Olive Chen, Sana Karim, and Ashley Weston The European Union Olive Chen, Sana Karim, and Ashley Weston

Background Check

Origins: ECSC European Coal and Steel Community: unify western Europe during Cold War, help economy, and prevent war   Formed by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium. Luxembourg, Netherlands Created common market for coal and steel Served for economic purposes Established by the Treaty of Paris 1951

Origins: EEC European Economic Community: aimed to bring about economic integration and a single market among the 6 nations   Formed by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium. Luxembourg, Netherlands Served for economic purposes Later became the European Community (EC) Established by the Treaty of Rome

Treaty of Maastricht 1993 created the European Union and  established a single currency- the Euro Set up the EU's current system Later amended by the Treaty of Nice

Leading the EU

Government Setup: EU governed by three branches: Executive Judicial Legislative

Executive Branch Chief of Union: President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso (Portuguese)  President of the Council of the EU  Belgium (July-Dec 2010) Hungary (Jan-June 2011)

Executive Branch ctd. Elections: 1. President of Euro Commission designated by member governments 2. Confirmed by Euro Parliament 3. Commission president creates a "college" of Commission members 4. Parliament confirms for next 5 years   

Judicial Branch Court of Justice of the European Communities  makes sure treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU resolve "constitutional" issues among the EU institutions  27 justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term

Legislative Branch There are two legislative bodies: The Council of the European Union  27 member-state ministers having 345 votes the number of votes is roughly proportional to member-states' population The European Parliament  736 seats; seats allocated among member states in proportion to population members elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/euro/09/flash/html/eu.stm

Enlargement  

Order of Accession: Original members: France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg 1973: Britain, Ireland, Denmark 1981: Greece 1986: Spain, Portugal 1995: Finland, Austria, Sweden 2004:         -Cyprus                   -Hungary        -Malta            -Slovenia          -Czech Republic     -Latvia            -Poland         -Estonia                  -Lithuania      -Slovakia 2007: Romania, Bulgaria Current candidates: Croatia, Turkey, Macedonia, Bosnia, Iceland, Western Balkans 

How to Become a Member: Application Council must have unanimous vote Negotiations Accession partnerships Agreement to acquis Treaty Treaty of Amsterdam criteria: stable and functioning democratic regime market-oriented economy willingness to accept all EU laws and regulations

Enlargement Fatigue Decline in support in enlargement among EU voters EU governments have lost enthusiasm for further growth Expansion has been bringing in many former communist countries with weak economies Original government structure doesn't work for growing number of countries Should the European Union extend to all of Europe or be selective? 

Turkey: Been in negotiations to join EU since 1963 Reasons against accepting membership: partly in Asia religious differences underdevelopment of economy high population birth growth rate domestic policies violate human rights Should Turkey be admitted into the EU?

The Slatest: The press, much like the European public and its leading politicians, is sharply divided over the question of Turkish EU entry. Many fear that Muslim Turkey would undermine Europe's commitment to secularism. French President Jacques Chirac supports Turkey's bid to join the club, but most of his party, the Union for a Popular Movement, does not.   A key requirement for the European Union to begin negotiations over eventual terms for Turkey's entry is the reform of the country's penal code. http://www.slate.com/id/2107495/

The EU Now Voted to allow GM foods Supports Egypt to achieve political and economic reform   Does the EU still serve a valuable purpose? Is it more effective than single nations? Should it continue to exist like it does? What are the advantages/disadvantages of the system?