The EU History

Beginnings Aftermath of WW2 Jean Monet (a federalist) sought to end the possibility of further wars in Europe by creating economic interdependency 1950 the Schuman Declaration: created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC): France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg. 1957: The Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC): broader than coal & steel, sought free trade. Known also as the ‘Common Market’. 1965 Merger Treaty incorporated the European Atomic Energy Community to become the European Community (EC)

EU History cont’d 1961 Macmillan refused entry; 1967 Wilson refused entry 1973 Heath won entry for UK; Ireland & Denmark also joined; also the EU Parliament became directly elected. 1975 UK referendum on continued membership 1986 The Single European Act (free movement of ‘goods, services, people and capital’) 1993: The Maastricht Treaty: created the EU: greater cooperation on foreign and security policy; greater cooperation on justice and home affairs; greater monetary union; the principle of subsidiarity.

EU History cont’d The Amsterdam Treaty, 1997: created greater EU powers over justice and home affairs. The Nice Treaty, 2001: created a European Security and Defence Policy The Constitutional Treaty, 2004: sought to establish an EU Constitution with more centralised powers for a ‘federal’ Europe, but referendums in France and the Netherlands said ‘no’, so the treaty was abandoned. The Lisbon Treaty, 2007: created (in 2009) a full-time President for the European Council; a High Representative for Foreign Affairs; qualified majority voting (a move away from unanimity). Also strengthened the EU Parliament: could ask the Commission to consider drafting specific Bills; could veto legislation in the ordinary legislative procedure with the Council of the European Union.

The Future? Now 28 member states. UK about to hold a referendum on whether to leave (the so-called ‘Brexit’) Should Europe be ‘wider’ (more members, like Turkey) or ‘deeper’ (a federal union with more power to Brussels). Enlargement: the expansion of the EU (eg should Turkey join?) http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/eu_members

Key concepts: treaties Intergovernmental organisations: nations retain sovereignty and cooperate on a voluntary basis (eg UN) Supranational organisations: nations transfer decision making authority to a higher body and ‘pool’ sovereignty (eg the EU_. Subsidiarity: the principle that decisions should be taken as close to the citizens as possible (overcomes the democratic deficit). A principle ratified in the Maastricht Treaty. Economic and monetary union: the creation of a single currency from a central bank. Opt-out: an exemption for a member state from a treaty or law (eg Major negotiated an opt-out for the UK from the Maastricht Treaty on the Social Chapter: the National Minimum Wage and the Work Time Directive (which Blair later opted into).

Key concepts: voting Voting in the Council of the European Union Qualified majority voting: a proposal must win more than 50% approval of member states before being adopted. Came into force in 2009 after the Lisbon Treaty. Unanimity: any one member state can veto proposals (eg over sensitive matters such as immigration and national security). Simple majority: on non-controversial technical issues the Council of the European Union can vote by a simple majority. Ordinary legislative procedure: the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union jointly decide on legislative proposals.

Key concepts: EU law European Union law: laws contained in treaties (primary legislation) and secondary legislation (regulations; directives; decisions & recommendations) and the decision of the Court of Justice. Declaration of incompatibility: a declaration issued by judges in the UK that they consider that the terms of a statute to be incompatible with the UK's obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 (eg prisoner voting rights). The Schengen Agreement: provides for the free movement of people within the EU without passport controls. The UK and Eire are not members. Some countries not in the EU (eg Norway and Switzerland) have signed the agreement. The agreement is under threat because of recent migration.