The development of the EU

Question 1

What makes the EU a unique regional organisation?

Answer 1

It has lots of powerful supranational institutions and economic and political integration

Question 2

Define integration

Answer 2

The process of coordinating the activities of different states through common institutions and policies

Question 3

What was founded in 1952?

Answer 3

The European coal and steel community

Question 4

What was the European Coal and Steel Community?

Answer 4

A supranational organisation that had decision making powers independent of its member states

Question 5

What does it mean for an organisation to be supranational?

Answer 5

It has authority independent of national governments

Question 6

How is a supranational organisation different from an intergovernmental organisation?

Answer 6

Because in governmental organisations, states cooperate voluntarily and can veto proposals, whereas supranational bodies have a higher status than their member states and impose regulations upon them

Question 7

What was formed in 1958?

Answer 7

The European Economic Community (EEC)

Question 8

Explain how the EEC came to be?

Answer 8

The six founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community founded it under the Treaty of Rome. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) began in 1962 and a customs union followed in 1968 when internal tariffs were removed an a common external tariff was created

Question 9

What is a tariff?

Answer 9

A tax on goods and services coming in from another country

Question 10

When did the UK join the EEC?

Answer 10

1973

Question 11

Define enlargement

Answer 11

The expansion of the EU to include new member states

Question 12

What did the 1985 Single European Act do?

Answer 12

Created the single European market and prompted a greater role in social and regional policy for the EEC. Unanimity was replaced by qualified majority voting on single market legislation

Question 13

Define unanimity

Answer 13

A voting arrangement where all states must agree for an act to be passed

Question 14

Define qualified majority voting

Answer 14

Proposals must win a set number of votes in order to be passed, in this case a simple majority

Question 15

What did the 1991 Maastricht Treaty do

Answer 15

Created the EU and set a timetable for the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Increased intergovernmental cooperation on foreign and security policy, as well as in justice and home affairs

Question 16

What was the economic and monetary union?

Answer 16

The creation of single currency, central bank and common monetary policy

Question 17

What did the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty do?

Answer 17

Created an area of ‘freedom, security and justice’

Question 18

When was the EMU established?

Answer 18

1999

Question 19

How was the EMU established?

Answer 19

11 states abolished their national currencies and adopted the euro. The eurozone had expanded to 19 states by 2015

Question 20

What did the 2001 Nice Treaty do?

Answer 20

Created a European security and defence policy and introduced institutional reforms ahead of enlargement

Question 21

How many more states joined in the 2004 enlargement?

Answer 21

10

Question 22

What did the 2007 Lisbon Treaty do?

Answer 22

Further reformed EU institutions

Question 23

What prompted the reforms brought about under the 2007 Lisbon Treaty?

Answer 23

Rejection of the EU Constitutional Treaty in referendums in France and the Netherlands

Question 24

Explain how the EU came into crisis in 2009

Answer 24

Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus had to be bailed out by the EU and IMF after running up large debts. These states were required to introduce austerity measures in turn

Question 25

What did the EU do in response to the 2015 migrant crisis affecting its member states?

Answer 25

Introduced measures to tackle people smuggling and relocate asylum seekers

Question 26

Why is Brexit so significant for the EU?

Answer 26

Because the UK is the only member state to have left