European UnionEuropean Union

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EUEU

The European The European Union has gone Union has gone through many through many incarnations since incarnations since its origins its origins

fifty-plus years fifty-plus years ago.ago.

European Coal and Steel European Coal and Steel CommunityCommunity

**1952: The basis of the EU began with the signing of the 1952: The basis of the EU began with the signing of the

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris, establishing the European Coal , establishing the European Coal and Steeland Steel

Community (ECSC), to regulate European industry Community (ECSC), to regulate European industry &&

improve commerce, post WWII.improve commerce, post WWII.

* The six founding states were Belgium, France, * The six founding states were Belgium, France, Germany, Germany,

Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.

*1957: the *1957: the Treaty of RomeTreaty of Rome were signed by the six were signed by the six membermember

states, forming:states, forming:-The European Economic Community (EEC)-The European Economic Community (EEC)

-The European Atomic Energy Community-The European Atomic Energy Community (Euroatom)(Euroatom)

* These units worked concurrently with the ECSC.* These units worked concurrently with the ECSC.

The The European European CommunitCommunit

yy

1967: ECSC, EEC, and 1967: ECSC, EEC, and EuroAtom merged to EuroAtom merged to form the basis of the form the basis of the EC. EC.

1973: the United 1973: the United Kingdom,Kingdom,

Denmark, and Denmark, and IrelandIreland

joined the EC.joined the EC.

1981: Greece joined.1981: Greece joined.

1986: Spain and Portugal1986: Spain and Portugal

joined.joined.

1995: Finland, Sweden, 1995: Finland, Sweden, andand

Austria joinedAustria joined..

Goals of the ECGoals of the EC To continue to improve Europe’s economy byTo continue to improve Europe’s economy by regulating trade and commerce.regulating trade and commerce.

To form a single market for Europe'sTo form a single market for Europe'seconomic resources.economic resources.

As these goals were accomplished, otherAs these goals were accomplished, other goals were developed: goals were developed:

Environmental movementsEnvironmental movements Regulatory actsRegulatory acts Human rights concerns.Human rights concerns.

THE EUROPEAN UNIONTHE EUROPEAN UNION

1992: the 1992: the Maastricht Maastricht TreatyTreaty was ratified, was ratified, which rechartered which rechartered the EC as the the EC as the European UnionEuropean Union..

Basis of the EUBasis of the EU

The European Union is based on the rule of The European Union is based on the rule of law and democracy. It is neither a new State law and democracy. It is neither a new State replacing existing ones nor is it comparable replacing existing ones nor is it comparable to other international organisations. Its to other international organisations. Its Member States delegate sovereignty to Member States delegate sovereignty to common institutions representing the common institutions representing the interests of the Union as a whole on interests of the Union as a whole on questions of joint interest. All decisions and questions of joint interest. All decisions and procedures are derived from the basic procedures are derived from the basic treaties ratified by the Member States.treaties ratified by the Member States.

Principal Objects of the Principal Objects of the EUEU

Establish European CitizenshipEstablish European Citizenship

Ensure freedom, security, and justiceEnsure freedom, security, and justice

Promote economic and social progressPromote economic and social progress

Assert Europe’s role in the worldAssert Europe’s role in the world

The EU is run by five The EU is run by five institutioinstitutions, each playing a ns, each playing a

specific role:specific role: European ParliamentEuropean Parliament

– elected by the peoples of the Member Stateselected by the peoples of the Member States

Council of the UnionCouncil of the Union – composed of the governments of the Member Statescomposed of the governments of the Member States

European CommissionEuropean Commission – driving force and executive bodydriving force and executive body

Court of JusticeCourt of Justice – compliance with the lawcompliance with the law

Court of AuditorsCourt of Auditors – sound and lawful management of the EU budgetsound and lawful management of the EU budget

European ParliamentEuropean Parliament

Members elected every 5 years Members elected every 5 years – Currently 753 membersCurrently 753 members

Three essential functions:Three essential functions:– Legislate laws along w/ CouncilLegislate laws along w/ Council– Budget authority along w/ CouncilBudget authority along w/ Council– Supervision of CommissionSupervision of Commission

http://http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search.html

Council of the EUCouncil of the EU Composed of the head of each member Composed of the head of each member

country (Prime Minster/President, etc) & the country (Prime Minster/President, etc) & the President of the EU Commission President of the EU Commission – 1 Minister acts as President, rotating twice yearly1 Minister acts as President, rotating twice yearly– 2 meetings a year, in President’s country 2 meetings a year, in President’s country

Main decision making body of the EUMain decision making body of the EU

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities– Legislation & budgetary policies along w/ ParliamentLegislation & budgetary policies along w/ Parliament– Economic policiesEconomic policies– International agreementsInternational agreements

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/homepage?lang=en

European CommissionEuropean Commission Embodies and upholds the general interest of the Embodies and upholds the general interest of the

Union. Union. http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm 20 members: 1 President, 2 vice-Presidents & 17 20 members: 1 President, 2 vice-Presidents & 17

CommissionersCommissioners– Elected every 5 yearsElected every 5 years by the Member States after they have by the Member States after they have

been approved by the European Parliament.been approved by the European Parliament.

As the EU’s executive body, it:As the EU’s executive body, it:– Drafts legislation for Parliament & Council; Implements Drafts legislation for Parliament & Council; Implements

legislationlegislation

– Guardian of treaties, along with Court of JusticeGuardian of treaties, along with Court of Justice

– Represents EU internationallyRepresents EU internationally

– Manages the 15 EU agenciesManages the 15 EU agencies http://europa.eu/agencies/index_en.htm

President of the EUPresident of the EU President is appointed President is appointed (not elected) by the (not elected) by the EU Council for a 5-year EU Council for a 5-year term and term and confirmed confirmed by Parliament.by Parliament.

Court of JusticeCourt of Justice 15 judges and 8 advocate generals 15 judges and 8 advocate generals appointedappointed by member states for 6 year terms. by member states for 6 year terms.

The Court of Justice ensures that CommunityThe Court of Justice ensures that Communitylaw is uniformly interpreted and effectively applied. law is uniformly interpreted and effectively applied.

It has jurisdiction in disputes involving It has jurisdiction in disputes involving Member States, EU institutions, businesses Member States, EU institutions, businesses and individualsand individuals

http://curia.eu.int/en/index.htm

The EU Headquarters The EU Headquarters

Brussels, Belgium Brussels, Belgium

Selected as the Selected as the headquarters of headquarters of the European the European Union because of Union because of its centralized its centralized location in Europe.location in Europe.

ENLARGEMENT:ENLARGEMENT:10 more countries become 10 more countries become EU Member States in 2004 EU Member States in 2004

country - date of EU country - date of EU applicationapplication

Cyprus - 3 July 1990Cyprus - 3 July 1990 Malta - 16 July 1990Malta - 16 July 1990 Hungary - 31 March 1994Hungary - 31 March 1994 Poland - 5 April 1994Poland - 5 April 1994 Slovakia - 27 June 1995Slovakia - 27 June 1995 Latvia - 13 October 1995Latvia - 13 October 1995 Estonia - 24 November 1995Estonia - 24 November 1995 Lithuania - 8 December 1995Lithuania - 8 December 1995 Czech RepublicCzech Republic - - 17 January 199617 January 1996

Slovenia - 10 June 1996Slovenia - 10 June 1996

27 CURRENT EU 27 CURRENT EU COUNTRIESCOUNTRIES

AustriaAustria BelgiumBelgium Bulgaria (2007)Bulgaria (2007) Czech RepublicCzech Republic CyprusCyprus DenmarkDenmark EstoniaEstonia FinlandFinland FranceFrance GermanyGermany GreeceGreece HungaryHungary IrelandIreland ItalyItaly LatviaLatvia LithuaniaLithuania LuxembourgLuxembourg MaltaMalta The NetherlandsThe Netherlands Poland Poland PortugalPortugal Romania (2007)Romania (2007) SlovakiaSlovakia SloveniaSlovenia SpainSpain Sweden Sweden United KingdomUnited Kingdom

What Does it Take to qualify for Membership in the EU:

1. The candidate country has achieved stability of institutions

guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights

and respect for and protection of minorities.

2. The candidate country has the existence of a functioning market

economy, as well as the capacity to cope with competitive

pressure and market forces within the Union.

3. The candidate country has the ability to take on the obligations

of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.

Candidate Countries

Croatia

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Turkey

Potential

Candidate Countries

Albania

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Montenegro

Serbia including Kosovo under UN Security

Council Resolution 1244

Applicant Countries whose Applicant Countries whose requests for EU membership are requests for EU membership are

still pendingstill pending

The EUROThe EUROEarly 1990’sEarly 1990’s

1990: Aimed at boosting cross-border business activity, the first stage of EMU lifted restrictions on movements of capital across internal EU borders.

1994: The European Monetary Institute was established in Frankfurt to pave the way for the European Central Bank.

1999: the Euro was introduced as the single currency for eleven EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.

The EUROThe EURO1999-Present1999-Present

1999-2002: The Euro and the previous national currencies were concurrently used in participating states.

2002: The participating

countries had their previous national currencies withdrawn permanently as legal tender.

EU member states not yet using the Euro as currency: United Kingdom, Bulgaria. United Kingdom, Bulgaria. Czech Rep., Denmark, Czech Rep., Denmark, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, SwedenPoland, Romania, Sweden

NORWAY?NORWAY? Norway has never been a

member of the EU, but is ‘partners’ with EU for certain economic and trade reasons.

Their economy has historically been very good and they had no desire to ‘merge’ with lesser economies.

Norway also ‘partners’ with the EU in areas of human rights, international justice, the environment, and academic research

SWITZERLAND?SWITZERLAND?

Switzerland has Switzerland has never been a never been a member of the EU,member of the EU, but is ‘partners’ but is ‘partners’ with EU for certainwith EU for certain

economic reasons. economic reasons.

Switzerland Switzerland JoinedJoined UN in 2002.UN in 2002.

Swiss Government want Switzerland to join forSwiss Government want Switzerland to join foreconomic reasons but the Swiss people economic reasons but the Swiss people

continue tocontinue tovote against joining the EU.vote against joining the EU.