The development of the EU Flashcards
What makes the EU a unique regional organisation?
It has lots of powerful supranational institutions and economic and political integration
Define integration
The process of coordinating the activities of different states through common institutions and policies
What was founded in 1952?
The European coal and steel community
What was the European Coal and Steel Community?
A supranational organisation that had decision making powers independent of its member states
What does it mean for an organisation to be supranational?
It has authority independent of national governments
How is a supranational organisation different from an intergovernmental organisation?
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
What was formed in 1958?
The European Economic Community (EEC)
Explain how the EEC came to be?
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
What is a tariff?
A tax on goods and services coming in from another country
When did the UK join the EEC?
1973
Define enlargement
The expansion of the EU to include new member states
What did the 1985 Single European Act do?
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
Define unanimity
A voting arrangement where all states must agree for an act to be passed
Define qualified majority voting
Proposals must win a set number of votes in order to be passed, in this case a simple majority
What did the 1991 Maastricht Treaty do
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
What was the economic and monetary union?
The creation of single currency, central bank and common monetary policy
What did the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty do?
Created an area of ‘freedom, security and justice’
When was the EMU established?
1999
How was the EMU established?
11 states abolished their national currencies and adopted the euro. The eurozone had expanded to 19 states by 2015
What did the 2001 Nice Treaty do?
Created a European security and defence policy and introduced institutional reforms ahead of enlargement
How many more states joined in the 2004 enlargement?
10
What did the 2007 Lisbon Treaty do?
Further reformed EU institutions
What prompted the reforms brought about under the 2007 Lisbon Treaty?
Rejection of the EU Constitutional Treaty in referendums in France and the Netherlands
Explain how the EU came into crisis in 2009
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
What did the EU do in response to the 2015 migrant crisis affecting its member states?
Introduced measures to tackle people smuggling and relocate asylum seekers
Why is Brexit so significant for the EU?
Because the UK is the only member state to have left
