The European Union Flashcards

1
Q

In what ways has the UK always lacked commitment to the EU?

A
  • 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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What did the Maastricht Treaty 1991 establish?

A
  • 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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the only directly elected EU institution?

A

The European Parliament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does The European Court of Justice ensure?

A

That European law is applied equally and interpreted the same way in all member states.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What Act recognised the centrality of a fully functioning internal market to European integration?

A

The Single European Act

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the four freedoms among member states established in the Treaty of Rome?

A
  • The free movement of goods
  • The free movement of services
  • The free movement of capital
  • The free movement of people
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What does ‘free movement of goods’ mean?

A

States should not impose tariffs on goods from another member state.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does ‘free movement of services’ mean?

A

Businesses should be able to open up and operate in any member state.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does ‘free movement of capital’ mean?

A

Capital should be able to move freely throughout the member states.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does ‘free movement of people’ mean?

A

No internal internal barriers should stop citizens working in any member state and be able to claim social benefits.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the central importance to European integration?

A
  • Eliminating national barriers to achieve prosperity through inter-connectedness.
  • The liberal principle ‘if goods do not cross borders armies will’ - Frédéric Bastiaf
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What 3 things should European integration encourage?

A
  • Protection of human rights.
  • Political/social union.
  • Common foreign and defence policy.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How is social unity encouraged through EU membership?

A

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 well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How is the protection of human rights guaranteed through EU membership?

A
  • The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union became legally binding to all member states when they ratified the Lisbon Treaty in 2009.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What charter will not be retained by the European Union Withdrawal Act 2020?

A

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How is political union encouraged by EU membership?

A

The Maastricht Treaty 1991 also established a common EU citizenship and, significantly, changed the EU from a community to a Union.

17
Q

What are the arguments for UK membership of the European Union?

A
  • 3.1 million British jobs rely upon EU trade.
  • The confederation of British Industry estimated that the net benefit was worth between 4-5% of GDP during the EU ref.
  • Most economists agree the UK economy has benefited from EU immigration. In 2013-4, EU citizens living in the UK paid £14.7billion in tax and National insurance, but claimed only £2.6 billion in tax credits and child benefit.
  • Has brought together independent, multipolar nations encouraging peace and stability, and shared values like democracy & human rights.
  • The Social Chapter of the Maastricht Treaty provided important safeguards to workers rights like 4 week pay holiday and paternity leave.
18
Q

What are the arguments against UK membership of the EU?

A
  • It undermined parliamentary sovereignty and its right to legislate on the behalf of the British people. (Factortame case)
  • UK contributes more to the EU than it gets back. In 2017, the UK made a net contribution of £9 billion to the EU.
  • The EU has been accused of having democratic deficit as the commission is not directly elected. The EU’s only directly elected body, the parliament, has less direct influence than most legislative assemblies.
  • EU legislation creates another layer of unnecessary law which may not serve the interests of British citizens. The think tank Open Europe estimated the implementation of EU regulation costed £33 billion every year.
19
Q

What were the points made by the leave campaign?

A
  • ‘Take back control’- (EU’s lack of democratic accountability, parliamentary sovereignty)
  • More control over laws.
  • Brexit would allow the UK to make own global free trade deals.
  • Greater border control.
  • More money for the UK.
20
Q

What were the points made by the remain campaign?

A
  • ‘Britain stronger in Europe’.
  • Being part of the EU keeps the cost of living down.
  • Increased opportunities through right to work and study across the UK.
  • Guarantees employment rights.
21
Q

What is legal sovereignty?

A

Defined in law as a body in a state with unlimited legal authority.

22
Q

What is political sovereignty?

A

Stand above legal sovereignty in a democracy as it comes from the people- they elect, thus delegate their authority to parliament. Parliament is accountable.