The European Union

The European UnionThe European Union

Key DatesKey Dates• April 1948 Brussels Pact creates NATOApril 1948 Brussels Pact creates NATO• May 1950 – Schuman & Monnet propose May 1950 – Schuman & Monnet propose

French & German place coal & steel under French & German place coal & steel under common authoritycommon authority

• April 1951 – Treaty of Paris adds to “Inner Six” April 1951 – Treaty of Paris adds to “Inner Six” to form ECSC, very complex treaties (130 to form ECSC, very complex treaties (130 articles)articles)

• May 1952 – EDC treaty signed, France takes May 1952 – EDC treaty signed, France takes the lead (Plevin Plan)the lead (Plevin Plan)

• August 1952 – High Authority (9 mbr board) August 1952 – High Authority (9 mbr board) meets for the 1meets for the 1stst time (Monnet in charge) time (Monnet in charge)

Key MotivationsKey Motivations

• Pastoralize Germany – Pastoralize Germany – Morgenthau Plan, rejected Morgenthau Plan, rejected by Truman at Potsdamby Truman at Potsdam

• Integrate GermanyIntegrate Germany• Create an independent Create an independent

Germany, AdenaurGermany, Adenaur• Deter the USSRDeter the USSR

Functionalist TheoryFunctionalist Theory


Key Dates: (cont)Key Dates: (cont)• May 1954 - French proposal for May 1954 - French proposal for

EPC of Inner SixEPC of Inner Six• August 1954 – French National August 1954 – French National

Assembly defeats EDC pactAssembly defeats EDC pact• October 1954 – FRG enters October 1954 – FRG enters

NATONATO• June 1955 – Messina conf of June 1955 – Messina conf of

foreign ministers proposes foreign ministers proposes further economic integration of further economic integration of EuropeEurope

• March 1957 – 2 treaties in March 1957 – 2 treaties in Rome create EEC and Rome create EEC and EURATOM beside ECSCEURATOM beside ECSC

• 1963 – Degaulle vetoes British 1963 – Degaulle vetoes British admissionadmission


Key Dates: (cont)Key Dates: (cont)• 1965 – Merger Treaty (Single commission)1965 – Merger Treaty (Single commission)• 1966 - Luxembourg Compromise1966 - Luxembourg Compromise• 1968 – The Six members create industrial 1968 – The Six members create industrial

customs union removing most internal tariffs customs union removing most internal tariffs and a common external tariff (2 years ahead of and a common external tariff (2 years ahead of schedule)schedule)

• 1968 – Common Agricultural Policy established, 1968 – Common Agricultural Policy established, six years in negotiationsix years in negotiation

• 1979 – Direct elections for European Parliament1979 – Direct elections for European Parliament

The European Union The European Union EnlargementEnlargement

1957: The Inner Six: France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg•1973: UK, Ireland, Denmark, Norway rejects membership•1981: Greece•1984: Spain, Portugal•1995: Austria, Finland, Sweden•2004-2013: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania & Croatia•Negotiations with: Albania, Iceland, Serbia, Turkey & Macedonia

Economic IntegrationEconomic Integration

1969 – Hague summit agreement on EMU 1969 – Hague summit agreement on EMU (“Snake in the tunnel”)(“Snake in the tunnel”)

1977 – EMS replaces EMU1977 – EMS replaces EMU 1979 – Cassis decision1979 – Cassis decision 1985 – Cockfield White Paper1985 – Cockfield White Paper 1987 – Single European Act: to complete a 1987 – Single European Act: to complete a

single market by Dec 1992single market by Dec 1992 1992 – Maastricht Treaty establishes European 1992 – Maastricht Treaty establishes European

Union (EU)Union (EU)

EU InstitutionsEU Institutions

The CommissionThe Commission The Council of MinistersThe Council of Ministers The European CouncilThe European Council The European ParliamentThe European Parliament The European Court of JusticeThe European Court of Justice


The European CommissionThe European Commission• Supranational executive body with Supranational executive body with

exclusive power to initiate legislation & exclusive power to initiate legislation & administer the budgetadminister the budget

• 27 member board (formerly two 27 member board (formerly two members from the five largest states)members from the five largest states)

• Serve 5-year renewable terms approved Serve 5-year renewable terms approved by the Parliamentby the Parliament

• Supervise the 20k “Eurocrats”Supervise the 20k “Eurocrats”


The Council of Ministers/European CouncilThe Council of Ministers/European Council• 27 heads of government or their pertinent 27 heads of government or their pertinent

ministers who set EU policyministers who set EU policy• Nominates Commission presidentNominates Commission president• Meets 4 times per yearMeets 4 times per year• Presidency rotates every 6 monthsPresidency rotates every 6 months• Uses qualified majority voting, some issues still Uses qualified majority voting, some issues still

have to be unanimoushave to be unanimous


The European ParliamentThe European Parliament• Directly elected by the European voters Directly elected by the European voters

to meet in Strasbourgto meet in Strasbourg• 785 MEPs elected for 5-year terms in 785 MEPs elected for 5-year terms in

rough proportion to country populationrough proportion to country population• Approves budget and has “co-decision” Approves budget and has “co-decision”

on legislationon legislation• Can dissolve entire CommissionCan dissolve entire Commission


The European Court of JusticeThe European Court of Justice• Supreme court for EU matters (not Supreme court for EU matters (not

criminal justice)criminal justice)• One judge per countryOne judge per country• Vote by simple majorityVote by simple majority

European Investment BankEuropean Investment BankWorld’s largest multilateral borrowerWorld’s largest multilateral borrower

Current EU ProblemsCurrent EU Problems

BREXITBREXIT Democratic DeficitDemocratic Deficit The Danish alternativeThe Danish alternative The failure of the ConstitutionThe failure of the Constitution The CAPThe CAP Foreign and Security PolicyForeign and Security Policy Further enlargement (Turkey?)Further enlargement (Turkey?)

Documents

The European Union