The European Union in Review Advanced Placement Comparative Government

The European Union Integration: A process that encourages states to pool their sovereignty in order to gain political, economic, and social clout. A countertrend to devolution. Binds states together with common policies and rules Supranational organizations

History EU Founding Treaties ECSC Treaty (1951) European Coal and Steel Community EEC (1957) European Economic Community- Treaty of Rome EC Treaty (1967) European Community * Free Movement of Goods * Free Movement of Labor * Free Movement of Capital * Freedom to Provide Services Maastricht Treaty (1992) * European Union Established * Three Pillars The Lisbon Treaty (2009) * Due to the failure of the proposed EU constitution * Reorganizes EU institutions/broadening and deepening

Membership The European Union is open to any European country that fulfils the democratic, political and economic criteria for membership. A stable and functioning democratic regime A market-oriented economy A willingness to accept all EU laws and regulations The EU has increased from 6 to 28 members. Each treaty admitting a new member requires the unanimous approval of all member states.

Expansion 2004 Members Bulgaria 2007 Romania 2007 Croatia 2014 Poland United Kingdom Ireland Sweden Finland Germany Netherlands Denmark Belgium Luxembourg France Spain Portugal Italy Greece Austria 2004 Members Poland The Czech Republic Hungary Slovenia Cyprus Malta Slovakia Latvia Lithuania Estonia Bulgaria 2007 Romania 2007 Croatia 2014

Pending Applications to the EU Turkey ? Macedonia http://europa.eu/abc/12lessons/lesson_3/index_en.htm

Composition The European Union has 5 major institutions of governance and administration: The European Parliament The Council of the European Union The European Commission The European Council The Court of Justice

The Decision-Making Triangle The European Council The European Parliament The European Commission The European Commission The European Parliament The European Council

The European Parliament Composition The European Parliament Role: Directly elected legislative arm of the EU Powers: Shares with the Council the power to legislate Exercises democratic supervision over all EU institutions-especially the Commission Shares with the Council authority over the EU Budget 751 elected members serve 5 year terms (2014) Numbers will change as new members are admitted

Parliament 2014

Council of the European Union Composition Council of the European Union Role: Legislative arm of the EU, representing member states Powers: Pass European Laws (Co-decision with Parliament) Coordinate the broad economic policies of the member states Conclude international agreements Approve the EU Budget Develop the EU’s common foreign and security policy To co-ordinate co-operation between the national courts and police forces in criminal matters

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union Rotates every 6 months (Leader of Government) 3 main responsibilities: Direct the work of the Council of the European Union Maintain relations with other Union institutions Represent the European Union in international matters At the start of its term, the Presidency country submits its work programme to the European Parliament and, at the end of the six-month period, a report is delivered to the Parliament on the outcomes of the Presidency.

Trio Presidency Although the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe is not legally binding, member states have decided to adopt the concept of the presiding Trio. September 2006 the Council amended Rules of Procedure: "Every 18 months, the three Presidencies due to hold office shall prepare, in close cooperation with the Commission, and after appropriate consultations, a draft programme of Council activities for that period." Slovenia collaborated with Germany and Portugal, both of which presided over the Council of the EU in 2007.

Composition There are no fixed members as such. At each Council meeting, each country sends the minister for the policy field being discussed – e.g. the environment minister for the meeting dealing with environmental matters. That meeting will then be known as the “Environment Council". The foreign ministers’ Council has a permanent chairperson – the EU's High Representative for foreign and security policy. All other Council meetings are chaired by the relevant minister of the country holding the rotating EU presidency. For example, any environment Council meeting in the period when Estonia holds the presidency will be chaired by the Estonian environment minister.

The European Commission Composition The European Commission Role: Executive arm of the EU and initiator of legislative proposals Powers: To propose legislation to Parliament and the Council To manage and implement EU policies and the budget To Enforce European Law To represent the European Union on the International stage 28 members appointed by Parliament and the member states to run the institution and make its decisions

Composition The European Council Role: Initiator of the European Union’s major policies and is empowered to settle difficult issues on which ministers in the Council of the European Union fail to agree Powers: Highest level policymaking body Meets 4 times a year Presidents and Prime Ministers of all the EU countries plus the President of the European Commission Discuss European and World issues. Its aim is to speak with one voice on international issues, developing a common foreign and security policy (CFSP)

The Commission The Commission is independent of national governments. Its job is to represent and uphold the interests of the EU as a whole. It drafts proposals for new European laws, which it presents to the European Parliament and the Council. http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm http://uk.youtube.com/eutube

Composition Role: To give legal judgments on cases brought before it The Court of Justice Role: To give legal judgments on cases brought before it Court of Justice: One Judge from each EU country; Eight advocates-general Court of First Instance: One Judge from each EU country Term of Office: Members of both courts are appointed for renewable terms of six years Powers: Makes decisions on EU laws, rules and regulations All decisions are binding to all EU institutions, as well as states, courts, citizens, and companies operating in the union May overrule the decisions of national courts http://curia.europa.eu/en/index.htm

Organization Commission: Brussels, 28 members. Powerful EU Law Can censure proposes Council of the EU: Brussels, (population) Main decision making body. Specialized members. Qualified majority needed. 6 month presidency European Parliament: Strasbourg, 785 members elected for 5 years. Only democratic body in structure. A two-thirds vote can censure Commission and force it to resign. Consults with Council to amend policy proposals. consults lobbies The European Council: Brussels, 28 members, each ambassador to the EU. Lobbies Commission and Council. Media European Court of Justice: Luxembourg, 27 justices. Adjudicates disputes arising under EU treaties and rules. adjudicates EU Law

Issues Democratic Deficit: Loss of direct control of political decisions by the people. Immigration Security Terrorism The Environment Globalization