The European Union

1. The European Union History & Evolution Structures-Functions Contemporary Challenges Discussion

2. Evolution of the European Union

3. The Best Intentions • Revitalize Europe after World War II • Strength in Unity vs. Warsaw Pact • Fix broken economies • Promote Dialogue • Integrate & Cooperate • To this end: • Council of Europe, 1949 • European Coal & Steel Community, 1951 (Treaty of Paris) • Basis for Euro Community…

4. Evolution: European Community (EC) • Established by Treaty of Rome, 1957 • Benelux + Fr, Ge, Italy • 3 Pillars: • European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) (aka “Common Market”) • European Economic Community (EEC) • European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom). The only remaining structure.

5. Evolution: European Communities • Main Concerns of Euro Community • Peace • Trade & elimination of tariffs • Travel • National sovereignty • Expansion • Transitions from communism to capitalism

6. 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)

7. Evolution: Membership History • Began w/ 6: Benelux +France, Germany, Italy • Denmark, UK, and Ireland joined in early 1970s • Greece in 1981 • Portugal and Spain in 1986 • Austria, Finland, Sweden in 1995 • 10 Countries joined in 2004: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia • Bulgaria and Romania in 2006 • The combined population of all 27 members is 510,000,000 • Organization and diversity makes consensus hard

9. Structures and Functions of the European Union

10. 5 Main Bodies • European Commission (EC)—EXEC • Council of Ministers—LEG • European Parliament—LEG • Court of Justice—JUD • Court of Auditors—Financial Evaluator

11. The European Commission (EC) • 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

13. 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

14. The European Parliament • Legislative II • 736 seats. Proportionate Rep. • Directly Elected. 5 year terms. • Second largest democratic electorate in the world (India) • Can’t 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. People’s Party-Socialist Coalition • President Martin Schulz of Germany. 30 month term began in Jan 2012.

15.    EPP (265)     S&D (186)     ALDE (84)     ECR (55)     Greens – EFA (55)     EUL-NGL (35)     EFD (30)      Non-Affiliated (27) 96/13 Germany 74/10 France 73/10 Italy 73/10 UK 54/7 Spain 51/7 Poland…

16. The European Council • Comprises the heads of government of Member States and President of Commission assisted by Foreign Ministers of the Member States and a member of Commission • Defines the EU's policy agenda—the motor of EU integration • No direct legislative power but "supreme political authority" • Meets 4 times/year • Sorts out disputes between member states and the institutions • President of the European Council • Once-renewable term of 30 months • Primus inter pares • Herman Van Rompuy (Belgium). Dec 2009-Present. 2nd term • The President must report to the European Parliament after each European Council meeting

17. All members of Council are members of a political party at national level • Most are members of a Euro Party • Ideological alignment does color political agreements and choices of appointments (such as their President) The European Council

18. The Court of Justice • Ensures that the European Treaties are interpreted and implemented in accordance with EU law • 13 judges appointed by agreement with Member States • Assisted by 6 advocates general • Judgements overrule those of national courts • Power to fine a Member State • National courts have power to enforce decisions of Court of Justice

19. The Court of Auditors • Monitors the Union’s financial activities • 1 member from each EU member state • Appointed by Council • 6 yr terms • 800 auditors • No judicial functions • Function: externally check EU budget • In Luxembourg

21. 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

22. Pop Quiz: Who is the European „President“? a. Herman Van Rompuy - President of the European Council since 12/1/09 b. José Manuel Barroso - President of the European Commission since 11/22/04 c. Ireland - Presidency of the Council of the European Union 1/1/13 – 7/1/13 Anyone?

23. Pop Quiz: Who is the European „President“? • Van Rompuy is President of Council. Not of EU. Yet, the press usually cites him as President. • Barroso is President of Commission. Not of EU. Yet, the press often cites him as President. Has more power that Van Rompuy. Gets fewer mentions as President. • Ireland. Not. Hehe → Answer: There is no EU President. →Does this matter? No - Presidents are not necessary Yes - most Europeans think there is a President

24. Challenges of the EU Broadening, Deepning & Legitimizing ...oh, and the economy

26. EU Policy Challenges 2009-2019: A Report to the President • 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 • Climate change • The future of transport

27. EU Policy Challenges 2009-2019: A Report to the President 3. Cultural Issues • World Wide Web-balancing security and privacy + intellectual property Audiovisual and cultural policies • Civil Rights and Justice • Migration policy • Crime • Safeguarding diversity and cultures 4. The Politics of Poltics • Inter EU Structural Issues: Good Governnance and Insitution Building • Security & Crisis Mangement • ^ Turnout in European Elections in 2014 and 2019

28. EU Policy Challenges 2009-2019: A Report to the President 5. Intermestic Issues • Stabilization and Reform in the Balkans • Question of Turkish membership • Deepening the Eastern Partnership without alienating Russia 6. Foreign Policy • Promoting Middle East Peace • Seizing the 'Obama moment' to deepen Transatlantic relations • Strengthening Europe's relevance to Asia • Deepening the EU-Latin American partnership

29. It‘s the Economee Stoopid “If EU is to flourish far beyond its 50th birthday, it is its economy that most needs attention“ -The Economist „Fit at 50“

30. It‘s the Economee Stoopid

31. 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

32. Broadening: Eastern Europe? • Possible new members: Croatia, Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro -West: „Easterners may sink the boat“

33. 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

34. Discussion • Structures & Functions? • To increase legitimacy? Is it just PR? • Broadening vs. Deepening: Focus on deepening and broadening or one of the two?