european economy

EUROPEAN ECONOMY, L2 S1

Lecturer:

Adam ZYLBERSZTEJN
Maître de conférences, Université Lyon 2



Textbook:

Richard Baldwin, Charles Wyplosz: “The Economics
of European Integration”, 4th edition (McGraw-Hill).
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2012

, Chapter 3: Decision making
Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious,
than to be able to decide.
Napoleon Bonaparte




© The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2012

, Task allocation

Which level of government is responsible for policies in the EU?

Treaty on European Union (Maastricht, 1992): the principle of
conferral.

This principle governs the limits of the EU competences.

Touchstone principle: the EU has no powers intrinsically.

Art. 1 of the Maastricht Treaty: members confer competences to the
EU to attain common objectives.

Art. 4: competences not granted to the EU remain with the members.


© The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2012

, Task allocation

Which level of government is responsible for policies in the EU?

Task allocation involves four types of competences:

- ‘exclusive competences’: EU decides alone;
- ‘shared competences’: responsibility shared between the EU and
Member States; two types:
• members cannot pass legislation in areas where the EU already has
done so;
• existence of EU legislation does not hinder members’ rights to make
policy in the same area;
- ‘supporting, coordinating or complementary competence’ where the
EU can pass laws that support action by members;
- ‘national competences’: national/sub-national gvt’s decide alone.

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2012