Week 3: treaty of Nice, Constitution Treaty, Lisbon Treaty Flashcards
What was the Agenda 2000 and the 2000-2006 financial perspective?
- Agenda 2000 was an EU program that dealt with issues such as the enlargement of the European Union to include Eastern European countries, reforms in agricultural policies, structural funds, and preparations for introducing the euro.
The Commission adopted the Agenda 2000: For a stronger and wider union in July 1997. - The Financial perspective for 2000-2006 outlined the EU’s budget and allocation of resources during this period.
Berlin Extraordinary European Council (24-25 March 1999) adopted the 2000-2006 financial perspective, particularly those concerning agriculture.
What was the Crisis of the Santer Commission (1999)?
The Santer Commission faced a crisis in 1999 due to allegations of mismanagement and corruption, leading to the resignation of the entire Commission.
This event triggered discussions and reforms regarding transparency, accountability, and the functioning of EU institutions.
Threatened with a motion of censure by EP, Jacques Santer, president of the Commission, and his entire team resigned in March 1999.
What was the Third Stage of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)?
It marked the introduction of the Euro as a common currency on January 1, 1999. Member states aimed to achieve economic convergence and stability through common monetary policies.
What was the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union?
Proclaimed in 2000, outlined the rights and freedoms of EU citizens. It covers civil, political, economic, and social rights and serves as a reference point for the EU’s legal framework, ensuring the protection of individuals’ rights within the Union.
What were the changes made in the institutions during the enlargement process in the Nice treaty?
- European Parliament: Composition of the EP (not reducing the MS seats too much but maintaining a limit); its responsibilities have been extended by expanding the scope of codecision
- Council: Qualified majority voting
- Commission: The IGC (Intergovernmental Conference) has decided to postpone the imposition of a limit on the number of members of the Commission; Increased the power of the president; Changed the procedure for nominating the commission for QMV in the council.
- Court: Reforms to address the Court’s workload by the specialized chambers.
Decision-making process addressed by the Nice Treaty?
- Extension of the qualified majority voting in the Council
- Extension of the scope of co-decision (EP)
What were other changes established by the Nice treaty?
- Security and defense: the creation of the political and military structures and the incorporation into the union of the crisis management functions of the WEU.
- Judicial cooperation in criminal matters: creation of “Eurojust”, facilitating cooperation between MS prosecuting authorities in respect of serious cross-border crime
- Venue for European Council meetings: all European Council meetings will be held in Brussels.
- two new objectives of social policy:
1. combating social exclusion, 2. modernization of social protection systems. - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union: agreed in October 2000
Talk about the Irish referendums on the Nice Treaty in 2001
- During the FIRST referendum, Ireland was concerned about potential implications for the country’s neutrality, concerns over sovereignty, and a perceived lack of information about the treaty’s contents.
The treaty was rejected by Irish voters causing a setback for the EU’s plans for further integration and enlargement. - During the SECOND Irish referendum, efforts were made to address the concerns of Irish voters and to clarify certain aspects of the treaty.
The Irish government made efforts to provide more information about the treaty’s implications and the assurances secured for Irish concerns. The second referendum resulted in the approval of the Nice Treaty by Irish voters, allowing Ireland to ratify the treaty
What was the structure of the Constitutional Treaty in the Convention on the Future of Europe?
It was divided into 4 parts:
1. definition of the objectives, powers, decision-making procedures and institutions of the union (59 articles)
- charter of Fundamental Rights; (54 articles)
- Policies and actions of the union incorporating the provisions of the current treaties (338 articles)
- final provisions, including the procedures for adopting and reviewing constitution (10 articles)
What are the common values of the EU member States established in the Constitutional Treaty?
human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, respect for human rights, minority rights, free market, pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity, equality of the sexes
What were the key principles established by the Constitutional Treaty?
- The principle of Conferral: the EU can only act within the limits of the competencies that have been conferred upon it by the EU treaties.
- the principle of subsidiarity: governmental decisions should be taken at the lowest level possible while still remaining effective
- The principle of proportionality: the EU may only act to exactly the extent that is needed to achieve its objectives
- the primacy of the EU law: in areas where member states have made legally binding agreements (a contract between two parties that outlines specific rules or restrictions) at EU level, they may not then pass national laws incompatible with those EU laws.
How is the functioning of the institutions according to the Constitutional treaty?
- qualified majority voting replaced by double majority voting;
- president of the European Council (2 ½ years, renewable once),
- president of the Council of ministers (18 month-rotating presidency shared by a trio of member countries);
- smaller commission (18 members).
- Parliamentary power and transparency
How many countries signed the Constitutional treaty? Which ones did not?
The treaty was signed by 25 governments.
- France: Rejected it. Fear of negative effect on employment ; the current French economic situation was bad and the constitution was too economically liberal. Contradictions between lefts and rights.
- Netherlands: Rejected it. Netherlands pay too much money for the EU (biggest net payer), less control over own country, Netherlands will have too little influence in Europe, will lose its identity, would become to dependent on Europe.
How did the idea of the Treaty of Lisbon appeared?
- Member states agreed to abandon the Constitution treaty due to the difficulties faced in ratification, and to amend the existing treaties which would remain in force.
- The new treaty, referred to as Reform Treaty, became the Lisbon Treaty
When was the Treaty of Lisbon Signed?
13 December 2007
