The Essential European Union

First things first… The EU is a Supranational Organization consisting of 28 individual nations. Initially started in 1951 as a cooperative between 6 nations over the coal and steel industries. Treaty of Rome 1957 signed by 6 governments (France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Netherlands) begins to expand and define this relationship.

Important Dates 1957 – Treaty of Rome ( Beginning of modern EU) 1991 – Treaty of Maastricht signed (European citizenship & common economic policy) 2002 – Euro launched 2007 – Treaty of Lisbon

Broadening & Deepening (New Members) & (New Powers)

3 Pillars Trade and Economic Policy Cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs (Social) Create a common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

So know you have…

The E.U. Institutions Decision Making Triangle of EU The European Parliament (751 members) The Council of the Union (28 members) – Council of Ministers – European Council (Bigwigs) meet 4X per year for general goal setting The European Commission (28 members) plus a large bureacracy

European Commission Turns general goals (from European Council) into proposed policy. Initiates & Implements policy – similar to the Executive Branch of the USA. Members of the EC are appointed by the member countries governments. Undemocratic process They then become (supposedly) independent of their home countries and employed by the EU.

The Council of the Union Represent the individual Nation States of the European Union. 2 Parts (Council of Ministers & European Council) European Council (David Cameron for UK) 4 X per year to set BROAD goals. Council of Ministers (rotating group from each country – for instance it might be the country’s Finance Minister if the issue is Financial) actually pass laws along with European Parliament (Co- decision making)

European Parliament This is a Democratically elected body (increases legitimacy) of MEPs. There are 751 members in total that are elected for 5 year terms. Representation is proportional to population with individual countries sending anywhere from 6 to 96 members. Pass Laws along with The Council. Responsible along with The Council for budgets

Unanimity The Treaty of Lisbon limited the areas that required UNANIMOUS agreement between the countries of the EU. EG – admittance of a New member

Qualified Majority Voting Complicated – Yes Basically aligned or weighted with population. 55% of votes from at least 15 of the EU nations representing at least 65% of the Eus total population. Simple Right?

Democratic Deficit? Why may some EU citizens feel “disconnected” from the EU?????

European Court of Justice