The Governement and Politics of the European Union by Neill Nugent

The Governement and Politics of the European

Union by Neill Nugent

Chapter 2 : The Creation of the European Community

LAHAYE Jean-SébastienDANCKERS Lara

a)The European Coal and Steel Community b)From the ECSC to the EECc)The EEC and Euratom Treatiesd)Concluding Remarks

2

Structure of the Presentation


a) The European Coal and Steel Community

Robert SHUMAN Jean MONNET

3

Established by the “Treaty of Paris” in 1951 under the Impulse of two French :


a) The European Coal and Steel Community (Contd.)

•First of the European inter-state organisations to have supranational characteristics :▫Legislative competences in some important

areas▫Levies on Coal and Steel production to

finance itself

•Created a free trade area and laid down the foundations for a common market

4



•The 4 institutions of the E.C.S.C. :▫The High Authority (Independent executive

branch – “Commission”)▫The Council of Ministers (Legislative

branch)▫The Common Assembly (Advisory role)▫The Court of Justice (Judiciary branch)

5



•Context of creation :▫Franco-German reconciliation▫Vision of a united Europe▫Spill-over effect

6



•Assessment:▫50 years expiration in 2002▫Success in the early years▫With the decline of Coal and Steel

importance failure to adopt a coordinate and effective Community energy policy

7


b) From the ECSC to the EEC

•Success of ECSC in early years calls for more integration attempt ot create the EDC (European Defence Community)

•Failure :▫French reluctance to German rearmament▫Absence of the Biggest European army

(U.K.)▫Seen as unnecessary (End of Korean War

and death of Staline)

8


b) From the ECSC to the EEC (Contd.)

•With failure of EDC, refocus on economic integration Messina Resolution▫The six members of the ECSC meet on

proposal of Benelux countries for more economic integration

•To give effect to the Messina Resolution : Use of P-H Spaak committee report as a basis for negotiation that lead to the ratification of the two “treaties of Rome” creating the EEC and EURATOM

9


c) The EEC and Euratom Treaties

•Concerning the establishment of a common market ▫1. Creation of a Community free trade area▫2. Creation of a Common External Tariff

Customs union▫3. Prohibition of anti-competitive practices▫4. Promotion of free movement of goods,

persons, services and capital

10

I. The policy concerns of the EEC Treaty


c) The EEC and Euratom Treaties (Contd.)

•Concerning the future evolution of the common market▫Vague references of a movement towards

some sorts of general economic integration and the coordination of economic and monetary policies. E.g. common agricultural and transport policy

•Clear ideology in the framework of the EEC treaty of free-market, liberal, non-interventionist capitalism

11



• Promotion of :- Research- Dissemination of information- Health and safety standards- A nuclear common market

12

II. The policy concerns of the EURATOM Treaty



•Both Treaties based on the ECSC Treaty •Differences

Being explained by the institutional framework of the EEC and Euratom

13

III. The institutional provisions of the Treaties



•The main Institutions of the EEC and Euratom▫The Commission (less power than the

High Authority)▫The Council of Ministers (Greater powers)▫The Assembly▫The Court of Justice

(The last two being common for all three communities)

14


d) Concluding Remarks

•The treaty of Paris and the two Treaties of Rome are the founding Treaties which spirit influenced the future EU integration

•If the Treaty of Paris has a special place in our hearts for being the « first one », the EEC Treaty is the most important as it laid down the base for the EU integration

15

Documents

The Governement and Politics of the European Union by Neill Nugent