The European Union

Question 1

Aims of the EU

Answer 1

Promote peace
Establish a single European market
Promote European cohesion
Combat discrimination

Question 2

Principles of the single European market

Answer 2

Free movement of goods, services, people and capital

Question 3

Successes of the single European market

Answer 3

Created more than 2.5 million jobs

Helped increase GDP by 15%

Question 4

European Commission

Answer 4

The executive body of the EU, with political and administrative function
Acts in the general interest of the EU and is independent of member states

Question 5

Functions of the European Commission

Answer 5

Initiates draft legislation
Executes EU legislation
Administers EU expenditure and collects revenue
Represents the EU on the world stage (eg. trade negotiations)

Question 6

European Union institutions

Answer 6

European Commission
Council of the European Union
European Council
European Parliament
Court of Justice of the European Union

Question 7

Council of the European Union

Answer 7

Legislative and Executive
Main decision-making body of the EU
Shares legislative powers with the European Parliament
Coordinates the economic policies of member states
Develops the common foreign and security policy of the EU

Question 8

Voting procedures for decisions made by the Council of the European Union

Answer 8

Major or sensitive policy proposals will fail if vetoed by any member state
Qualified majority voting - 55% of states representing 65% of the EU population
Four states representing 35% of the EU population required to block legislation

Question 9

European Council

Answer 9

Where heads of government and foreign ministers meet, along with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission
Meets at least four times a year
The EU’s key strategic body, enhancing the power of member states and reducing the influence of the European Commission

Question 10

Functions of the European Council

Answer 10

Discusses major issues
Sets the political direction for the EU
Makes key decisions on foreign and economic policy
Launches new initiatives and agrees changes to treaties

Question 11

European Parliament

Answer 11

Legislative
Directly elected
751 MEPs, with seats proportional to population
MEPs sit in groups based on ideology rather than nationality

Question 12

Powers of the European Parliament

Answer 12

Legislative power
Budgetary power
(Both shared with the Council of the European Union)
Democratic supervision - elects the President of the European Commission

Question 13

Court of Justice of the European Union

Answer 13

Upholds EU law and ensures that it is applied uniformly and effectively
Decides cases involving member states, EU institutions, businesses and individuals
Extends the EU’s competence and strengthens its institutions

Question 14

Judicial branch of the EU

Answer 14

Court of Justice of the European Union

Question 15

Legislative branch of the EU

Answer 15

Council of the European Union

European Parliament

Question 16

Executive branch of the EU

Answer 16

European Commission

Council of the European Union

Question 17

Types of EU activity

Answer 17

“History-making decisions” - European Council

“Day-to-day decisions” - European Commission, Council of the European Union and European Parliament

Question 18

Democratic deficit

Answer 18

The erosion of democratic accountability that occurs when decision-making authority is transferred from national governments that are directly accountable to voters and national parliaments, to EU institutions that are less accountable.

Question 19

Principles that the EU must act according to when exercising its competences

Answer 19

Proportionality -EU action should not go beyond what it necessary to achieve the objectives of the treaties
Subsidiarity - EU must only act if it will be more effective than action taken at national, regional or local level

Question 20

Examples of British “awkwardness” in the EU

Answer 20

Distinctive history and culture
Late entry (1973)
Wariness of further integration
EU policy exemptions - The Euro
Weak inter/intra party consensus
Popular euroscepticism

Question 21

Pro EU has achieved its aims

Answer 21

Single Market is the largest in the world and has promoted trade, investment and prosperity (500 million consumers)
Has protected and extended the rights of citizens, through the right to live and work in another EU state
Has promoted the economic development of its poorer regions
Eliminated transaction costs within the Eurozone
Delivered coordinated action on cross-border issues, such as criminal justice and immigration
Cemented democracy and the rule of law

Question 22

Anti EU has achieved its aims

Answer 22

Single market is incomplete
Economic growth is weak and socioeconomic inequality is growing
Free movement of people has led to terrorism
Opposed by many nationalist movements throughout Europe

Question 23

Pro Brexit will restore British sovereignty

Answer 23

Will restore parliamentary sovereignty

Will return all policy decisions to the UK government and parliament

Question 24

Anti Brexit will restore British sovereignty

Answer 24

Globalisation means that no state can act fully independently on many issues - e.g the environment, economics and immigration
Brexit deal may still entail some loss of sovereignty