The European Union Flashcards
The European Coal and Steel community
1952
France, West Germany, Italy, Belguim, Netherlands and Luxembourg
supranational
having authority independent of national governments
The European economic community
1958
EEC under treaty of rome
CAP 1962
customs union 1968 common external tariff
single European act
1985
single market
more social and regional policy
Maastricht Treaty
1991
created EU
increased intergovernmental cooperation
Amsterdam treaty 1997
area of freedom, security and justice
economic and monetary union
1999
other states adopted the euro
Lisbon treaty
2007
reforming EU institutions
aims of the EU
article 3 of eu treaty
promote peace
establish single market
monetary union
article 26, Treaty on the functioning of the European Union
‘an area without internal frontiers in which free movement of goods, services , persons and capital is ensured’
how many jobs has the single market created (estimate)
2.5 million
the single market has helped increase GDP by how much
15%
2014 how many citizens from other EU states moved to the UK
268,000
2014 how many people emigrated from the UK to other states
98,000
what did the single market prompt
social,employment and regional policy
what is the reason for cohesion between states
reduce disparities
what has EU social and economic policy been critisised for
imposing costs to businesses, not doing enough to improve competition
European central bank
implements monetary policy for the eurozone, seeking to remain low inflation
opt out
exemption set out in law, state does not have to take part in specific EU policy
differentiated integration
form of integration states move at different speeds/to different adjectives
benefits of economic monetary union (EMU)
no exchange rate uncertainty
no transaction cost on border trade
disadvanatges of EMU
loss of sovereignty (lose currency control)
‘one size fits all’ interest rate policy might not suit
2012 fiscal compact treaty
stricter rules on budget deficits
helps economic integration
example of a cross border cooperation mechanism
European arrest warrant
how has the EU extended workers’ rights
limit working hours
improve health and safety
prohibit discrimination
EU charter of fundamental rights
2000
entrenches rights
has the EU achieved its aims (YES)
Single market 5 mill consumers largest world
protect,extended rights e.g right to work in other state
cemented rule of law in previous authoritarian states
has the EU achieved its aim (NO)
single market over regulated weak economic growth controversial migration policy EMU has difficulties migration crisis popular opposition
European commission
executive body of EU
political+administrative functions
supranational
acts in general interest of union
where is the European commission based
brussels
how is the European commission president chosen
nominated by European council
then elected by EP
how are commissioners nominated
by national governments approved by EP
roles of the European commission
initiate draft legislation most areas of activity ensure legislation is applied collects revenue administers expenditure represents eu in trade negotiations
the council of the European union
main decision making body
gov ministers from states take key decisions on EU legislation
roles of the council of the European union
share legislative power with European parliament
coordinated states economic policy
develops common foreign+security policy
European council
Heads of government+foreign ministers meet
Meets 4 times a year
How is the president of the European council selected
The states
2.5 yr term
Roles of the European council
Discusses major issues
Sets political direction of EU
Key decisions on foreign policy+econ situ
Launches new initiatives, Agee changes to treaties
European Parliament
EU’s directly elected institution
When are EU parliament elections
Every five years
How many MEPs are there
751
How are seats allocated in EP
According to their population
How are MEPs seats positioned
Transnational party groups based on ideology rather than nationality
Where is European Parliament located (3)
Strasbourg
Brussels
Luxembourg
European Parliaments legislative power
Shares with council of European Union
Can’t initiate legislation
Can amend+veto
European Parliaments budgetary power
Shares it with council of European Union
Request amends to budget+veto
European Parliaments democratic supervision
Elects president of European Commission after nomination by European council
Can question commissioners and council members
Court of justice of the European Union
Uphold eu law
Ensure it’s applied
Where is the court of justice of the European Union located
Luxembourg
Who’s cases does the European court decide on
Member states
Eu institutions
Businesses
Individuals
European court of human rights
Intergovernmental organisation 1949
Associated with council of Europe
What is the Council of the European Union equivalent to in Britain
An upper house (Lords)
National governments are represented
What is the European Parliament equivalent to in Britain
Lower house (commons) Member states represented based on population
What of branch the EU is the European Commission
Executive
Each commissioner has a policy portfolio
Makes proposals to legislative branch
Responsible for implementing law
Who makes ‘history making decisions’ (e.g treaty changes)
European council
Who makes ‘day to day’ decisions
European Commission
Council of European Union
European Parliament
Democratic deficit
Decision making authority goes from national governments to the EU
There is a democratic deficit in the European Union (YES)
Lgisltion initiates by EC not directly elect
Nation govs outvoted under QMV
EP which is elected has little influence
Low turnout
Citizens don’t indentify wi it
There is a democratic deficit in the European Union (NO)
EC accountable to EP
Supranational institutions have great autonomy
System of checks+ balances
EU doesn’t have power over tax,education
European Union policies
Binded in treaties
Treaty of Rome
Lisbon treaty
Competence
Legal capacity to act in a particular area
Multi level governance
Sub national, national and supranational institutions have policy competences
Political sovereignty
Sovereignty in practice
Why is the British state less centralised now
Power moving upwards to EU
Down to devolved institutions and local gov
Legal sovereignty
Theoretical exercise of sovereignty
What do eurosceptics often argue
Legal sovereignty
EU membership=loss of sovereignty as EU law takes precedent+EU has exclusive competences in some areas
What do pro Europeans often argue
Sovereignty means effective influence
Uk pooled sovereignty when joining this can increase influence
Parliamentary sovereignty
Leg by Parliament cannot be overturned
Parliament can leg on any subject
No parliament can bind successors
What has EU membership challenged
Parliamentary sovereignty
European communities Act (ECA) 1972 EU law is primary
1990 Factortame case is an example of what
How laws by parliament can be overturned
Merchant shipping Act 1988 overturned by parliament didn’t comply with EU law
(However parliament could repeal from ECA)
How has Parliamentary sovereignty been challenged by referendums
Shifts to popular sovereignty
European Union Act 2011
Any further treaty transferring power from the UK to the EU must be put to binding referendum
^wont be used due to Brexit
Will departure from the EU restore British sovereignty (YES)
Parliament will be highest authority
Policy competence lie with parliament
Voters hold gov to account more
Will departure from RU restore British sovereignty (NO)
Globalisation (can’t be independent)
Pooled sovereignty gave more influence
Post Brexit deal might mean don’t receive all sovereignty
Common agricultural policy CAP
Agricultural subsidies+price interventions
EU buys products if farmers can’t sell-guaranteed income
How much of EU expenditure does CAP cover
38%
Used to be 70%
EUs Common Fisheries policy (CFP)
Sets quotas on amount and types of fish caught
Sets minimum price
Unanimity
Proposal will fail if at least one member state vetoes it
Qualified majority voting
Achieved 55% states vote in favour
+supported by states representing at least 65% of EU population
Examples of UK exemptions from European Union
EMU
‘Social chapter’ Maastricht treaty
2012 fiscal compact treaty
What does it mean that the UK is a net contributor to the EU
They pay in more than they receive back
In 2015 how much did the UK pay into the EU
£18 billion
(Rebate of £5 billion)
Got back 4.4 bill public sec income
In 2015 what was the UKs net contribution to the EU
8.5 billion=1.5% of public spending
Comparison… uk spent £130 billion on health
Who receives £1 billion per year from the money back from the EU
Poorer regions… cornwall
Private sector research funding
Gov make up these shortfalls after Brexit
How much of the EU budget is spent on agric and fisheries and social ad regional policy
€62.48 million
€50.83 million
European social policy
Focused on corrected market failures and promoting employment
Which government opted out of the Maastricht treaties social chapter
John Major
Ended in 1997 when lab took over
Blair gov still opposed
In regards to social policy of the EU, what is the uk exempt from
Max 48 hour working week (brits can work more)
rest breaks
Paid holidays
How many fake accounts did Facebook remove in the first water of 2019
2.2 billion
How much of internet traffic comes from bots
Over half
Who is the uks main export market
EU
45% of exports in 2014
3.5 million jobs linked to trade in Europe
EU regulation cost
£33 billion
Where does the uks economy rank in the world
5th
Brexit result
51.9%
48.1%
Turnout 72% highest since 1992 election
EU referendum
23 June 2016
What advantages did the remain campaign have
Backed by gov Endorsed by senior figures from business (CBI) BofE Security services Obama
Why was the remain campaign not effective
Too negative
Didn’t highlight positives of EU
Focused a lot on economics
How many conservative MPs campaigned to leave
140
Why did boris Johnson help the leave campaign
Seen as part of ‘establishment’
Charismatic
Known by the people
Leaves message
Take back control
Where was turnout higher in EU referendum
Areas that voted to leave
What did Scotland and Northern Ireland vote
To remain
England (except london) and wales voted what
To leave
