W1: history of the EU Flashcards
Historical development: what is European integration?
Widening
The enlargement of the European Union; ‘widening’ of EU membership
Deepening
Increasing supranational decision-making and policy competences
Copenhagen Criteria:
criteria in the treaty on the european union with conditions and principles to which any country wishing to become a member must conform
- stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;
- a functioning market economy and the ability to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the EU;
- the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including the capacity to effectively implement the rules, standards and policies that make up the body of EU law (the ‘acquis’), and adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union (Euro!).
Accession process:
- Country submits an application to the council
- European Commission submits an opinion on the application
- EU member states need to decide unanimously if they accept and grant the applicant the status of candidate
- After certain conditions are met, negotiations are opened (with unanimous agreement)
- Candidate must work to implement EU law and standards during negotiations
- Commission gives opinion once the negotiations are finished
- EU member states decide (unanimously) whether to close the process and sign an accession treaty. EP needs to give consent as well
- Accession treaty needs to be ratified by all EU member states
Deepening of the EU:
Over the years the degree of policy integration and extent of supranational decision-making is rising.
- Every treaty that was signed, more sovereignty went to the EU 🡪 these kind of integration is not something we should take for granted
- In 2012 the EU received the Nobel peace prize, important if you look at the history. Europe has always been war 🡪 needed to stop. Until WW2 there was no willingness for integration.
European Coal and Steel community
Pre WWII: no willingness to surrender sovereignty
Aftermath WWII: opportunity for European integration
- Emergence of the cold war: uniting (with West-Germany) against Russian threat
- The German problem: interdependence to avert the threat of future conflict
- Coal supply necessary for reconstruction of Europe, need to pool resources
- Strong US influence: integrated European economy is good for the US
Schumann plan (may 1950)
- Proposed by French foreign minister Robert schumann, devised by Jean Monnet
- Provided the basis for the European Coal and Steel community. Crucial for the reconstruction of Europe, starting small.
- The plan was innovative because it proposed the institution of an impartial body: The High Authority that would be empowered to monitor and execute the agreement between the member states. This feature would give the ECSC the characteristics of a supranational organization.
- A second important feature of the plan was its limited scope. Cooperation would start on a small basis by first trying to manage the common market for coal and steel. It was a deliberate decision to do this, because it was absolutely clear that the time was not ripe yet for a fully-fledged federal state
Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (1951)
- Six Signatories: Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Luxembourg
- Customs union for coal and steel: free movement of products without customs duties or taxes.
- Creation of supranational institutions: High Authority (independent appointees); Common Assembly (national parliamentarians); Special Council (ministers); Court of Justice
The European Economic Community
- European Defence Community and European Political Community failed: no willingness to surrender sovereignty (highly sensitive)
- Realisation ECSC members states: a general common market is advantageous for all
Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community (1957):
- “preserve peace and liberty and to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe”
- Focus on economic integration: political integration not feasible
- General common market: open national markets by removing tariffs (main barrier to free trade)
- Common policies for agriculture, transport and trade
Treaty establishing EURATOM: Governs the peaceful use of nuclear energy
Three other developments signaled the EEC’s success in cooperating on economic front:
- The Yaoundé agreement, a preferential trade agreement (countries agree on lowering the tariffs they charge on importing goods) with the former colonies.
- The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the negotiating framework for liberalizing trade in the world.
- The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), established a system of guaranteed minimum prices for specific agricultural products.
Pooling sovereignty: the dilemma of European integration
- Cooperation is beneficial: accomplishing more together than individually
- Supranational institutions are necessary: credible commitments + efficient decision-making
- Implications: the more cooperation, the less sovereignty
Dilemma of European integration: cooperation vs sovereignty
Two landmark cases by the CJEU in the 60s:
- Van Gend & Loos (direct effect)
- Costa v ENEL (supremacy of EU law)
Van Gend & Loos:
Direct effect
- The Netherlands Government: only countries can go to the national court and invoke EU law, not individuals
- The EEC treaty is more than an agreement which merely creates mutual obligations between the contracting states.
- The Community constitutes a new legal order of international law for the benefit of which the states have limited their sovereign rights, albeit within limited fields, and the subjects of which comprise not only Member States but also their nationals.
- Ergo: EU law can be directly invoked by citizens and is a new legal order
Costa v ENEL:
Supremacy of EU law
Established the principle of supremacy in EU law, which is an independent source of law that cannot be overridden by domestic laws. If national legislation conflicts with EU law, EU law overrides national legislation.
What history teaches us about EU politics today
- Member states have diverging opinions on the pace and scope of integration: the UK, for example, has traditionally been a Eurosceptic member state, whilst Luxembourg has always been a staunch supporter of further integrative steps.
Eurosceptic: term used for people, member states or political parties that have been highly critical of European integration. - Decision-making has also been difficult because it required the cooperation and approval of many different actors.
