16.
Az EU
(The European Union)
The beginning of European integration
In 1948, leaders of Western European countries united against the Soviet Union and the United States
The Council of Europe (Western European democracies) is established in 1949
- “Concrete steps”: French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman stated in 1950
1952: European Coal and Steel Community: FRG, France (Ruhr area, Lorraine), Italy, Benelux
- Goal: coordinate the production of steel and heavy industry
January 1958: Treaty of Rome:
- Euro atom: controls the production and use of energy by the Member States
- European Economic Community: creation of a customs union: internal customs abolished, external
customs remain
Expanding integration
1967-1968: The EEC became the European Community: increasing of economic cooperation
Britain also wanted to join, but not allowed until 1968 (France is afraid of its rival)
EFTA is established: a democratic but not a member of the EEC (Northern Europe, Austria, Great Britain) → an economic
alliance, which is later dissolved
Events:
1972: Britain, Ireland and Denmark joined
1981: Greece joined
1986: Spain and Portugal joined
1991 In the Netherlands Summit → Maastricht Treaties:
- program extension
- Introduction of a single currency: the euro
- Common foreign and security policy
- The European Community became the European Union
- Uniform visa policy
- Establishment of joint institutions: European Parliament, European Commission
- Preferential customs zone
1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden joined
1995 Schengen Conventions (Luxembourg): Summit:
- Internal borders ceased
- Stricter controls at external borders
- Joint law enforcement within the European Union is intensifying
1996:
Treaty (and summit) of Amsterdam:
- Cooperation in law enforcement, social policy and the environment
Introduction of the euro in 12 countries and can be used as a means of payment
Agenda 2000: Eastern enlargement and the transformation of the European Union
2000: Nice Summit: Regulation of the functioning of the European Union and integration of connectors
2002 Copenhagen Summit:
- From 1 January 2002, only the euro will be the currency of several countries
- Criteria for accession (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia): perfect functioning of democracy, assessment of
economic competition, adoption of the acquis of the European Union
2004: 10 countries joined: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia,
Cyprus and Malta (The accession of Bulgaria and Romania is planned for 2007)
The Three Pillars of the EU
1. European community
- Treaty of Rome as revised by Single European Act
- Single Market
- Democratization of the institutions
- European citizenship
- Economic and monetary union (single currency, European Central Bank, single monetary policy,
coordination of economic policies)
2. Common foreign and security policy
- Common foreign policy (systematic cooperation, common positions and joint actions)
- Eventual common defence policy based on the Western European Union
3. Justice and home affairs
- closer cooperation (asylum policy, rules on crossing the Member States’ external borders, immigration
policy, combating drug addiction, combating internal fraud customs, police and judicial cooperation
The four freedoms of the EU:
Free movement of:
1. People
2. Services
3. Goods
4. Capital
The institutions of the EU:
Legislation:
The European Parliament:
- Members are directly elected for 5 years
- 751 representatives
- Quota of representatives of the member states
- 8 major family of parties, based on ideology
- Approve the EU budget
- CONTROLS, EXAMINES, APPROVES (no independent legislative role)
- Based in Strasbourg and Brussels
The Council of the EU: (council of ministers)
- Main legislative and decision-making body
- Several levels: usually ministers of the member states of a certain area/governmental branch take part
of the meetings
- Bring law
- Formalise policy
- Decide on budget, economy, integral and defence policy
- Based in Brussels
The European Council
- A forum of the heads of states (with real power)
- Major agreements and political decisions are made here
- Diplomacy
- International relations and international politics
Execution:
The European Commission: (Bizottság)
- The „government” of the EU (rather formal power)
- Proposing laws
- Spending funds
- Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the EU
- 28 members (one of each member state)
- President elected by the governments
Jurisdiction:
The Court of Justice:
- Interprets the laws
- Checks if they are applied in the same way in each countries
- Settles disputes between countries
- Makes states to fulfil their responsibilities
- Based in Strasburg
The Court of Auditors: (Számvevőszék)
- Audits EU finances
- Goal: to improve the financial management
- Gives an annual report to the EP
- Independent body
