THE EUROPEAN UNION
The European integration and the institutions of the EU
The history of the European
integration
■
After WW2 – need to secure long-term peace in Europe +
co-ordinate the reconstruction of the continent (common
goals of France and West-Germany) – 1950: Robert
Schuman (French foreign minister) proposed economic
co-operation and common institutions in Western Europe
(to counter-balance the American influence and the
Soviet threat)
■
1952: formation of the European Coal and Steel
Community (ECSC) – six countries: France, WestGermany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg
■
1957: Rome Treaties – created the European Economic
Community (ECC) – realized closer economic co-operation
■
Extension of membership started from the 70s
■
1990s – more and more European politicians demanded
full economic integration and political co-operation as
well – 1992: Maastricht Treaty – created the European
Union (EU): political and economic integration of
European states (e.g. European citizenship, common
currency, common policies, etc.)
■
Ever since then, membership has been growing and
European countries have been extending the co-operation
– today: political, economic, legal, cultural, etc. cooperation
Main tasks and principles
■
Four basic ‚freedoms’: free flow of people, capital, products and services
– the EU is one economic unit (common market)
■
To secure the political rights of the European people – European
citizenship
■
To promote economic progress – introduction of the euro (common
currency) in 1999 – originally 11, today 19 member states
■
To initiate social justice and development – the EU subsidizes economicsocial programmes to help the development of different regions (EU
budget)
■
To help environmental protection through issuing directives
■
Legal harmonization – to harmonize (make it similar) the laws of the
different member states
■
Member states have given up to exclusive right make laws in certain
areas – have to follow EU-directives
■
Subsidiarity: principle that states that all decisions should be made on
the most suitable level (EU-level, national level, local level) – the EU only
makes legislation in areas where it can function more successfully than
member states – some areas are only dealt with on national level
■
To represent the interests of the European people in international
dealings
Main institutions of the EU
■ The EU has a very complex, sometimes slow, but also balanced
decision-making process, which involves several institutions
■ European Parliament
– 751 members – directly elected by citizens of the member
states (every 5 years) – representatives (MEP) do not sit
according to country, but according to European parties (e.g.
European People’s Party, European Socialist Party, European
Green Party, etc.)
– Approves the EU budget, controlls and approves European
legislation, realizes democratic controll over other EU
institutions, votes on different positions
– Main seat: Strasbourg
■ European Council
– Main decision-making body of the EU – led by an elected
Chairman
– Members are the leaders (Presidents or Prime Ministers) of
the member states – decides over the main directives and
goals of the EU
– Meeting place: Brussels (‚capital of the EU’)
Main institutions of the EU
■
Council of the European Union
– Represents the governments of the member states – members: different
ministers of the national governments (sometimes called the ‚Council of
Ministers’)
– Presidency is rotated between the member states every 6 months
– Works out legislation about certain areas – always those ministers are
present whose field is being dealt with
■
European Commission
– Acts as the unofficial government of the EU – executes the decisions of
the Councils and the Parliament and the EU budget
– Members are delegated by the national governments – 1/member state
– all commissioners are responsible for one area each – its presidents is
elected by the European Council and the Parliament
– Takes part in legislation – proposes laws
■
European Court of Justice – ensures the use of common laws and rights of the
European citizens
■
Advisory bodies: Economic and Social Committee; Committee of Regions –
suggest new legislation and financial programmes
■
Decision-making process: EC proposes a law – the Council of Ministers has to
agree and has the right to modify – the EP votes on it – the European Council
has to accept it
– Slow and balanced process which ensures the interests of all member
states, but also makes it fairly difficult to act swiftly
The EU budget
■ The EU finances huge projects and programmes –
generates economic and social progress in the
member states – needs income
■ Main surces of the EU-budget: contribution of the
member states (based on their national income –
poorer countries pay less); tariffs; sales tax (VAT)
■ Main expenditures of the EU-budget: agricultural
subsidies, common policies (e.g. Erasmus), structural
actions (cohesion) – help the development of the
economic-social system of the member states (poorer
countries recieve more), environmental protection,
research, administration (huge costs)
■ The EU uses 7-year budgets – has to be accepted by
all member states, the European Council and the
European Parliament – usually huge debates
Results and challanges
■ Main achievements:
– Helps securing peace and co-operation in Europe –
creates balance between different European states
– Contributes to economic and social development of
all European peoples – encourages environmental
protection – tackles problems more successfully
than national governments
– Protects the interests of European countries on the
world-stage
■ Main challenges:
– Slow and bureaucratic decision-making process –
makes it difficult to act quickly
– Debates over further common policies (e.g.
migration)
– Debates over the role and future of the EU – how
much power should it be given compared to
national governments – ‚federal Europe’ vs.
‚nations’ Europe’
– Need for more democratic control