1. The European Union History & Evolution Structures-Functions
Contemporary Challenges
Discussion

2. Evolution of the European Union

3. The Best Intentions Revitalize Europe after World War II
Strength in Unity vs. Warsaw Pact
Fix broken economies
Promote Dialogue
Integrate & Cooperate
To this end:
Council of Europe, 1949
European Coal & Steel Community, 1951 (Treaty of Paris)
Basis for Euro Community…

4. Evolution: European Community (EC)
Established by Treaty of Rome, 1957
Benelux + Fr, Ge, Italy
3 Pillars:
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) (aka “Common Market”)
European Economic Community (EEC)
European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom). The only remaining structure.

5. Evolution: European Communities
Main Concerns of Euro Community
Peace
Trade & elimination of tariffs
Travel
National sovereignty
Expansion
Transitions from communism to capitalism

6. Evolution: EC → EU Maastricht Treaty, 1993. Absorbed the EC.
Authority in new areas: monetary policy, foreign affairs, national security, transportation, the environment, justice, and tourism
Established a 3-pillars of authority:
Trade and other economic matters (one currency & creation of European Central Bank). 17 members use Euro. So does Vatican, Monaco and 3 others.
Justice & home affairs (policy governing asylum, border crossing, immigration, & judicial cooperation on crime and terrorism)
Common foreign and security policy (common defense policy, joint positions and actions)

7. Evolution: Membership History
Began w/ 6: Benelux + France, Germany, Italy
Denmark, UK, and Ireland joined in early 1970s
Greece in 1981
Portugal and Spain in 1986
Austria, Finland, Sweden in 1995
10 Countries joined in 2004: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia
Bulgaria and Romania in 2006
The combined population of all 27 members is 510,000,000
Organization and diversity makes consensus hard

9. Structures and Functions of the European Union

10. 5 Main Bodies European Commission (EC)—EXEC Council of Ministers—LEG
European Parliament—LEG
Court of Justice—JUD
Court of Auditors—Financial Evaluator

11. The European Commission (EC)
Executive Body
Initiates all legislation and enforces decisions
Ensures proper implementation of laws
Administers EU budget
Represents EU in trade negotiations
Scrutinize the implementation of the treaties and legislation
Act solely in the interest of the EU as a whole, as opposed to the Council which consists of leaders of member states who reflect national interests. “The only body paid to think European“
Implements, monitors, and controls enforcement of EU law and policy
Can bring a Member State before the Court of Justice for failure to enforce EU law
Based in Brussels
27 Commissioners. 1 is President (Barroso until 2014)
Commissioners appointed for 5 years
25,000 Euro civil servants

13. Council of Ministers Meets in Brussels Legislative Branch I
Legislative authority is divided between Council and EP
Council and EP required to vote to pass law
Budgetary power (w/EP). 116 bil. euro/year
Consists of one Minister from each Member State
Responsible for making the major policy decisions of EU
Power to adopt legislation proposed by Commission
Each Member State acts as President of Council for 6 month rotation
Meetings attended by different Ministers according
to agenda
Develop political cooperation

14. The European Parliament
Legislative II
736 seats. Proportionate Rep.
Directly Elected. 5 year terms.
Second largest democratic electorate in the world (India)
Can’t initiate leg
CAN amend and reject legislation
CAN request leg
CAN Veto Commission
CAN censure EC w/ 2/3 majority = resignation of the entire EC
Equal legislative and budgetary powers with Council
Appoint Court of Auditors and the president and executive board of the European Central Bank
Sit in political groups. For a group to be recognized, it needs 25 MEPs from 7 different countries
Consensual. People’s Party-Socialist Coalition
President Martin Schulz of Germany. 30 month term began in Jan 2012.

15. 96/13 Germany 74/10 France 73/10 Italy 73/10 UK 54/7 Spain
   EPP (265)      S&D (186)      ALDE (84)      ECR (55)      Greens – EFA (55)      EUL-NGL (35)      EFD (30)
     Non-Affiliated (27)
96/13 Germany
74/10 France
73/10 Italy
73/10 UK
54/7 Spain
51/7 Poland…

16. The European Council
Comprises the heads of government of Member States and President of Commission assisted by Foreign Ministers of the Member States and a member of Commission
Defines the EU's policy agenda—the motor of EU integration
No direct legislative power but "supreme political authority"
Meets 4 times/year
Sorts out disputes between member states and the institutions
President of the European Council
Once-renewable term of 30 months
Primus inter pares
Herman Van Rompuy (Belgium). Dec 2009-Present. 2nd term
The President must report to the European Parliament after each European Council meeting

17. All members of Council are members of a political party at national level
Most are members of a Euro Party
Ideological alignment does color political agreements and choices of appointments (such as their President)
The European Council
Party #
QMV
People's Party 15
204
Socialists 5 65
Liberal Democrat and Reform Party 4 31
Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists 2 41
Party of the Left 1
Total 27
345

18. The Court of Justice
Ensures that the European Treaties are interpreted and implemented in accordance with EU law
13 judges appointed by agreement with Member States
Assisted by 6 advocates general
Judgements overrule those of national courts
Power to fine a Member State
National courts have power to
enforce decisions of Court of
Justice

19. The Court of Auditors Monitors the Union’s financial activities
1 member from each EU member state
Appointed by Council
6 yr terms
800 auditors
No judicial functions
Function: externally check EU budget
In Luxembourg

21. EU Legal Instruments Binding:
Regulations - Apply directly in the Member States w/o requiring any further national legislation
Directives - Binding in substance but up discretion of Member States how to transpose them into national legislation & execute them.
Decisions - Addressed to a Member State, firm, or individual.
Non Binding:
Recommendations
Opinions
Resolutions

22. Pop Quiz: Who is the European „President“?
a. Herman Van Rompuy - President of the European Council since 12/1/09
b. José Manuel Barroso - President of the European Commission since 11/22/04
c. Ireland - Presidency of the Council of the European Union 1/1/13 – 7/1/13
Anyone?

23. Pop Quiz: Who is the European „President“?
Van Rompuy is President of Council. Not of EU. Yet, the press usually cites him as President.
Barroso is President of Commission. Not of EU. Yet, the press often cites him as President. Has more power that Van Rompuy. Gets fewer mentions as President.
Ireland. Not. Hehe
→ Answer: There is no EU President.
→Does this matter?
No - Presidents are not necessary
Yes - most Europeans think there is a President

24. Broadening, Deepning & Legitimizing ...oh, and the economy
Challenges of the EU
Broadening, Deepning & Legitimizing
...oh, and the economy

26. EU Policy Challenges 2009-2019: A Report to the President
Economic Issues
Deepening/extending economic reforms
Reducing unemployment and large gov.
Revising financial regulation and supervision
Completing the Single Market
Balance multilateralism and bilateralism in trade policy
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Ageing population and shrinking workforce
Climate change
The future of transport

27. EU Policy Challenges 2009-2019: A Report to the President
3. Cultural Issues
World Wide Web-balancing security and privacy + intellectual property Audiovisual and cultural policies
Civil Rights and Justice
Migration policy
Crime
Safeguarding diversity and cultures
4. The Politics of Poltics
Inter EU Structural Issues: Good Governnance and Insitution Building
Security & Crisis Mangement
^ Turnout in European Elections in 2014 and 2019

28. EU Policy Challenges 2009-2019: A Report to the President
5. Intermestic Issues
Stabilization and Reform in the Balkans
Question of Turkish membership
Deepening the Eastern Partnership without alienating Russia
6. Foreign Policy
Promoting Middle East Peace
Seizing the 'Obama moment' to deepen Transatlantic relations
Strengthening Europe's relevance to Asia
Deepening the EU-Latin American partnership

29. It‘s the Economee Stoopid
“If EU is to flourish far beyond its 50th birthday, it is its economy that most needs attention“
-The Economist „Fit at 50“

30. It‘s the Economee Stoopid

31. Euroscepticism
France followed by the Netherlands rejected EU Constitution in 2006.
New members are more enthusiastic than the old ones
Skeptcism is strongest in UK, though Eurobarometer polls show dissatisfaction in other EU members as well
No further expansion

32. Broadening: Eastern Europe?
Possible new members: Croatia, Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro
-West: „Easterners may sink the boat“

33. Broadening: Turkey? Pro: -USA -extension into southern Caucasus
-stabilize pipeline: oil and gas
-compatibility of Islam with democracy?
Con:
-dif. levels of development
-religious and ethnic feuds
-Cyprus

34. Discussion Structures & Functions?
To increase legitimacy? Is it just PR?
Broadening vs. Deepening: Focus on deepening and broadening or one of the two?