Week 2: Treaties: Single European Act, Maastricht, Amsterdam

Question 1

Describe the costumes union issue before the implementation of the Single European Act

Answer 1

Trade wasn’t flowing across the borders of the member countries within the EEC because of the different National regulations of those member countries. There couldn’t be a single market until those were sorted out.
The SEA wanted to fix that in the first place

Question 2

What was the Recessions in the 1970s and 1980s?

Answer 2

• There was a rise in oil prices regarding geopolitical events outside of Europe’s control: the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) proclaimed an oil embargo
• Consequences: economic stagnation, industrial decline, poor productivity, rising unemployment, poor competitiveness in world markets.

Question 3

Main institutional changes of the Single European Act

Answer 3

1- Creation of a legal basis for the European Council
2- The name “European Parliament” is officially recognized
3- Creation of the Court of First Instance (CFI)
4- Extension of qualified majority voting by the Council of Ministers
5- Cooperation Procedure (new legislative procedure): increased role of the European Parliament
6-Assent procedure (accession treaties and association agreements); an increased role for the European Parliament

Question 4

Main policies of the SEA?

Answer 4

1- SEM (Single European Market): completion of the internal market by 1992
2- EPC (European Political Cooperation): foreign policy, internal security policy.
3- Regional policy: involved in educational, health, and cultural programs, social cohesion, environment, research and development areas

Question 5

Name other policies about the SEA:

Answer 5

• Cohesion policy: Gradual establishment of a European social area, elimination of the imbalances in the Community between the developed regions and the poorer regions.
• Reform of the Community’s structural funds
• Freedom of movement and establishment: Extended to ‘persons not in paid employment’ (students, pensioners, and people living on annuities), Progress in the mutual recognition of qualifications

Question 6

Name some internal factors for the foundation of the Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on the European Union)

Answer 6

• unsatisfaction with the SEA
• need for social dimension to soften the liberal market
• Democratic deficit: lack of accessibility or lack of representation of the ordinary citizen with respect to the EU institutions

Question 7

Name some external factors for the foundation of the Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on the European Union)

Answer 7

• break up of the Soviet Union
• reunification of Germany
• the implications of the ending of the Cold War.

Question 8

When was the Treaty on the European Union (Maastricht treaty) entered into force?

Answer 8

1 November 1993

Question 9

Name the three pillars of the Maastricht Treaty

Answer 9

1- First Pillar: The European Community (supranational pillar)
2- Second Pillar: The common foreign and security policy
3- Third Pillar: Cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs

Question 10

Describe the new principles of the First Pillar of the Maastricht Treaty:

Answer 10

1. Renaming: EC instead of EEC
2. New principles:
   
   • Subsidiarity: policies should be decided at national level, and perhaps even regional or local levels whenever possible
   • Union Citizenship

Question 11

What is the Consent / Assent procedure?

Answer 11

It also applies to some other purposes besides adopting legislation. The Parliament is asked for its consent for international agreements negotiated by the European Union or agreements concerning the accession to or withdrawal of a country from the EU.

Question 12

Name the institutional changes in the Maastricht treaty/ Treaty on the European Union:

Answer 12

1- Co-decision Procedure: European Parliament and the Council equal power to legislative acts
2- Assent procedure extended
3- Commission term: extended from 4 to 5 years
4- A Committee of Regions is established: made of 189 members of regional and local authorities
5- Imposition of fines: to MS not complying with the Court’s judgments
6- Ombudsman: An organizational ombudsman is employed by an organization to facilitate the informal resolution of concerns of employees of the organization.
7- Enhanced transparency: more public access to information available to the EC institutions.

Question 13

Name the Policy changes from the Maastricht Treaty / treaty on the European Union:

Answer 13

1- Economic and monetary union
2- New Policy areas and some of the ones introduced by the SEA are further developed
3- Social Policy: 11 member states wanted to give a firm Treaty base to the Social Charter but strong UK opposition again. The 11 members contracted a separate protocol and agreement on social policy

Question 14

Describe the Objectives of the Second pillar of the Maastricht Treaty:

Answer 14

To safeguard the common values, fundamental interests and independence of the Union, democracy and the rule of law, and respect for human rights.

Question 15

Describe the New Elements of the second pillar of the Maastricht Treaty:

Answer 15

1- Qualified Majority Voting in Foreign Policy
2- Defense appeared formally on the agenda

Question 16

List the main reforms of the Third Pillar of the Maastricht Treaty:

Answer 16

1- Promoting cooperation, decision by unanimity
2- Adopting joint actions: adopted by qualified majority voting
3- Draw up conventions requiring ratification

Question 17

What is a “joint Action”?

Answer 17

Operational action by the member states within the framework of the common foreign and security policy.
The joint action sets out the objective, means and duration of the operational action.

Question 18

How many protocols and Declarations does the Maastricht Treaty have?

Answer 18

Protocols: 17
Declarations: 33

Question 19

What were the main issues covered by the Treaty of Amsterdam?

Answer 19

• Combat terrorism, crime, drug trafficking
• Migratory pressures
  -Environmental issues
• bringing Europe closer to its citizens
  -strengthening the CFSP
• To make EU more democratic and efficient for enlargement
  -Globalization and its impacts

Question 20

When was the Treaty of Amsterdam signed and ratified?

Answer 20

Signed in 1997 and entered into force in 1999

Question 21

What were the most important provisions of the Amsterdam treaty?

Answer 21

1- Institutional changes: co-decision procedure (more power to the EP); Increase use of the QMV.
2- Internal policies: many JHA (justice home affairs) related policy areas transferred from the third to first pillar; Schengen acquis (abolition of borders control at internal borders)
3- Foreign Policy: Joint actions and common positions (adopted by QMV); Constructive abstention (abstention by a MS does not block the adoption of a measure); New post created (CFSP High Representative); Incorporation of the Petersberg tasks (specific security issues; humanitarian tasks, peacekeeping, crisis management).
4- Closer cooperation ( enhanced cooperation)

Question 22

What were the results of the Amsterdam Treaty?

Answer 22

Disappointing to those who expected major reforms ahead of the enlargement.