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UK politics > The aims, roles and impacts of the EU > Flashcards

The aims, roles and impacts of the EU Flashcards

1
Q

Define pooling sovereignty

A

The member states delegate some of their decision making powers to shared institutions they have created - so decisions can be made democratically at European level

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2
Q

Before leaving the EU the UK was commonly described as Europe’s _________ __________

A

‘awkward partner’

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3
Q

Why was the UK described as Europe’s ‘awkward partner’

A

On a range of issues they were unenthusiastic about further integration

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4
Q

The purpose of France & Germany pooling their production of coal & steel under the ____ in 1950 was….

A

ECSC
Was the preservation of peace

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5
Q

What is the aim of pooled sovereignty

A

To ensure democratic solutions on specific matters of joint interest at a EU level

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6
Q

What is evidence for the EU’s aim being enlargement

A

The 1992 Maastricht treaty which suggests peace, prosperity and liberal democracy

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7
Q

What does the 1992 Maastricht treaty mean

A

Means that there is a common citizenship between the EU

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8
Q

What are three examples of the treaties that deepened the relationship between member states

A

The Maastricht treaty
The EEC
1985 Schengen Agreement

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9
Q

What did the 1985 Schengen Agreement create

A

The Schengen area - internal border checks have largely been abolished
Creating a customs union where the countries do not exact tariffs on others

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10
Q

What are the 4 freedoms

A

Free movement of goods
Free movement of services
Free movement of capital
Free movement of people

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11
Q

When did the UK join the EU

A

In 1973 after 7 yrs of attempting and failing to join

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12
Q

Why might the EU not readily have accepted Britain as a member because ….

A
  • The UK was invited to join in 1957 & dismissed the invitation
  • Lack of commitment to the EEC’s political objectives
  • The UK’s special relationship with the USA
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13
Q

Why is the EU committed to integration & expansion

A

In order to preserve the peace & further prosperity

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14
Q

How has membership with the EU impacted the UK

A

Has had a profound impact on our system of govt, our economy & other aspects of national life

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15
Q

What treaty is evidence for integration

A

1985 Schengen Agreement

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16
Q

what treaty is evidence for expansion

A

1992 Maastricht treaty

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17
Q

what are the 6 aims of the EU

A

Economic integration (four freedoms)
Monetary union (euro)
Social unity
Protection of human rights
Political union
Common foreign & defence policy

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18
Q

What is evidence for economic integration

A
  • 1986 - single European act - created single European market (no tariffs on goods) - based on the 4 freedoms
  • led to abolition of custom controls & recognition of common product standards
  • HOWEVER single market has not been created for services e.g. energy & phones
  • 1985 Schengen Agreement allowed free movement of EU citizens
  • temporary restrictions on free movement following the migrant crisis of 2015
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19
Q

Give examples of the EU achieving their aim of monetary union

A

1999 - Euro introduced as a currency and issues as notes and coins from 2002
2014 - 19 states adopted the Euro as their currency - Britain & Denmark opted out
2007 to 8 - Eurozone crisis in souther Europe : Greece , Spain, Portugal and Ireland all required bailouts from EU funds in return for adopting tougher budgetary rules (2012 fiscal compact treaty)

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20
Q

What is the purpose of social unity (EU aim)

A

1980’s onwards the EU has ensured workers do not suffer disadvantages & discrimination - advances in workers’ rights has varied from one state to another e.g. maternity , min wage etc
- aim 2 = create a ‘level playing field’ for businesses - to stop them from moving factories to a different country to find cheap labour with few workers rights

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21
Q

What is an example of the EU’s aim being the protection of human rights

A

The charter of fundamental rights of the EU - addresses HR’s connected with EU law - became legally binding on all member states after Lisbon treaty was ratified in 2009

22
Q

Expand on the aim of political union between the member states

A

No single EU institution corresponding to exec or legislative of a typical nation state INSTEAD a perpetual state of balance between intergovt + supernational institutions

23
Q

What happens in intergovernmental EU institution’s

A

Member states work towards common goals & protect their interests through cooperation

24
Q

What happens in supernational institution’s

A

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

25
Q

Give evidence of the EU’s aim being common foreign & defence policy

A
  • The Maastricht treaty committed the EU to a common foreign & defence policy furthered by the Lisbon treaty by providing the EU with a legal identity - to negotiate on equal terms with nation states
  • LT also established a president of the EU council and a high commissioner for foreign affairs and security policy - both represent the EU internationally
26
Q

What two positions did the Lisbon treaty establish

A
  • established a president of the EU council and a high commissioner for foreign affairs and security policy - both represent the EU internationally
27
Q

What are some threats to the EU

A
  • The eurozone crisis
  • The migrant crisis
  • The current geopolitical climate : an increasingly assertive China, Russian aggression towards China, war & terror & anarchy in the Middle East and Africa
  • the rise of nationalism across Europe first Brexit now Frexit??
28
Q

What institution is the executive within the EU

A

The European Commission

29
Q

What institution is the legislative within the EU

A

European Parliament

30
Q

What institution is the judiciary within the EU

A

European court of justice

31
Q

What are the two main roles of the EU in policy making

A

Negotiating treaties
Passing directives and regulations

32
Q

Expand on the role negotiating treaties of the EU in policy making

A
  • key institution in negotiating a new treaty is the EU council - heads of govt who make up council have authority to commit their countries to deals made with each other
  • The EU parliament votes on the treaty
  • It is then ratified by each member state
33
Q

What are directives

A

Directives set out a goal that all EU member states must work towards by passing laws in their own parliaments

34
Q

What are regulations

A

Are binding on all member states and immediately enforceable

35
Q

When was the EU social charter introduced

A

1961

36
Q

When was the EU social charter revised

A

1966

37
Q

When did the revised EU social charter come into force

A

1999

38
Q

What did the social charter set out

A
  • Human rights & freedoms
  • Establishes a supervisory mechanism guaranteeing their respects by the state parties
39
Q

Why was the social charter established

A

To support EU convention on human rights & to broaden the scope of protected fundamental rights to include:
- social & economic rights
- guarantees positive rights & freedoms

40
Q

When did Britain sign up to the social charter

A

1997 under Blair

41
Q

When was the common fisheries policy first introduced

A

In the 1970’s

42
Q

When was the most recent successive update to the CFP

A

Jan 2014

43
Q

What was the common fisheries policy

A

A set of rules for managing EU fishing fleets & for conserving fish stocks

44
Q

What is the CFP designed to do

A

Manage a common resource by regulating the amount of deep sea fish that could be caught with a system of quota’s

45
Q

What rights does the CFP give to EU fishing fleets

A

Gives all EU fishing fleets equal access EU waters & fishing grounds - allows fishermen to compete in the industry fairly

46
Q

Why has the CFP been criticised

A

It was argued that the policy allowed large fishing fleets from other countries to drive small UK trawler operators out of business

47
Q

What case did the CFP lead to

A

The factortame case of 1990

48
Q

When was the factortame case

A

1990

49
Q

What did the factortame case establish

A

The primacy of EU law over an act of parliament

50
Q

What happened in the factortame case of 1990

A
  • a Spanish fishing company sued the UK govt for restricting it’s access to UK waters (given by the CFP)
  • the law lords (highest UK court at time) followed the EU court of justice in ruling that the 1988 merchant shipping act violated EU law - therefore couldn’t be allowed to stand
51
Q

What are the advantages of membership of the EU for the UK

A
  • provided UK with duty free access to the world’s second largest economy - tariff’s reduce trade, exports benefit from selling cheaply abroad - in 2016 43% of UK trade was with the EU and worth £241 billion
  • economy has benefited from EU immigration - come to UK join workforce so contribute to state - in 2013 to 14 non British EU citizens living in UK paid £14.7 bill in tax & NI but claimed just £2.6 bil in tax credits & child benefits
  • over 3 mil British jobs rely on trade with EU - the confederation of British industry estimated that net benefit to UK economy of EU membership was worth between 4% & 5% of the GDP
  • due to 4 freedoms - British entrepreneurs can set up business anywhere they want, students can study freely i& elderly can retire anywhere & still receive British pension - in 2017 1.3mil Brit citizens living in other EU countries
  • since 1987 the EU’S Erasmus programme has encouraged educational exchanges across the EU - up to 200,000 Brit students taken advantage of this
52
Q

In 2016 __% of British trade was with the EU and worth £___ billion

A

43%
£241 billion

UK politics (13 decks)

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