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

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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

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

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

Table 7.1

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

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

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?

Table 7.2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Table 7.3

Table 7.4

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”

Figure 7.1: Decision Making in the European Union

Table 7.5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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