The European Union

Contemporary World

The European Union

Since the end of WWII and the Cold War, European countries have gradually developed a feeling of collective identity and shared interests.

Marshall Plan• American aid program to Europe after

WWII• 1948-1952• Aim to rebuild devastated areas,

modernize industry, make Europe prosperous again and (arguably) to stop the spread of Soviet Communism.

Creation of the ECSC

• European Coal & Steal Community (1952)• First organization to be based on the ideas

of supranationalism • Symbolic importance

“Make war not only unthinkable but materially impossible”

-Common market for coal and steel to neutralize competition.

Founding of the EEC

• European Economic Community (1958)• Development of a common market for

agricultural & industrial products

Huge increase in trade

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

• 1962• Promotes European agricultural promotion

through subsidies and protection from foreign competition

• Has been criticized

Expansions

• 1st expansion (1973): Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom

• 2nd expansion (1981): Greece• 3rd expansion (1986): Spain & Portugal

Maastrict Treaty

• Founding of the European Union (1993)

• Political & economic union of the EEC• Broader powers in foreign policy, security, justice &

internal affairs• Free circulation of goods, services, money and

people (European community)• European citizens• Vote in elections for the European Parliament• Common currency (launched in 1999)

Major Expansion/The

Future?*Major expansion (2004): Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuanian, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia & Romania (2007).

*Candidates? Iceland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina & Kosovo.

-Debated

*Constitution?

Criteria to Join• Stable democracy• Respect for human rights and the law• Functioning market economy (supply &

demand)• Acceptance of obligations of membership

(EU law)

Facts

• Population: Close to 500 million!

• Members: 28

• Official languages: 24

Structure of the EU

European Parliament

*President: Martin Schulz(since 2012)*German

*Function is legislative, thinklaws (similar to lower house)*The “approvers”

EU Parliament• Has to approve decisions made by the heads of

government• Represents the people of the EU• Only organ where employees can be directly

elected by EU citizens• Most important task is legislation• Overall supervision and control of the EU duties• Can set up investigations and keeps people in

check• Work on various topics, different commissions.

European Council*President: Herman Van

Rompuy (since 2009)

*Belgian

*The “directors”

European Council

• Heads of governments & the President of the European Commission

• Power of national decision makers • Presidency rotates every 6 months between the members• Meet 4 times a year (summits)• At meetings leaders try and agree on a line of action or

proclaim guidelines and objectives, rather than every day legislatures procedures.

• Fierce negotiations, horse trading• Countries often judge their leaders based on benefits

they bring to the country

European Commission

*President: Jose ManuelBarroso (since 2004)*Portuguese

*They are “the government” of the EU*”The people who take action”*Function is executive

European Commission

• Composed of 28 commissioners • Each country proposes their commissioner

for different departments • Commissioners must be approved by the

Parliament • Only organ that can propose new laws, that

can be heard, drafted, modified accepted or refused by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.

Council of Ministers• Heads of departments in national

governments e.g. Ministers of Justice, Ministers of Agriculture etc.

• National interests often take center stage• Varies depending on the issue

• The “advisors”• Function is legislative (think laws)• Similar to upper house

Facts to Consider

Official LanguagesImportant documents are translated into EACH of these languages:

Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Itailan, Irish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish.