The European Union

I.
II.
III.
IV.

History & Evolution

Structures-Functions
Contemporary Challenges
Discussion

Evolution of the European

Union

The Best Intentions

Revitalize Europe after World War II

Strength in Unity vs. Warsaw Pact
Fix broken economies
Promote Dialogue
Integrate & Cooperate

To this end:
Council of Europe, 1949
European Coal & Steel Community, 1951 (Treaty of
Paris)
Basis for Euro Community

Evolution: European Community (EC)

Established by Treaty of Rome, 1957
Benelux + Fr, Ge, Italy
3 Pillars:
1. European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) (aka
Common Market)
2. European Economic Community (EEC)
3. European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or
Euratom). The only remaining structure.

Evolution: European Communities

Main Concerns of Euro Community
Peace
Trade & elimination of tariffs
Travel
National sovereignty
Expansion
Transitions from communism to
capitalism

Evolution: EC EU
Maastricht Treaty, 1993. Absorbed the EC.
Authority in new areas: monetary policy, foreign
affairs, national security, transportation, the
environment, justice, and tourism
Established a 3-pillars of authority:
Trade and other economic matters (one currency &
creation of European Central Bank). 17 members
use Euro. So does Vatican, Monaco and 3 others.
Justice & home affairs (policy governing asylum,
border crossing, immigration, & judicial
cooperation on crime and terrorism)
Common foreign and security policy (common
defense policy, joint positions and actions)

Evolution: Membership History

Began w/ 6: Benelux + France, Germany, Italy

Denmark, UK, and Ireland joined in early 1970s
Greece in 1981
Portugal and Spain in 1986
Austria, Finland, Sweden in 1995
10 Countries joined in 2004: Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia
Bulgaria and Romania in 2006
The combined population of all 27 members is
510,000,000
Organization and diversity makes consensus
hard

Structures and Functions

of the European Union

5 Main Bodies

European Commission (EC)EXEC

Council of MinistersLEG
European ParliamentLEG
Court of JusticeJUD
Court of AuditorsFinancial Evaluator

The European Commission (EC)

Executive Body
Initiates all legislation and enforces decisions
Ensures proper implementation of laws
Administers EU budget
Represents EU in trade negotiations
Scrutinize the implementation of the treaties and legislation
Act solely in the interest of the EU as a whole, as opposed to the
Council which consists of leaders of member states who reflect
national interests. The only body paid to think European
Implements, monitors, and controls enforcement of EU law and
policy
Can bring a Member State before the Court of Justice for failure to
enforce EU law
Based in Brussels
27 Commissioners. 1 is President (Barroso until 2014)
Commissioners appointed for 5 years
25,000 Euro civil servants

Council of Ministers
Meets in Brussels
Legislative Branch I
Legislative authority is divided between Council and EP
Council and EP required to vote to pass law
Budgetary power (w/EP). 116 bil. euro/year
Consists of one Minister from each Member State
Responsible for making the major policy decisions of EU
Power to adopt legislation proposed by Commission
Each Member State acts as President of Council for 6
month rotation
Meetings attended by different Ministers according
to agenda
Develop political cooperation

The European Parliament

Legislative II
736 seats. Proportionate Rep.
Directly Elected. 5 year terms.
Second largest democratic electorate in the world (India)
Cant initiate leg
CAN amend and reject legislation
CAN request leg
CAN Veto Commission
CAN censure EC w/ 2/3 majority = resignation of the entire EC
Equal legislative and budgetary powers with Council
Appoint Court of Auditors and the president and executive board of the
European Central Bank
Sit in political groups. For a group to be recognized, it needs 25 MEPs
from 7 different countries
Consensual. Peoples Party-Socialist Coalition
President Martin Schulz of Germany. 30 month term began in Jan 2012.

96/13 Germany
74/10 France
73/10 Italy
73/10 UK
54/7 Spain
51/7 Poland

EPP (265)
S&D (186)
ALDE (84)
ECR (55)
Greens EFA (55)
EUL-NGL (35)
EFD (30)
Non-Affiliated (27)

The European Council

Comprises the heads of government of Member States and

President of Commission assisted by Foreign Ministers of the
Member States and a member of Commission
Defines the EU's policy agendathe motor of EU integration
No direct legislative power but "supreme political authority"
Meets 4 times/year
Sorts out disputes between member states and the institutions
President of the European Council
Once-renewable term of 30 months
Primus inter pares
Herman Van Rompuy (Belgium). Dec 2009-Present. 2nd term
The President must report to the European Parliament after
each European Council meeting

The European Council

All members of Council are

members of a political party
at national level
Most are members of a Euro
Party
Ideological alignment does
color political agreements
and choices of
appointments (such as their
President)

Party

Total

QM
V

People's Party

15

204

Socialists

65

Liberal Democrat and Reform Party

31

Alliance of Conservatives and

Reformists

41

Party of the Left

27

345

The Court of Justice

Ensures that the European Treaties are interpreted and
implemented in accordance with EU law
13 judges appointed by agreement with Member States
Assisted by 6 advocates general
Judgements overrule those of national courts
Power to fine a Member State
National courts have power to
enforce decisions of Court of
Justice

The Court of Auditors

Monitors the Unions financial activities
1 member from each EU member state
Appointed by Council
6 yr terms
800 auditors
No judicial functions
Function: externally check EU budget
In Luxembourg

EU Legal Instruments

Binding:
Regulations - Apply directly in the Member States w/o
requiring any further national legislation
Directives - Binding in substance but up discretion of
Member States how to transpose them into national
legislation & execute them.
Decisions - Addressed to a Member State, firm, or
individual.

Non Binding:
Recommendations
Opinions
Resolutions

Pop Quiz: Who is the European President?

a. Herman Van Rompuy - President of the
European Council since 12/1/09
b. Jos Manuel Barroso - President of the
European Commission since 11/22/04
c. Ireland - Presidency of the Council of the
European Union 1/1/13 7/1/13
Anyone?

Pop Quiz: Who is the European

President?
a. Van Rompuy is President of Council. Not of EU. Yet,
the press usually cites him as President.
b. Barroso is President of Commission. Not of EU. Yet,
the press often cites him as President. Has more power
that Van Rompuy. Gets fewer mentions as President.
c. Ireland. Not. Hehe
Answer: There is no EU President.
Does this matter?
No - Presidents are not necessary
Yes - most Europeans think there is a President

Challenges of the EU

Broadening, Deepning &

Legitimizing
...oh, and the economy

EU Policy Challenges 20092019: A Report to the President

1.

Economic Issues
Deepening/extending economic reforms
Reducing unemployment and large gov.
Revising financial regulation and supervision
Completing the Single Market
Balance multilateralism and bilateralism in trade policy
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Ageing population and shrinking workforce

2.

Climate change
The future of transport

EU Policy Challenges 20092019: A Report to the President

3. Cultural Issues
World Wide Web-balancing security and privacy +
intellectual property Audiovisual and cultural policies
Civil Rights and Justice
Migration policy
Crime
Safeguarding diversity and cultures
4. The Politics of Poltics
Inter EU Structural Issues: Good Governnance and
Insitution Building
Security & Crisis Mangement
^ Turnout in European Elections in 2014 and 2019

EU Policy Challenges 20092019: A Report to the President

5. Intermestic Issues
Stabilization and Reform in the Balkans
Question of Turkish membership
Deepening the Eastern Partnership without
alienating Russia
6. Foreign Policy
Promoting Middle East Peace
Seizing the 'Obama moment' to deepen
Transatlantic relations
Strengthening Europe's relevance to Asia
Deepening the EU-Latin American partnership

Its the Economee Stoopid

If EU is to flourish far beyond its 50th birthday, it is its
economy that most needs attention
-The Economist Fit at 50

Its the Economee Stoopid

Euroscepticism
France followed by the Netherlands
rejected EU Constitution in 2006.
New members are more enthusiastic than
the old ones
Skeptcism is strongest in UK, though
Eurobarometer polls show dissatisfaction
in other EU members as well
No further expansion

Broadening: Eastern Europe?

Possible new members: Croatia, Albania,
Bosnia, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, and
Montenegro
-West: Easterners may sink the boat

Broadening: Turkey?
Pro:
-USA
-extension into southern Caucasus
-stabilize pipeline: oil and gas
-compatibility of Islam with democracy?
Con:
-dif. levels of development
-religious and ethnic feuds
-Cyprus

Discussion
Structures & Functions?
To increase legitimacy? Is it just PR?
Broadening vs. Deepening: Focus on
deepening and broadening or one of the
two?