The European Union Flashcards
In what ways has the UK always lacked commitment to the EU?
- It is an island, meaning the commitment to members pursuing a foreign policy and security policy established in the Maastricht Treaty 1991 is less relevant.
- Britain has its own currency, distancing itself from the Single European currency aim of the Maastricht Treaty.
- Parliamentary sovereignty highlights how parliament can always retain the sovereign right to legislate to restore full parliamentary sovereignty (EU Withdrawal Agreement Act 2020)
- Imperial legacy through the common wealth.
What did the Maastricht Treaty 1991 establish?
- The EU with common citizenship.
- It committed members to pursue a common foreign & security policy and launched plans for a Single European Currency.
- The principle of monetary union was agreed, inspiring economic union too.
- Also created the European Central Bank to set a common interest rate for members of the Eurozone.
What is the only directly elected EU institution?
The European Parliament
What does The European Court of Justice ensure?
That European law is applied equally and interpreted the same way in all member states.
What Act recognised the centrality of a fully functioning internal market to European integration?
The Single European Act
What are the four freedoms among member states established in the Treaty of Rome?
- The free movement of goods
- The free movement of services
- The free movement of capital
- The free movement of people
What does ‘free movement of goods’ mean?
States should not impose tariffs on goods from another member state.
What does ‘free movement of services’ mean?
Businesses should be able to open up and operate in any member state.
What does ‘free movement of capital’ mean?
Capital should be able to move freely throughout the member states.
What does ‘free movement of people’ mean?
No internal internal barriers should stop citizens working in any member state and be able to claim social benefits.
What is the central importance to European integration?
- Eliminating national barriers to achieve prosperity through inter-connectedness.
- The liberal principle ‘if goods do not cross borders armies will’ - Frédéric Bastiaf
What 3 things should European integration encourage?
- Protection of human rights.
- Political/social union.
- Common foreign and defence policy.
How is social unity encouraged through EU membership?
The Maastricht Treaty included the Social Chapter which established certain rights which all workers in the EU could claim in areas like health & safety, freedom from discrimination, equal treatment for men and women, pain holidays, and parental leave on birth of child.
How is the protection of human rights guaranteed through EU membership?
- The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union became legally binding to all member states when they ratified the Lisbon Treaty in 2009.
What charter will not be retained by the European Union Withdrawal Act 2020?
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union