1. Chapter 7: The European Union
Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges, Seventh Edition by Charles Hauss
Chapter 7: The European Union
Chapter Learning objectives

3. 3

5. Crisis in the European Union
The EU is a diverse organization
Each group of countries has different needs in responding to the crisis
EU could not implement same policies as the United States in responding to the crisis
Much of economic policy remains in national hands

6. Thinking about the EU Four different names:
The European Economic Community (EEC), established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957
The Common Market, a term informally applied to the EEC and still sometimes used
The European Community (EC), adopted in 1965 once its functions expanded beyond economics
The European Union (EU), all of the institutions gathered under the EC’s umbrella according to the 1991 Maastricht Treaty

7. Thinking about the EU Who’s In? Who’s Out?
EU grew to 27 member states in ‘07
500 million residents
GDP about equal to U.S.
Has its own flag, three active capital cities, and its own currency

8. Table 7.1

9. Thinking about the EU The New Europe
Expansion forced debate about governance
New members are significantly poorer than others
Many new countries had been ruled by communists

10. Thinking about the EU Three Pillars Trade and economic issues
Cooperation in justice and home affairs
Desire to create a Common Foreign and Security Policy

11. Thinking about the EU Key Questions How and why did the EU emerge?
What is its political culture and how does it affect the way people participate in political life?
What are its main decision-making bodies?
What are its critical public policy initiatives?
How do the European people learn about and react to those policies?

12. Table 7.2

13. The Evolution of the EU Not Such a New Idea
Idea of uniting Europe had been around since Roman times
Kellogg Briand Pact, young activists organized support, WWII outbreak ended efforts
Marshall Plan and OECD, late 1940s
1949 Council of Europe
ECSC, 1951
The Treaty of Rome: the EEC and EURATOM, 1957

14. The Evolution of the EU Not Such a New Idea
ECSC not an immediate success, steps toward integration
Initial steps more of a response to Cold War
Did transfer some national sovereignty
ECSC four institutions that remain at core of EU in altered form:
High authority
Special Council of Ministers
Court of Justice
A Common Assembly

15. The Evolution of the EU Not Such a New Idea
Treaty of Rome 1957—elimination of all tariffs and creation of common external ones over 12–15 years
High Authority renamed Commission
Council of Ministers organ of national governments
Increased size of the European Parliament
European Court of Justice

16. The Evolution of the EU Creating the Common Market
Early debates about expansion
Empty chairs crisis of 1965–66
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), 1966
Members of European Parliament direct elections beginning 1979

17. The Evolution of the EU Creating the Common Market
Two major roadblocks:
Elimination of tariffs not enough to create common market
Little support for further integration

18. The Evolution of the EU Creating the Common Market
Single European Act, 1985
Introduced provisions for internal market
Cutback in unanimity principle
Increased political cooperation

19. The Evolution of the EU Creating the Common Market
Maastricht Treaty, 1991
Gave EU authority to act in new areas
Established three pillars
Established European citizenship
Subsidiarity
Committed EU to single currency
Was not ratified easily
Less charismatic leaders
1999 mismanagement report

20. The Evolution of the EU Creating the Common Market
Treaty of Nice opened door to 2004 and 2007 enlargements

21. Political Culture and Participation in the EU
Partisan life remains almost exclusively national, not European
Interest groups nationally oriented
Democratic deficit describes “distance” between citizens and EU decision making
Media remain national, not European, except for Eurosport
Language differences remain

22. The European State? You Say You Want a Constitution?
EU has made two attempts, both failed
Does it matter whether it’s called a constitution or a treaty?
All member countries have to ratify
Treaty of Lisbon signed in 2007
Would have created a president and foreign minister
23 of 27 member states have ratified
All states must accept ratification

23. The European State? The Commission Permanent executive of the EU
Supervises work of 30 ministry-like services
Initiates and implements most programs
Commissioners nominated by their national government; approved by qualified majority of council
President is one of the commissioners
Serve EU, not home countries (in theory)

24. Table 7.3

25. Table 7.4

26. The European State? The Council of Ministers
Presidency system will change with Treaty of Lisbon
Ministers from member governments meet
Foreign and finance ministers meet monthly
Heads of government meet twice yearly
Commission proposals require council as well as parliamentary approval
Complex system of “qualified majority voting”

27. Figure 7.1: Decision Making in the European Union

28. Table 7.5

29. The European State? The European Court of Justice: Powerful Judiciary
Court of First Instance
Court of Auditors (EU finance cases)
European Court of Justice
Each government appoints one judge
Broad constitutional jurisdiction
EU laws and regulations take precedence over national law
Cassis de Dijon case of 1979
Mutual recognition

30. The European State? The European Parliament
Legitimacy increased after 1979 when MEPs were directly elected
Codecision: Council and commission have to consult with parliament when:
Commission proposes a new initiative, parliament has to give opinion
The council disagrees with the parliament, parliament must be consulted
Approves all nominees to commission

31. The European State? The Complexity of EU Decision-Making
EU needs to recognize interests of member states
EU institutions even more fragmented and independent than the United States

32. The European State? Next Steps?
Turkey has membership application pending
Recent constitutions difficulties and economic crisis
Establishing a common foreign and security policy has not been easy
European states view their national interests differently

33. The European State? The EU and National Sovereignty National security
Economy or social policy limits freedom of member states to make and enforce their own policy
Mutual recognition
Ban of British beef 1996

34. Public Policy in the EU The Internal Market
Removal of tariffs and trade barriers
Professional licenses
Financial institutions free to invest and loan money throughout the EU
Growth of transnational enterprises
Less control over what is made and sold in their borders
European Monetary Union sets common rates
Single-market expanded options available to consumers

35. Public Policy in the EU The Common Agricultural Policy
Huge, expensive program
Seems to inhibit free trade
Changes forced on EU by global forces
Payments to farmers consumed more than half of the EC budget
Not extended to newest members immediately

36. Feedback Little news coverage of EU and its politics
Voting rates lower than for national elections
Only one English language weekly that focuses on EU
Alienation from EU politics widespread

37. Conclusion: A Balance Sheet
Major factor in post-WWII peace and prosperity—“zone of peace”
Demonstrates success of transnational organization