The European Union

Question 1

E+A the powers of 3 European Institutions

Answer 1

1. Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
   Luxembourg
   interprets EU law, ensuring its consistent application across member states, cases are brought to it when laws are being infringed. Ultimate source of legal authority cant be overruled.
   June 2021 ruled Hungary violated several EU laws, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, by enacting legislation that banned the depiction of homosexuality and transgender issues in school educational materials and TV programs for under-18s, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to protecting citizens’ rights and ensuring member states comply with EU law.
   2020 blocked three and 02 merging
   the CJEU’s judgements are binding in
   all member states and that it has the power to fine those that do not comply. You should mention that most of its cases concern areas such as trade, patents and state aid to businesses.
2. European Parliament
   Strasbourg
   705 MEPS post Brexit per country determined by size 96 for Germany and 6 for Malta
   Approves the annual EU budget, amends and vetoes legislation proposed by the Council and drafted by the Commission, cant prepose its own legislation, oversees work of others like the commission
   it is the only directly elected EU institution, but
   can’t propose laws or remove individual EU
   commissioners.
3. European Commission
   Brussels
   27 commissioners (1 per state) led by the president Ursula Von der Leyen since Dec 2019 who is nominated by the council but approved by parliament. Individual council nominated by national govt voted then voted by parliament
   Hybrid is civil service and admin and devised policy, proposes laws only branch to do so, manages policy, allocates funding, enforces law with the cjeu, represents during negotiations of agreements
   2020 9% reduction in funding for the Common Agriculture Policy
   1982 commission issued the Seveso Directive dealing with storage of dangerous substances to minimise risk of major accidents which effects over 12000 industrial establishments across the EU.
   it is partially the EU’s civil service but
   also has important powers in drafting directives. You could mention how it is often (unfairly?) criticised as being the epitome of the ‘Brussels gravy train’ and the body most associated with imposing unwelcome
   regulations on the UK.

Question 2

2. E+A 3 ways the EU could be said to have achieved its aims

Answer 2

1. single market
   its introduction following the Maastricht Treaty
   enhanced through Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) which introduced new provisions on employment, social policy, and the environment.
   The Treaty of Nice (2001) which reformed the EU’s institutional framework to prepare for enlargement.
   The Treaty of Lisbon (2007) which further reformed the EU’s institutional framework, including by creating a permanent President of the European Council, a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the European External Action Service.
   The Treaty of Accession (2011) which brought Croatia into the EU as its 28th member state.
   successful in terms of promoting economic growth across the EU, but has been criticised sometimes due to reducing individual governments’ ability to help ailing industries. natural link with a single currency, though not all EU members are in the eurozone.
2. promotion of democracy and you could
   the EU requires member states to abide by democratic norms, such as free elections and a free press
   particularly important in helping to cement democracy in former Soviet-bloc countries that have joined the EU, such as the Baltic republics. You could also mention growing
   concerns, particularly about Hungary and Poland, on the decline in a free press and a growing authoritarianism in government.
   Ukrane is an example of a country not in the EU
3. closer integration.
   seek an ‘ever closer union’, not just economically but also in many political areas.
   Common foreign and security policy: The EU has a common foreign and security policy, which seeks to promote stability and security in Europe and beyond. This includes coordinating member states’ responses to global crises and threats, as well as promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
   The EU budget: The EU has a budget which is funded by contributions from member states. The budget supports a range of programs and initiatives designed to promote economic, social, and territorial cohesion among member states.
   produced fears and something of a backlash with the rise of populist Eurosceptic parties (e.g. UKIP and the northern League in Italy) across much of Europe and, ultimately, the Brexit vote.
   greater integration was seen as crucial in ensuring stability and cohesion among member states. Macron believes the EU should have one voice

Question 3

E+A 3 ways that the EU affected UK policy making and politics

Answer 3

1. Eurosceptic UKIP/Brexit Party, the Liberal Democrats’ strongly pro-EU stance, and divisions among the Labour and Conservative parties. Ireland protocol controversy unionists (who support Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK) arguing that it undermines the country’s constitutional position, and some nationalists (who support Northern Ireland becoming part of a united Ireland) arguing that it creates a border in the Irish Sea.
   growing and divisive Tory Euroscepticism
   largely explains Cameron’s decision to call the 2016 referendum.
   divide was particularly grave for the Conservatives, especially from 2017 to 2019, but how Johnson’s promise of ‘final
   delivery’ helped propel the Tories into power at the December election.
2. how EU law had supremacy while Britain
   was a member, citing one or two examples such as Factortame.
   since Brexit and the ‘Great Repeal Act’. Yet, it could also be said that the UK will continue to be influenced by EU law, since it will still want to trade in large volumes with the EU, so standardisation of regulations in
   areas such as product safety are likely to continue.
   Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) jan 1 2021 no tariffs or quotas on goods
3. the courts
   when the UK was an EU member state, the UK courts had to incorporate EU law and CJEU rulings into their decisions.
   UK companies O2 and three could not merge
   Vodafone GmbH v. Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs where UK tax legislation was indeed incompatible with EU law Vodafone gets refund for overpaid tax when govt appealed to CJEU
   one of the factors that fuelled Euroscepticism, as many saw it as an infringement on UK sovereignty. Again, you could note how Brexit has ended this influence of EU courts on the British judiciary now they can adapt legislation