The EssentialEuropean Union

First things first…

• The EU is a Supranational Organization consisting of 28 individual nations.

• Initially started in 1951 as a cooperative between 6 nations over the coal and steel industries.

• Treaty of Rome 1957 signed by 6 governments (France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Netherlands) begins to expand and define this relationship.

Important Dates

• 1957 – Treaty of Rome ( Beginning of modern EU)

• 1991 – Treaty of Maastricht signed (European citizenship & common economic policy)

• 2002 – Euro launched• 2007 – Treaty of Lisbon

Broadening & Deepening(New Members) & (New Powers)

3 PillarsTr

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Econ

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Pol

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Coop

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Justi

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Hom

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(Soc

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Crea

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com

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For

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(CFS

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So know you have…

The E.U. InstitutionsDecision Making Triangle of EU

• The European Parliament (751 members)• The Council of the Union (28 members)–Council of Ministers – European Council (Bigwigs) meet 4X per

year for general goal setting• The European Commission (28 members)

plus a large bureacracy

European Commission

• Turns general goals (from European Council) into proposed policy.

• Initiates & Implements policy – similar to the Executive Branch of the USA.

• Members of the EC are appointed by the member countries governments. Undemocratic process

• They then become (supposedly) independent of their home countries and employed by the EU.

The Council of the Union• Represent the individual Nation States of the

European Union.• 2 Parts (Council of Ministers & European Council)• European Council (David Cameron for UK) meets @

4 X per year to set BROAD goals.• Council of Ministers (rotating group from each

country – for instance it might be the country’s Finance Minister if the issue is Financial) actually pass laws along with European Parliament (Co-decision making)

European Parliament

• This is a Democratically elected body (increases legitimacy) of MEPs.

• There are 751 members in total that are elected for 5 year terms. Representation is proportional to population with individual countries sending anywhere from 6 to 96 members.

• Pass Laws along with The Council.• Responsible along with The Council for budgets

Unanimity

• The Treaty of Lisbon limited the areas that required UNANIMOUS agreement between the countries of the EU.

• EG – admittance of a New member

Qualified Majority Voting

• Complicated – Yes• Basically aligned or weighted with population.• 55% of votes from at least 15 of the EU

nations representing at least 65% of the Eus total population.

• Simple Right?

Democratic Deficit?

• Why may some EU citizens feel “disconnected” from the EU?????

European Court of Justice