European Union

Principal Objectives Establish European citizenship Ensure freedom, security & justice Promote economic and social progress Assert Europe’s role in the world

History of Unification

Early Attempts at Unity Rome Charlemagne Holy Roman Empire Bourbons Habsburgs Napoleon Congress of Vienna/ Concert of Europe Hitler

Post WWII - Developments European Coal and Steel Community – Treaty of Paris 1951 (W. Germany, France, Italy, Benelux) European Economic Community – Common Market (later EC) – Treaty of Rome 1957 UK, Denmark & Ireland join 1973 Fall of Berlin Wall - 11/9/89 – Former East Germany integrated into EC Fall of Berlin Wall, November 9, 1989

Maastricht Treaty 1992 – European Union

3 Pillars of Maastricht Treaty European Community for Monetary Issues Common Foreign Security Policy Cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs

Nations Added 1995 Sweden Finland Austria

Convergence

Accession Criteria Political 1.Stable transparent institution 2.Democracy, human rights, rule of law, respect minority rights 3.Support 3 pillars Economic 1.Functioning market economy/withstand market forces 2.Low inflation 3.Stable currency and part of European monetary system 4.Debt less than 60% of GDP 5.Deficit less than 3% of GDP (Greece??)

2004 Enlargement 13 states applied – 10 accepted Central and eastern European nations Czech Republic Estonia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Poland Slovakia Slovenia Malta Cyprus

2007 Additions Bulgaria Romania Up to 27 members

EU Expansion 2013 Croatia joins EU as its 28 th member in June 2013

Institutions

Executive – European Commission President – Directs European focus – 5-year terms – Member states choose Commissioners – Engine of integration – Propose legislation EC Located in Brussels Belgium

Legislative – Council of the European Union – Upper House President – Rotates among countries every 6 months – Sets agenda – Should be even- handed – Antonis Samaras, Greece Council of Ministers – Ministers from member states – Gets opinion from EP before decisions – Votes are weighted by population Located in Brussels, Belgium

Legislative – European Parliament – Lower House – Members of European Parliament (MEP ’ s) Directly elected reps (5 years) Supervises the Commission Seem to reflect national interests – President Chairs EP Represents EP - Located in Strasbourg, France

Judicial – European Court of Justice Ensures law observed in interpretation an application of treaties Judicial review Located in Luxembourg

Currency

Single Currency Began as European Monetary Unit (EMU) as part of Maastricht Treaty Euro - € - exchange rate set 1/1/99 Euro adopted 1/1/2002 Britain – not so much Eurozone – 18 member states that have adopted the euro

I knew you would ask

You say you want a constitution? Originally treaties formed EU constitution Constitutional treaty proposed 2004 – rejected by Denmark and France in 2005 Treaty of Lisbon: constitution-lite 2009 Constitutional treaty adoption – UK referendum 2017?? – fears of federalism (United States of Europe?)

Quick Review Name two predecessor organizations of the EU. What are the “3 pillars” of the EU? What is the Eurozone? What is the difference between the European Commission and the European Council? What year did the Berlin Wall fall? What is the Maastricht Treaty? How many member states does the EU have now?