cooling or a heating of our planet - a natural trigger for climate change
Fossil fuel consumption
A human trigger for climate change
Agriculture
A human trigger for climate change
Deforestation
A human trigger for climate change
EU 2030 Climate targets
Reducing the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency and 32% increase in energy from renewables.
EU 2020 Climate targets
Reducing the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. 20% improvement in energy efficiency and 20% in energy from renewables.
CHP (Power plant)
Combined heat and power plants which attempt to transfer as much of the energy transfer process as useful energy (therefore being more efficient)
Energy dependency ratio
The energy dependency rate shows the proportion of energy that an economy must import.
Food security / self-sufficiency
producing enough food for a population’s needs.
Organic agriculture
Prohibition of GMO. Limiting the use of artificial fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides. Prohibiting the use of hormones and restricting the use of antibiotics to only when necessary for animal health.
Food safety
the European Commission aims to assure a high level of food safety and animal & plant health through policy and regulation.
Subsidies
payments made to support “loss-making” sectors
Single farm payment
a support payment for farms irrespective of their production.
Certification
Protected designation of orgin and Protected geographical indication.
Diversification
the movement away from reliance on single streams of income.
