The European Union Flashcards
European Coal and Steel Community
Formed in 1952 an international organization to control and integrate all European coal and steel production. Consisted of West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France. Aimed to be so close together economically that war against them impossible.
European Economic Community (EEC)
The regional trade and economic organization established in Western Europe by the Treaty of Rome in 1958; also known as the Common Market.
1972 European Communities Act
Legislated for the accession of the UK to the EU.
1985 Single European Act
Created the EU single market.
1991 Maastricht Treaty
Created the EU, began to develop the Euro.
1997 Amsterdam Treaty
Created an ‘area of freedom, security, and justice’
Eurozone
The group of European Union nations whose national currency is the euro.
2001 Nice Treaty
Created a common EU security and defence policy.
2007 Lisbon Treaty
Amended and reformed previous treaties to improve the democratic and accountable nature of EU institutions
Debt crisis
Extended crisis which began in 2009 and led to five nations being bailed out by the EU.
Migrant crisis
A a term given to a period beginning in 2013 when rising numbers of people arrived in the European Union from across the Mediterranean Sea or overland through Southeast Europe; new EU measures had little impact.
Brexit referendum
2016, the UK vote to leave the EU by 51.9%
Single market
A system in which goods, services, and capital move freely, with no barriers
Four freedoms of movement
Goods, services, people, capital
Structural Funds
Money distributed within the EU from richer members to poorer member states to help the latter develop economically and meet EU standards.
European Central Bank
The central bank for the EU’s single currency, the euro
Europol
European Police Office. The integrated police intelligence-gathering and dissemination arm of the member nations of European Union.
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Issued in 2000, it enshrines the rights of the ECHR as well as rulings of the ECJ on rights into EU law.
Liberal Democracy
A political system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty and emphasizes individual freedom and civil rights. The EU aims to promote this across formerly authoritarian or communist states in Europe.
The European Council
Made up of the heads of government and foreign ministers of the EU member states; this body represents the interests of the member states within the EU. It sets the EU’s political direction.
The European Commission
Made up of nation-nominated commissioners this body is like an executive branch, responsible for proposing EU legislation, implementing it, and monitoring compliance.
The Council of Ministers
Made up of government ministers and also known as the Council of the EU, this body is the equivalent of an upper legislature and has legislative and some executive powers.
The European Parliament
Made up of elected MEPs this body is the equivalent of a lower legislative house, it has legislative and budgetary powers.
European Court of Justice
The EU’s judicial body, with sweeping powers to uphold EU law and ensure it is being applied.
Policy competences
The areas in which the EU can act, conferred on it by the treaties.
Democratic Deficit
The erosion of democratic accountability that occurs when decision-making authority is transferred from national governments to EU institutions which some see as undemocratic.
Euroscepticism
Opposition to the process of European integration, based on a defence of national sovereignty and national identity.
Three Criticisms of the UK’s Membership of the EU (9 marks)
Democratic Deficit - directly elected European Council is not sufficiently powerful (cannot initiate legislation)
Loss of Sovereignty - EU law primacy and has exclusive competences e.g Customs Union
Voting - legislation the UK supports can be vetoed by one country via unanimity voting, can be outvoted by qualified majority voting but has to follow, the will of the electorate thwarted e.g. Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.
Three Treaties That Have Altered the Work of the EU since 1985 (9 marks)
The Single European Act - 1985, single European market, social and regional policy community role, qualified majority voting on single market legislation
The Maastricht Treaty - 1991, created the EU, the timetable for the economic and monetary union (EMU), intergov. cooperation in foreign, security, justice and home affairs policies
The Nice Treaty of 2001 - established European security and defence policy and introduced institutional reforms
