The European Union

Sovereignty
Supremacy of authority as exercised by a sovereign state Complete independence & self government A territory existing as an independent state

The European Union: A Supranational Institution in Action

The European Union: Purpose

Strengthen social cohesion Establish economic / monetary union
Free trade & single currency

Common foreign / security policy Citizenship within the Union Cooperation w/ home affairs
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The European Union: Purpose

Access to greater funds for modernization Larger role on a world stage Access to worlds most populous single market Unified monetary system & legal system

The European Union: Background

Est. in Nov. 1993
Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty) ratified by 12 nations of European Community (EC)

27 current members, others pending European citizenship granted to each state Euro (1999) adopted by all but Britain

The European Union: History & Evolution

5/9/1950: Frenchmen Monnet & Schuman created common authority to regulate coal & steel in W. Germany & France 1951: Northlands & Italy joined - T. of Paris 8/1952: Est. European Coal & Steel Community (ECSC)
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Competing Organizations
1957: T. of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) 1960: European Free Trade Assoc. (EFTA) by the British EEC cut off EFTA from larger mainland markets 1963: British reapply for CM membership
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Competing Organizations
Before the Maastricht Treaty (EU), it was the EC by 1967 EC inc. 3 separate organizations
ECSC in 1951 EEC in 1957
aka. Common Market

European Atomic Energy Community in 1957

EU Organization

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The European Union

EU decisions divided between the E. Commission & the E. Parliament Each sends ministers to Council of Ministers Court of Justice is final arbiter in matters between EU members
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European Commission
The Executive Branch of the EU
Makes policy proposals to the Council of Ministers E. Commission represents EU in international issues Manages EC funds & programs, foreign aid
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European Commission
Duties: mediate among member states Members independent of their national govts Decisions by majority or consensus Presidency rotates every 6 months
Small nations too
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Council of Ministers
Main lawmaking body
Single rep from each member state

Council cant draft legislation but can act on it from the E. Commission

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European Parliament
The only EU body w/ directly elected members Meets in Strasbourg, France 785 seats currently Review legislation proposed by the European Commission
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European Parliament
Parliament may veto a proposal after it reaches the Council of Ministers The E. Parliament works w/ the C of M on the EU budget
Can reject the plan

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European Parliament
Rejects/adopts nominees to Commission posts and/or dismisses the entire Commission Meets annually for 12 weeks Approves all EU treaties & new EU members
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European Parliament
5 year terms, directly elected in national elections All EU citizens eligible to vote in nation of residence Members sit in political not national groups
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Any EU citizen may travel freely, work, live, shop etc. in any EU member nation

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European Parliament
785 seats as of 2008
99 Germany, 78 each from France, Italy, Britain, 54 Spain, 27 Netherlands, 24 each from Greece, Belgium, Portugal, 19 Sweden, 18 Austria, 14 each from Denmark and Finland, 13 Ireland, 6 Luxembourg, 5 Malta Bulgaria & Romania in Jan 2007, Turkey, Balkans?
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European Court of Justice

Final arbiter of EU law 13 at a time, 27 total (one from each member)
Appointed to 6 yr term

Makes binding rulings on EU law

Sets precedents for member states law
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European Monetary System

European Central Bank
Aka. European Monetary Union (EMU) Created by Maastricht Treaty of 1993 Stabilizes exchange rates between member nations
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European Monetary System

All EU currencies are weighted according to economic importance When imbalanced, buy / sell the weaker / stronger currency EMS limits spending & deficits

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Monetary Outlook
EU currency, the Euro, took effect in 1999 Some EU nations (GB) worry a shared currency threatens national identity & govt authority
Aka. Sovereignty
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Not So Easy

EU members struggle to meet the eco. requirements for participating in the shared currency Must have budget deficit of no more than 3% of GDP
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EU Membership
2004
Poland, Hungary, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Malta & Greek Cyprus

2007
Romania & Bulgaria

493 mil. people (27 member states), larger eco. output than USA

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EU Constitution
Defeated in 2005 by French & Dutch resistance Needed unanimous vote to pass Fell victim to poor marketing & rise of nationalistic sentiment Too complex to understand? Reform Treaty proposed, signed 12/2007, to be ratified by end of 2008
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The European Union

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