The European environment Flashcards
how long have the UK been in the EU
45 years
how many countries in the EU
28
when did uk join EU
1969 with denmark and ireland
when was the EU formeD?
1957
what are the two biggest things that were ruled out in early stages of brexit talks?
- the customs union
- european single market
what is the customs union?
ensures all countries charge the same import duties on goods and services brought into the union
prohibits members charging tariffs on those goods and services the they cross borders within the union
says nothing about free movement of labour
what is the european single market?
aims to break all barriers to trading across 500 million person area by assuming the four freedoms
- free movement of goods, services, capital and labour
eliminates tariffs but also costs by applying one set rule across member states
members are not allowed to discriminate against goods and services from any particular area
freedom of movement
what are the key institutions of the EU?
- european commission
- european parliament
- council of ministers
- european court
what is the European comission?
has the monopoly of legislative initiatiative
helps to shape EU overall strategy, proposes new laws and policies and manages the EU budget
initiates policy proposals e.g. energy, taxation
engine room of EU
civil service of the EU
what is european parliament?
Directly-elected EU body with legislative, supervisory, and budgetary responsibilities
moves between brussels and stratosbourg
can veto laws
limited but increasing law making powers
elected every 5 years
what is the council of ministers?
In the Council, government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings. Together with the European Parliament, the Council is the main decision-making body of the EU.
different member states meeting, agriculture councils
ministers from relevant departments in each state
decisions made upon qualified majority voting
what is the european court?
rues around the implementation of EU laws
where is the european commission situated?
brussels
how many commissioners are in the european commision
28
how many members are in the european parliament?
754
in 2013 what was found about UK GDP and the EU?
polling found that majority of UK believe we give between 35 - 50% of UK GDP to EU budget
actual figure is less than 2%
what was the EU budget in 2019?
around 165 euros
3.2% increase from 2018
94% is usually spent on policies
when was the euro introduced?
in 1999
it is the single currency for the european monetary union
how many countries in the EU use the euro?
19
what are the advantages of the euro?
- reeve uncetainty
- removes friction in trade
- provides stability
- less intervention
- weaker countries can enjoy lower interest rates
what are the disadnatges of the euro?
individual states cannot pursue independent monetary policies
(single currency meant EU has no central bank)
what are benefits for companies in the eurozone?
- ease of fearing exchange
- bigger, more competitive markets
- transparent proce differences
- lower borrowing costs
- wage transparency
what is the EU competition policy?
It promotes the maintenance of competition within the European Single Market by regulating anti-competitive conduct by companies to ensure that they do not create cartels and monopolies that would damage the interests of society.
concerns actions of forms and nation states
commission conducts its own investigations if policies have been infringed then firms can be fined up to 10% of global turnover
member states have own competition authorities swell (UK Compatito and market authority) but EU market needs a common framework underpinned by EU law: competition policy
- looks at dominance in market aswell such as market share, high prices, price discinrmnation
what is the case study for european competition policy with probe into airlines?
EU inquiry into cartel between BA, Air France and Cargolux
price fixing between 1999 and 2006
found guilty in 2010 paid 800m euros
what is the most famous example of EU competition enforcement
- microsoft and the EU
- first battle over Mediaplayer
- second battle concerned lack of choice of interest browser
- Micorosoft fined 1.6 billion euros to date as they breached competitive position
google also been fined 5 for pushing chrome onto manufacturers
