Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
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IV.
To this end:
Council of Europe, 1949
European Coal & Steel Community, 1951 (Treaty of
Paris)
Basis for Euro Community
Evolution: EC EU
Maastricht Treaty, 1993. Absorbed the EC.
Authority in new areas: monetary policy, foreign
affairs, national security, transportation, the
environment, justice, and tourism
Established a 3-pillars of authority:
Trade and other economic matters (one currency &
creation of European Central Bank). 17 members
use Euro. So does Vatican, Monaco and 3 others.
Justice & home affairs (policy governing asylum,
border crossing, immigration, & judicial
cooperation on crime and terrorism)
Common foreign and security policy (common
defense policy, joint positions and actions)
5 Main Bodies
Executive Body
Initiates all legislation and enforces decisions
Ensures proper implementation of laws
Administers EU budget
Represents EU in trade negotiations
Scrutinize the implementation of the treaties and legislation
Act solely in the interest of the EU as a whole, as opposed to the
Council which consists of leaders of member states who reflect
national interests. The only body paid to think European
Implements, monitors, and controls enforcement of EU law and
policy
Can bring a Member State before the Court of Justice for failure to
enforce EU law
Based in Brussels
27 Commissioners. 1 is President (Barroso until 2014)
Commissioners appointed for 5 years
25,000 Euro civil servants
Council of Ministers
Meets in Brussels
Legislative Branch I
Legislative authority is divided between Council and EP
Council and EP required to vote to pass law
Budgetary power (w/EP). 116 bil. euro/year
Consists of one Minister from each Member State
Responsible for making the major policy decisions of EU
Power to adopt legislation proposed by Commission
Each Member State acts as President of Council for 6
month rotation
Meetings attended by different Ministers according
to agenda
Develop political cooperation
Legislative II
736 seats. Proportionate Rep.
Directly Elected. 5 year terms.
Second largest democratic electorate in the world (India)
Cant initiate leg
CAN amend and reject legislation
CAN request leg
CAN Veto Commission
CAN censure EC w/ 2/3 majority = resignation of the entire EC
Equal legislative and budgetary powers with Council
Appoint Court of Auditors and the president and executive board of the
European Central Bank
Sit in political groups. For a group to be recognized, it needs 25 MEPs
from 7 different countries
Consensual. Peoples Party-Socialist Coalition
President Martin Schulz of Germany. 30 month term began in Jan 2012.
96/13 Germany
74/10 France
73/10 Italy
73/10 UK
54/7 Spain
51/7 Poland
EPP (265)
S&D (186)
ALDE (84)
ECR (55)
Greens EFA (55)
EUL-NGL (35)
EFD (30)
Non-Affiliated (27)
Party
Total
QM
V
People's Party
15
204
Socialists
65
31
41
27
345
EU Legal Instruments
Binding:
Regulations - Apply directly in the Member States w/o
requiring any further national legislation
Directives - Binding in substance but up discretion of
Member States how to transpose them into national
legislation & execute them.
Decisions - Addressed to a Member State, firm, or
individual.
Non Binding:
Recommendations
Opinions
Resolutions
Challenges of the EU
Economic Issues
Deepening/extending economic reforms
Reducing unemployment and large gov.
Revising financial regulation and supervision
Completing the Single Market
Balance multilateralism and bilateralism in trade policy
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Ageing population and shrinking workforce
2.
Climate change
The future of transport
Euroscepticism
France followed by the Netherlands
rejected EU Constitution in 2006.
New members are more enthusiastic than
the old ones
Skeptcism is strongest in UK, though
Eurobarometer polls show dissatisfaction
in other EU members as well
No further expansion
Broadening: Turkey?
Pro:
-USA
-extension into southern Caucasus
-stabilize pipeline: oil and gas
-compatibility of Islam with democracy?
Con:
-dif. levels of development
-religious and ethnic feuds
-Cyprus
Discussion
Structures & Functions?
To increase legitimacy? Is it just PR?
Broadening vs. Deepening: Focus on
deepening and broadening or one of the
two?