The aims, role and impact of the European Union on UK Government - 4.3 - Relations between institutions - UK Government

Question 1

UK joined EU in

Answer 1

1973

Question 2

European Union

Answer 2

An association of 28 states originally founded as the European Economic Community in 1957 which has evolved into a political and economic union

Question 3

Factors driving closer European integration

Answer 3

Promoting peace
Economic integration & single market
Economic & monetary union
Enlargement
Social policy
Political union

Question 4

Promoting peace (as a factor driving closer European integration)

Answer 4

Important motive in the early years post WWII

Question 5

Economic integration and the single market (as a factor driving closer European integration)

Answer 5

Member states wanted to break down internal barriers to trade & create customs union.
Single European Act 1986 and the abolition of customs controls helped achieve this

Question 6

Single European Act 1986

Answer 6

Aimed to create single European market based on 4 freedoms

Question 7

4 freedoms

Answer 7

Free movement of goods, services, people and capital within EU’s single market

Question 8

Schengen agreement

Answer 8

1995 - enables EU citizens to live and work in other member states - UK and Ireland negotiated opt-outs & some states have introduced temporary restrictions on internal movement in response to 2015 migrant crisis.

Question 9

Economic and monetary union (as a factor driving closer European integration)

Answer 9

UK opted out of Eurozone (kept the pound) not wanting to surrender economic sovereignty
2012 Fiscal Compact Treaty - in response to financial crisis ensuring those countries effected introduced stronger budget rules - UK opted out

Question 10

Enlargement (as a factor driving closer European integration)

Answer 10

Post Cold War 10 new members from Eastern Europe added. Led to anxiety about migration from East Europe (e.g. Romania) - this was a large factor in Brexit

Question 11

Social policy (as a factor driving closer European integration)

Answer 11

To ensure workers did not suffer disadvantage & discrimination & create level playing field for businesses in all countries

Question 12

Political union (as a factor driving closer European integration)

Answer 12

Perpetual state of balance between institutions that operate in an intergovernmental way or supranational way

Question 13

Intergovernmental operations

Answer 13

Member states co-operate with each other in decision making protecting respective interests and sovereignty whilst working towards common goal

Question 14

Supranational operations

Answer 14

Decision making power is transferred to a higher body which operates independently of nation states

Question 15

Intergovernmental institutions

Answer 15

Council of European Union

European Council

Question 16

Supranational institutions

Answer 16

European Court of justice
European Parliament
European Commission

Question 17

Lisbon Treaty 2007 (came into force 2009)

Answer 17

• European council given a permanent president serving 2 1/2 year term
• Organisation created to co-ordinate an agreed EU foreign policy
• System of double majority voting - enabling legislative proposals to be passed with 55% of member states representing at least 65% population
• Incorporated Charter of Fundamental Rights (UK refused to accept as legally binding

Question 18

Charter of Fundamental rights

Answer 18

Includes rights to education, healthcare & right to strike

Question 19

Roles of EU in policy making

Answer 19

Negotiating European treaties

Passing & enforcing European directives & regulations

Question 20

Negotiating European treaties (role of EU in policy making)

Answer 20

Involves European council. Heads of government make up council & commit countries to deals made.
European parliament then votes on the treaty (agreement)
Ratified by each member state using own procedure (e.g. parliament votes)

Question 21

Passing and enforcing European directives and regulations (role of EU in policy making)

Answer 21

European council sets broad guidelines in law proposition
Commission proposes new laws (assessing impact)
Council of European Union & European parliament decide whether to adopt the new law
Implementation of the law is responsibility of committees & commission
If a state does not comply they can be brought before the European Court of justice

Question 22

Directive

Answer 22

Sets out a goal that all EU member states must work towards passing own laws to achieve this

Question 23

Regulation

Answer 23

Binding on all member states & immediately enforceable

Question 24

UK & Social policy case

Answer 24

Social chapter (Maastricht treaty) aims to protect workers’ rights. Major got an opt-out not wanting businesses to be held back.
1997 New Labour signed up to social chapter
Blair wanted to strike a balance between social protection & labour-market flexibility
Dispute when ECJ ruled travelling time counted towards 48-hour working week (Blair argued it would increase costs)

Question 25

Factortame case

Answer 25

990 Factortame (Spanish fishing company) sued UK government for restricting its access to UK waters (EU allowed all member states to share waters but UK argued this jeopardised small fishermen in UK)
Law Lords ruled in favour of EU - establishing primacy of EU law over an act of Parliament