The European Union SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATION Integrated states with

The European Union

SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATION • Integrated states, with the main purpose of sharing common rules and policies in order to strengthen these states economic and political clout in the international community. • Confederation • EU nations have ceded some sovereignty to the EU.

Brief History of the EU • • • Marshall Plan Treaty of Rome: eliminated tariffs, 15 yrs ( ’ 57) Founded in 1993 Maastricht Treaty: est. EU, most important Schengen Agreement: opened borders Treaty of Amsterdam: expanded Schengen Lisbon Treaty: permanent Pres, greater Auth. EU began as the Eur. Coal and Steel Community Efforts to have an EU constitution have been rejected by Neth. And France

The European Union Curriculum Highlights Key Terms • Supranational Organization • Broadening • Deepening • Sovereignty • Euro • Qualified majority voting • Democratic Deficit • Maastricht Treaty • Lisbon Treaty

The European Union Curriculum Highlights Key Policy Areas - Trade: (EEC) Euro. Econ. Community - Monetary System (UK has opted out) - Agriculture: (CAP) Common Agriculture Policy – protects European farmers, Largest item in the EU budget - Justice: (ECJ) Euro. Court of Justice - Labor - Human Rights • The EU has limited powers in: – Military/foreign policy

The European Union Curriculum Highlights Key Institutions of Government Commission – 28 members, exec branch, initiates and implements policies and programs Council of Ministers – center of policy decisions Court of Justice: 28 justices, 6 yr terms( Lux) Parliament – shares policy making, weakest inst ( directly elected, based on population

European Commission • Acts as the Executive Branch of the EU • Represents the EU interests as a whole • Charged with proposing community legislation • supervising the implementation of community policy • serving as the guardian of EU treaties • Includes one Commissioner from each member state

Council of Ministers • Forum in which national members express their national preferences • Rotates the Presidency of Council equally among member states • Members appointed by member states • Most important duty is to pass laws • Complex weighted voting depending on members pop. Size

European Parliament • Directly elected assembly with seats allocated on the basis of population • Effectively paired with the Council of Ministers • Together they co-decide on Commission proposals

Law Making • In principle, the Commission proposes new laws, and the Parliament and Council adopt them

European Court of Justice • Jurisdiction over all matters of EU treaty laws • No jurisdiction over national laws that are unrelated to EU treaties • May supersede national laws in regards to Human Rights issues

The Common Market • The single most important thin the EU has done is to integrate many national markets into one. • Customs free are surrounded by a common tariff within which goods can move freely and where there is a CAP…. Common Agr. Policy • The adoption of the Euro and the Economic and Monetary Union provided the EU with a central bank and a strong currency

AP Focus for the EU • The EUs power is uneven – econ v. justice • The EU reduces member countries sovereignty – trade, euro, justice • EU suffers from a Democratic Deficit • EU trying to expand broaden members and power – Turkey has applied to be a member • Global economic collapse: “PIGS” ( Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain) - bailout

Key Concepts of the EU • 28 member states • Maastricht Treaty( 1991) – 3 Pillars : economic , justice, and foreign matters, common defense policy, “European Citizenship” • ECJ: European Court of Justice – take precedence over national law • EU law supersedes national law • EU Council of Ministers: uses Qualified Majority Voting, no unanimity • Monetary union: Euro • Operates on a Confederal structure

Key Facts Cont. • Democratic Deficit: Lack of public involvement, indirect role of the EU citizens in choosing who sits on the most important positions • Major Policies: CAP, Euro currency, trade policy, and labor-oriented policy • Largest part of the EU budget: Natural Resources – including agriculture and rural development