UK Politics: European Union

Question 1

Countries part of the EU

Answer 1

The EU countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Question 2

When did it begin to be formed?

Answer 2

-after WW2.
-focus was on economic ties, strong democracies, shared values within Western Europe.

Question 3

Aims of the European project

Answer 3

-economic recovery.
-prosperity.
-embedding democracy & human rights.
-peace & solidarity.

Question 4

What did Churchill say? 1946

Answer 4

“must build a kind of united states of Europe.”

Question 5

The Schuman Declaration 1950

Answer 5

-Schuman said that he wanted to create ‘de facto solidarity’.
-he wanted a constitutional and structural dynamic.
-the pooling of coal & steel production changes the destinies of regions devoted to the manufacture of war.

Question 6

What was the European Coal & Steel community? 1952

Answer 6

-beginning of the Eu.
-aimed to strengthen economy & create a common market.
-linked in Germany & France.
-later joined by Italy, France, Belgium & Luxemburg.
-some feared this would deepen divide of East & West.
-Atoee said Britain won’t join & he ‘would not accept the economy being handed over to an unaccountable authority that’s undemocratic.”

Question 7

Key events in the making of the EU

Answer 7

-Treaty of Rome 1958
-Single European act 1985
-Schengen agreement 1985
-Maastricht treaty 1992
-Eurozone 1999

Question 8

Treaty of Paris 1951-2

Answer 8

established European coal & steel community enabling a common market.
-established High Authority in order to supervise the market, monitor compliance with competition rules & ensure price transparency.

Membership was 6 countries; France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxemburg.

Question 9

Treaty of Rome 1957-8

Answer 9

Established the EEC & created a wider economic market.
-effectively laid foundations of an ‘even closer Union’ & greatly expanded the scope of the institution into areas of agriculture & a common tarifs policy.

Same membership as the ECSC.

Question 10

Enlargement Round 1 1973

Answer 10

First significant expansion in EEC membership.
-Denmark, Ireland & UK joined EEC & Spain & Portugal joined subsequently.

Question 11

Single European act passed 1985-7

Answer 11

A single European market was created. Qualified majority voting (QMV) rather than unanimity was adopted for votes on legislation to do with the single market.

Question 12

Schengen Agreement 1985

Answer 12

Removed internal border controls so effectively created a single travel area within the EEC/EU.

The UK & Ireland secured an opt-out from the agreement.

Question 13

Maastricht Treaty 1992

Answer 13

Created the EU & established a timetable for economic & monetary Union & increased cooperation between member states in foreign & security policy.

Question 14

Eurozone created 1999

Answer 14

11 countries abolished their national currencies & adopted the euro.
Marked another significant stage in economic integration.
Meant monetary policy for those states such as setting interest rates was in hands of European Central Bank, not national govt.

4 countries didn’t join this (UK included). Since 1999, 8 more countries adopted the Euro.

Question 15

The European Union

Answer 15

-consists of 27 member states.
-different EU institutions responsible for executive, legislative & judicial.
-EU’s aims include peace, removing internal borders & achieving freedom & economic growth while promoting different cultures & languages.
-Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016 and left in 2020.
-the EU played a significant role in UK politics before & since the referendum.

Question 16

European commission (Brussels): Membership

Answer 16

-27 commissioners who allocate responsibilities for policy areas.
-the commission president (Ursula von der leyen) nominated by European council but must be approved by the European parliament.
-individual commissioners nominated by national govts & voted on by the European parliament.

Question 17

European commission: Significance

Answer 17

-27 commissioners, one from each EU country.
-commissioners not directly elected: national govts nominate commissioners & the European Council nominated the president of the commission.
-nominees confirmed by the European parliament.

Question 18

European commission: Function

Answer 18

-both the civil service & administrative branch of the EU & devises policy.
-proposes new laws.
-manages EU policies & allocates EU funding.
-enforces EU law & ensured member states comply.
-represents the EU internationally including in the negotiation of agreements.

Question 19

European commission: Examples of its work

Answer 19

-June 2020, commission announced a 9% reduction in funding for the Common Agricultural policy.
-1982, commission issued the Seveso Directive dealing with the storage of dangerous substances in the oil & chemical industries to minimise the risk of major incidents.
-affects over 12,000 industrial establishments across the EU.

Question 20

Council of the European Union (Brussels): Membership

Answer 20

-govt ministers from each EU country, according to policy area to be discussed.
-membership is effectively decided by national govts.

Question 21

Council of the European Union: Function

Answer 21

-main EU decision-making body, previously known as the Council of Ministers.
-no fixed members.
-compromises 10 sectional councils dealing with a specific policy area (Agriculture/Fisheries).
-shared legislative powers with European parliament & coordinated economic policy across the states.
-negotiates and approved laws proposed by commission.
-most decisions agreed using QMV, but in a few areas such as foreign policy & taxation, unanimity is required.

Question 22

Council of the European Union: Significance

Answer 22

Intergovernmental body:
-govt ministers from each of the member nations attend & make decisions together.
-10 diff types of meetings attended by the appropriate ministers (finance ministers at the meeting on economic & financial affairs).

Question 23

Council of the European Union: Example of its work

Answer 23

-negotiated trade deals with non-EU states such as that in 2019 with Japan.

Question 24

European Council (Brussels except in April,June,Oct in Luxemburg): Membership

Answer 24

-quarterly summit meetings of leaders of all member states.
-council chooses a president to serve a 5 year term.
-E.g. 2019, Michel replaced Tusk.
-meetings attended by president who does not have a vote.

Question 25

European Council: Function

Answer 25

-‘agenda setting’ & defining EU’s overall direction & priorities.
-not one of the EU’s legislating institutions so does not negotiate or adopt EU laws.
-key strategic body of EU.

Question 26

European Council: Significance

Answer 26

Intergovernmental body
-heads of govt for all EU nations meet 4 times a year.

Question 27

European Council: Examples of its work

Answer 27

-oversaw Brexit negotiations with the UK, laying down the EU’s terms.
-formulated an EU response to unrest in Ukraine & the threat posed by Russia.
-a 2019 tweet by former president of the European Council, Tusk said “There can be no Europe without an independent Ukraine.”

Question 28

European Parliament (Strasbourg, some in Luxemburg): Membership

Answer 28

-post-Brexit, contains 705 members (MEPs) directly elected by member states.
-number of MEPs per country is determined by size, Germany has 96 MEPs, while Malta has 6.
-MEPs sit in pan-European political groupings, such as the Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats

Question 29

European parliament: Function

Answer 29

-It approves the annual EU budget.
-It amends and vetoes EU legislation as proposed by the Council of the European Union and drafted by the Commission.
-it cannot propose its own legislation.
-It confirms the appointment of commissioners nominated by national governments.
-It oversees the work of EU institutions, notably the European Commission.

Question 30

European Parliament: Significance

Answer 30

-The EU’s only directly elected body.
-705 Members of the European Parliament (MEPS).
-Each EU nation is allocated a number of seats in the European Parliament that reflects its size, e.g. Germany has 96 and Cyprus has 6.