terms and concepts Flashcards
acquis communitaire
the collection of COMMON RIGHTS and OBLIGATIONS that constitute the body of EU law - e.g. treaties, norms + CANDIDATES need to sign it before entering
institutional triangle
Commission, EP, EU Council
the Six
BENELUX, France, Italy, West Germany
eurosclerosis
brought by Oil Crisis in 1973 (countries responded individually rather than europeanly)
stagnating integration - no new treaties after ‘57 EEC until ‘86 SEA
three Communities
ECSC, EEC, EAEC/Euratom
Single Market
free movement of people, capital, goods and services
Agenda 2000
blueprint for enlargement
enlargement
= process - gradual adaptation undertaken by countries wishing to join + must meet accession criteria
= policy - principles, goals, instruments defined by EU to incorporate new members
copenhagen criteria
1 - stability of institutions, democracy, HR, rule of law, protection and respect for minorities
2 - functioning market economy able to compete within EU
3 - adherence to aims of political, economic and monetary union
Madrid EU Council - 4th - candidate must create conditions for its integration through adjustement of its administrative structures
accession process
- membership application submitted to the Council
- Council forwards to Commission
- Commission prepares Opinion
- Council decides to start negotiations
- screening process by Commission
- Negotiations led by Presidency on the basis of Negotiating framework
- Commission, EP, and MS endorse outcome of the negotiations
- MS and candidates ratify Accession Treaty
- everything decided by unanimity
theoretical perspectives on enlargement
- First 3 why it’s enlarging
- NEO-FUNCTIONALISM explains the entrepreneurial role of the Commission, the role of European interest groups, and the gradual and incremental nature of enlargement.
- LIBERAL INTERGOVERNMENTALISM explains the socioeconomic preferences behind member states’ support for enlargement.
- SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACHES explain member states’ commitment to enlargement despite the availability of alternative and less demanding options, such as association agreements.
- Following two looks more at “how”
- EUROPEANISATION helps explain the impact of EU enlargement on candidates’ domestic environment and draws attention to the reversibility and impermanent nature of EU influence.
- DIFFERENTIATED INTEGRATION explains the strategies to reconcile heterogeneity within the EU.
spitzenkandidat
CRUM 2023 (demoicracy article)
- German for lead candidate
- first only only used in 2014 (2019 was based on demoi-cracy principle => EP shares powers with the C + MS)
- after EP elections - Council decides who is going to be the new president first considering the candidate from winning group
- once approved by council - EP votes
yellow card
if 1/3 (or 1/4 in relation to freedom, security and justice) of NP feel that draft legislation could be better achieved by domestic legislation - Comm. must review the act
types of eurosceptic MEPs
BRACK 2015
1. absentee
- limited presence in the EP
- disinterest or refusal to engage in parliamentary work
- actively promoting euroscepticism in national public opinion
- public orator
- relatively present in the EP but uninterested in traditional parliamentary work (likes speeches)
- votes againsts majority of texts
- maintains good relationship with the press - pragmatist
- greater investment in EP’s daily work
- seek concrete results without compromising eurosceptic beliefs
- 2 categories
a. see themselves as watchdogs of EU institutions
b. primarily defend national and regional interests (greater activism in home country to get additional resources) - participant
- willingness to appear as a normal MEP
- adopts to EU rules
- serious investment in institutional work
intergovernmentalism within council system
individualistically oriented national actors focusing more or less on their own interests
supranationalism within Council system
member states officials’ engagement with work of Councils involves socialisation into collective decision-making system
high representative for foreign affairs and security policy
- blurs institutional boundaries between Comm and Council
- primary duties
1 - chairing monthly Foreign Policy Council
2 - attending European Council summits
3 - serving as Vice-President of comm + coordinating all external relations portfolios
4 - representing EU internationally (e.g. at UN) + conducting high level diplomacy through European External Action Service (EEAC)
council of europe
- not EU institution
- international organisation based in Strasbourg
- protects HR, democracy and Rule of law
comitology committee
- created by EU legislator (EP+Council or only Council)
- chaired by commission
- to consult implementing acts
binding rules for legislative acts
- when uniform conditions needed toimplement legislative acts
- e.g. EU-wide marketing authorisation for food additives etc.
- no impact on the basic act itself
delegated acts
- changing/complementing basic acts
monetary policy
exclusive competence of EU for euro area
- decisions taken by independent ECB
economic policy
matter of national legislative competence (even for countries in eurozone)
stability and growth pact (SGP)
- goal - ensure sound public finances and price stability
- set of rules for coordination of national fiscal policies in the EU
- countries in eurozone must submit “stability programme”
- other countries submit “convergence programme”
3 types
1 - soft elements - seen as largely ineffectual
2 - hard elements - inappropriate and lack credibility
3 - harder soft - to achieve goals where EU competence is limited + disagreements between MS
macroeconomic imbalance procedure (MIP)
- MS subject to surveillance using a “scoreboard” concerning possible internal as well as external imbalances
reference framework
EU’s targets concerning employment, research&development, climate change, energy, education, poverty and social exlusion
(each MS sets own targets every year -> NATIONAL REFORM PROGRAMME)