The European Union Flashcards
Aims of the EU
Promote peace
Establish a single European market
Promote European cohesion
Combat discrimination
Principles of the single European market
Free movement of goods, services, people and capital
Successes of the single European market
Created more than 2.5 million jobs
Helped increase GDP by 15%
European Commission
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
Functions of the European Commission
Initiates draft legislation
Executes EU legislation
Administers EU expenditure and collects revenue
Represents the EU on the world stage (eg. trade negotiations)
European Union institutions
European Commission Council of the European Union European Council European Parliament Court of Justice of the European Union
Council of the European Union
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
Voting procedures for decisions made by the Council of the European Union
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
European Council
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
Functions of the European Council
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
European Parliament
Legislative
Directly elected
751 MEPs, with seats proportional to population
MEPs sit in groups based on ideology rather than nationality
Powers of the European Parliament
Legislative power
Budgetary power
(Both shared with the Council of the European Union)
Democratic supervision - elects the President of the European Commission
Court of Justice of the European Union
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
Judicial branch of the EU
Court of Justice of the European Union
Legislative branch of the EU
Council of the European Union
European Parliament
Executive branch of the EU
European Commission
Council of the European Union
Types of EU activity
“History-making decisions” - European Council
“Day-to-day decisions” - European Commission, Council of the European Union and European Parliament
Democratic deficit
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.
Principles that the EU must act according to when exercising its competences
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
Examples of British “awkwardness” in the EU
Distinctive history and culture Late entry (1973) Wariness of further integration EU policy exemptions - The Euro Weak inter/intra party consensus Popular euroscepticism
Pro EU has achieved its aims
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
Anti EU has achieved its aims
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
Pro Brexit will restore British sovereignty
Will restore parliamentary sovereignty
Will return all policy decisions to the UK government and parliament
Anti Brexit will restore British sovereignty
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
