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European Union

AP Comparative Government. European Union. EU: Introduction. Trend of integration Supranational organization Europe’s history is one of diverse national identities EU creates cooperation among nations Not a federation Not merely cooperation Not a state replacing existing states.

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European Union

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  1. AP Comparative Government European Union

  2. EU: Introduction • Trend of integration • Supranational organization • Europe’s history is one of diverse national identities • EU creates cooperation among nations • Not a federation • Not merely cooperation • Not a state replacing existing states

  3. EU Mission • Europe’s mission in the 21st century is to: • * provide peace, prosperity and stability for its peoples • * overcome the divisions on the continent • * ensure that its people can live in safety • * promote balanced economic and social development • * meet the challenges of globalisation and preserve the diversity of the peoples of Europe • * uphold the values that Europeans share, such as sustainable development and a sound environment, respect for human rights and the social market economy

  4. EU: Brief History • Began in an effort to revitalize Europe after WWII ended. • Initial goals were economic • Evolution of EU • The European Coal and Steel Community • The EEC (European Economic Community)‏ • The EC (European Community)‏ • The EU (European Union)‏

  5. Maastricht Treaty introduced new forms of co-operation between the Member State governments - defense, environment, tourism, monetary policy created a new structure with three "pillars" Economic matters – single currency, European Central Bank “Justice and Home Affairs” - immigration, asylum Foreign and Security Policy Created the European Union (EU)‏ February 7, 1992 Significant Historical Treaties • Treaty of Rome • establishing the European Economic Community (EEC)‏ • Eliminated all tariffs between European nations, created new ones that applied to all • entered into force on 1 January 1958

  6. Membership Europa

  7. The EU is managed by 5 institutions • European Parliament • (elected by the peoples of the Member States); • Council of the Union • (composed of the governments of the Member States); • European Commission • (driving force and executive body); • Court of Justice • (compliance with the law); • Court of Auditors • (sound and lawful management of the EU budget).

  8. European Parliament • Directly elected every 5 years (785 MEPs)‏ • Serves Three functions: • Create and adopt European laws • Adopt the EU budget and share budgetary authority with the Council • Political supervision over all institutions. Supervision of the Commission and approve of Commissioners.

  9. Council of the European Union • EU’s main decision making body • member states take turn holding the Council Presidency for a six-month period • attended by one minister from each EU country • The Union’s legislative body in co-decision with the Parliament • Coordinates economic policies • Responsible for International agreements • Shares budgetary authority with Parliament • Police and Judicial Cooperation

  10. Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom - 29 Spain and Poland - 27 Romania - 14 Netherlands - 13 Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal - 12 Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden - 10 Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland - 7 Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia - 4 Malta - 3 Total: 345 Qualified Majority Voting • The number of votes allocated to each EU country roughly reflects the size of its population.

  11. European Commission • Union’s executive body - responsible for implementing EU legislation • Upholds the general interests of the EU • Can propose legislation to Parliament and the Council • The Commission answers to the Parliament • the entire Commission has to resign if the Parliament passes a motion of censure against it • Ensures the law is adhered to with the aid of the Court of Justice • Negotiates International Agreements

  12. The Court of Justice • Made up of one judge from each EU country • Appointed by joint agreement of the governments of the member states for a renewable term of six years • The Court’s role is to ensure that EU law is complied with, and that the Treaties are correctly interpreted and applied • located in Luxembourg

  13. Common defense Troop commitment and deployment up to the member states Justice and home affairs Free movement of EU citizens Terrorism Cooperation amongst police forces Britain, Ireland, Denmark rarely participate Policy Making Power • Creating and maintaining a single internal market • Trucking goods, professional licenses • Union of monetary policy • Euro, interest rates • UK does NOT mandate the Euro • Common agricultural policy • Farm subsidies (trying to modernize inefficient farms)‏

  14. Popular Culture and Participation in the EU • Few people identify themselves first as European. • Key EU organizations are still superficial • Democratic deficit • Lack of common language • 23 official languages

  15. Issues of Sovereignty • Monetary policies • European Monetary Union • Environmental regulation • Expanding Membership • Trade policy • Common Agricultural Policy • Human rights • Border control • Immigration

  16. The Lisbon Treaty • Designed to meet the challenges of the arrival of new members from central and eastern Europe • The treaty was signed by EU leaders in Rome in October 2004 and sent to all member states for ratification. • Although ratified by the majority of EU countries, the draft constitutional treaty was rejected by French and Dutch voters in May and June 2005. • A reform treaty was negotiated during 2007 and signed by EU heads of state and government in Lisbon in December 2007. • The Lisbon Treaty is currently being ratified by member states. The aim is to have it in force before the next elections for the European Parliament in June 2009.

  17. The Lisbon Treaty • Main provisions of the Treaty • * Giving the European Parliament greater legislative and budgetary powers. • * Granting national parliaments a role in ensuring that the EU complies with the principle of subsidiarity. • * Increasing the number of areas covered by qualified majority voting in the Council. • * A clearer presentation of the breakdown of powers and responsibilities between the Union and its member countries. • * A legally binding Charter of Fundamental Rights guaranteeing the freedoms and rights of European citizens. • * Election of a president of the European Council for a term of two and a half years, renewable once. • * A new post of High Representative for the Union in Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to increase the impact, coherence and visibility of the EU's external action.

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