Politics Lecture 1
The EU in 4 words:
- Idea
- Interests
- Institutions
- Individuals
IDEA
Schuman Declaratin – 9 May 1950
- Economic reconstruction
- Security
- Fear from European nationalism
- The council of Europe: set up to promote democracy, protect human rights, promote
the rule of the law
6 countries wanted to take a step further:
Germany, France, Italy, Benelux
Heavy industries: coal and steel
ECSC: European Coal and Steel Community
Cipenhagen Criteria – 1993
Any European country may apply for membership if it respects democratic values
Country meets the key criteria:
- Functioning market economy
- Compa8sity to deal with market enforcements
- Ability to take on the obligations of membership
Country needs to have stable institutions that guarantee democracy, rule of law, human
rights and respect for or protection of minorities
, INTERESTS
Shared & Cimpetng
- In 2002 national currencies of 12 member states were replaced with euro
- Today 19 member states have euro
- If you have one currency its convenient when you travel, for businesses single
market, not having to deal with exchange rates
- Signifcant enlargement in 2004: 10 new member states
- From Brussels to Strasburg to meet every month
- Language: 24 ofcial languages in EU + co-ofcial languages hugely costly: translators
for every language
- Migration and refugees
Breadth ir Depth?
- Geographical size of the EU
- Increased integration: cooperation on EU level
- Europhile
- Supra-national
INSTITUTIONS
Euripean Ciuncil:
- Not same as council of Europe
- Consists of heads of states
- Set out overall political cause of EU
- Meet 6/7 times per year, end with set of conclusions
- Failure: agricultural reform, budgetarian reform
Euripean Cimmissiin
- Executive branch op EU
- Kind of like a cabinet of ministers
- Head of the Directed General
- Main responsibility: develop, propose laws
- Argue decision power has decreased
Euripean Parliament
INDIVIDUALS
Citzens
- Opinion about EU: Eurobarometer
- Became increasingly critical: Europscepticism
- Knowledge defcit: EU citizens don’t understand what the EU is and how it functions
- Democratic defcit: perceived lack of representative democracy, ordinary citizen
don’t have impact on the decisions that are made in Brussels
- Referendum
Jiurnalists
- Financial Times
- The Economist
Pilitcians
The EU in 4 words:
- Idea
- Interests
- Institutions
- Individuals
IDEA
Schuman Declaratin – 9 May 1950
- Economic reconstruction
- Security
- Fear from European nationalism
- The council of Europe: set up to promote democracy, protect human rights, promote
the rule of the law
6 countries wanted to take a step further:
Germany, France, Italy, Benelux
Heavy industries: coal and steel
ECSC: European Coal and Steel Community
Cipenhagen Criteria – 1993
Any European country may apply for membership if it respects democratic values
Country meets the key criteria:
- Functioning market economy
- Compa8sity to deal with market enforcements
- Ability to take on the obligations of membership
Country needs to have stable institutions that guarantee democracy, rule of law, human
rights and respect for or protection of minorities
, INTERESTS
Shared & Cimpetng
- In 2002 national currencies of 12 member states were replaced with euro
- Today 19 member states have euro
- If you have one currency its convenient when you travel, for businesses single
market, not having to deal with exchange rates
- Signifcant enlargement in 2004: 10 new member states
- From Brussels to Strasburg to meet every month
- Language: 24 ofcial languages in EU + co-ofcial languages hugely costly: translators
for every language
- Migration and refugees
Breadth ir Depth?
- Geographical size of the EU
- Increased integration: cooperation on EU level
- Europhile
- Supra-national
INSTITUTIONS
Euripean Ciuncil:
- Not same as council of Europe
- Consists of heads of states
- Set out overall political cause of EU
- Meet 6/7 times per year, end with set of conclusions
- Failure: agricultural reform, budgetarian reform
Euripean Cimmissiin
- Executive branch op EU
- Kind of like a cabinet of ministers
- Head of the Directed General
- Main responsibility: develop, propose laws
- Argue decision power has decreased
Euripean Parliament
INDIVIDUALS
Citzens
- Opinion about EU: Eurobarometer
- Became increasingly critical: Europscepticism
- Knowledge defcit: EU citizens don’t understand what the EU is and how it functions
- Democratic defcit: perceived lack of representative democracy, ordinary citizen
don’t have impact on the decisions that are made in Brussels
- Referendum
Jiurnalists
- Financial Times
- The Economist
Pilitcians
