1. The European Union

2. Timeline
1951: Treaty of Paris European Coal and Steel Community (France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, West Germany)
Necessary materials for war
1957: Treaty of Rome European Economic Community (EEC)
1960s: French limiting power + UK (De Gaulle)
1973: UK, Denmark, Ireland enter
1981: Greece; 1986: Spain + Portugal
1987: Turkey applies
1993: Copenhagen Criteria: stable democracy which respects human rights and the rule of law; a functioning market economy capable of competition within the EU; and the acceptance of the obligations of membership, including EU law
Waves of expansion (esp. post-Communist Eastern Europe)
Four freedoms: movement goods, services, capital, people w/in single market
1998: European Central Bank (sets interest rates; monetary policy)
2002: Euro (common currency) in effect

4. 1993: Maastricht Treaty European citizenship + process for Euro
3 Pillars system:
European Communities (econ, social, environmental)
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Justice and Home Affairs ( Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters)

6. Supranationalism vs. Intergovernmentalism
“The countries that make up the EU (its ‘member states’) remain independent sovereign nations but they pool their sovereignty in order to gain a strength and world influence none of them could have on their own.”
Not US-style federalism, not merely confederation like UN
Delegate decision-making to institutions so joint matters resolved “democratically” (non-demo Commission sets agenda)

7. Institutions
European Parliament: represents EU citizens, directly elected
Council of the EU: represents member states (ministers from gov’ts); by pop. but weighted to smaller states
European Commission: independent of gov’ts (nominated by gov’ts, confirmed by Parliament); serves EU as whole; executive branch
Court of Justice of the European Communities: citizens can appeal country’s rulings to EU Court (country laws must comply w/EU laws, Court interprets meaning; sim. US Supreme Court)

8. 2004 European Constitution
Failed referenda ratification withdrawn
Oct. 2007: Treaty of Lisbon (Reform Treaty): more majority voting in Council, increase Parliament’s powers, abolish pillar system, EU legal personality (e.g. able sign treaties), foreign policy increasingly supranational
Also opt-out clauses, no EU flag
Effect 1 December 2009 (after 2nd Irish referendum)