Table of Contents
1) What is the European Union? ...................................................................................................................... 2
1.1. Supranational VS Intergovernmental Organizations.................................................................... 2
1.2. History of the European Integration ................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Enlargements and Withdrawals ............................................................................................................ 4
2) The Institutions of the EU.............................................................................................................................. 6
2.1. European Parliament ................................................................................................................................. 6
2.2. European Council ........................................................................................................................................ 9
2.3. The Council of the EU .............................................................................................................................. 11
2.4. European Commission ........................................................................................................................... 13
2.5. The Court of Justice of the European Union .................................................................................. 16
3) EU Policy............................................................................................................................................................ 20
3.1. Legislative Procedures ........................................................................................................................... 20
3.2. Vertical and Horizontal Separation of Powers in the EU ......................................................... 24
3.3. The Internal Market / Single Market................................................................................................ 25
3.4. The Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) ................................................................................... 29
3.5. The Competition Policy .......................................................................................................................... 35
3.6. The External Relations of the EU ....................................................................................................... 38
,1) What is the European Union?
EU by definition is an International Organization
➢ treaty – legally binding drafted by states and signed by the members of that organization
➢ to ensure the continuity of the corporations, it needs organs or board with a distinct
work
➢ established under international law – not about national
1.1. Supranational VS Intergovernmental Organizations
Supranational Organization (EU predominantly, Security Council)
➢ Operate above the state – International
➢ Decision making – can be binding even on dissenting members
➢ Goal – deeper integration like common currency and shared law
Intergovernmental Organization (UN, WTO, NATO, IMF, WHO, ASEAN)
➢ Operate between the states - No transfer of sovereignty to the organization
➢ Decision making – voting in the general assembly - require consensus and states often
retain veto power – not legally binding because they cannot bind a member state against
their will (members who doesn’t agree)
➢ Goal – policy coordination and cooperation
1.2. History of the European Integration
After World War II: initial steps to co-operation:
Organization for European Economic Co-operation (1948):
Established to co-ordinate economic recovery of Europe and in particular to distribute aid
granted under the Marshall Plan
Rebuild the economy – needs capital therefore Martial Plan was established
Council of Europe (1949):
Winston Churchill launched this initiative and was established to achieve greater unity and
cooperation amongst European states on the basis of a number of fundamental principles:
respect for the rule of law and human rights.
Members maintained their full sovereignty
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949):
Military alliance: established as a collective self-defence organization.
Members maintained their full sovereignty
Fifties: first steps in integration process:
European Coal and Steel Community (Treaty of Paris, 1951):
Member states agreed to transfer the administration of their coal and steel
industry to an independent supranational institution
European Defense Community (1952):
Integration of forces, placed under a supranational command:
France refuses to ratify
2
,Western European Union (1954):
Alternative for EDC: based on the concept of collective self-defence
European Economic Community and European Atomic Energy Community
(Treaties of Rome, 1957):
Promote economic integration through the establishment of a common market and a common
competition, agricultural, commercial and transport policy
Based on the principles of the ECSC but with some adjustments
Sixties: the European integration in crisis
Seventies: the start of European Political and monetary co- operation
Eighties: a new impetus for European integration:
Single European Act (1986):
➢ First real revision of the Treaty of Rome
➢ New impulses for economic integration: Achievement by December 31, 1992 of an
internal market
➢ Increased involvement of the European Parliament in decision-making (co-operation
procedure)
➢ Decision-making by qualified majority voting in the Council
Nineties: establishment of the European Union:
Treaty on the Establishment of the European Union (Treaty of Maastricht (1992)):
Two integration tracks were brought together: three pillars:
First Pillar:
➢ European Community (ECSC, EEC, EURATOM)
➢ + Enlargement and strengthening of competences: Economic and Monetary Union, social
policy, education, culture, ...
➢ Further extension of the scope of qualified majority voting in the Council and further
enlargement of the powers of the European Parliament in the legislative process (co-
decision procedure)
Second Pillar:
➢ Common Foreign and Security Policy
➢ Purely intergovernmental
Third Pillar:
➢ Co-operation in the field of Justice and Home Affairs
Beginning of a new millennium: paving the way for the enlargement of the EU:
Treaty of Nice (2001):
With a view to the enlargement, institutions of the EU were partially reformed
Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe (2004):
Was rejected in France and the Netherlands
Treaty of Lisbon (Reform Treaty 2007):
Keeps most institutional innovations that were agreed upon in the European
Constitution:
▪ Treaty on European Union
3
, ▪ Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
▪ Pillar structure is abolished
Brexit (2020)
The Future of the EU
1.3. Enlargements and Withdrawals
Who can join?
Any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to
promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union (Art. 49 TEU)
Copenhagen criteria:
✓ stable institutions that can guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the
protection of minorities.
✓ a functioning market economy and the ability to cope with the competitive pressure of
the EU market.
✓ the ability to take on the obligations of EU membership, including the capacity to
implement all EU law and adhere to the aims of the Union
Benefits for states joining the EU
✓ political stability;
✓ freedom for citizens to live, study or work anywhere in the EU;
✓ increased trade via access to the single market;
✓ increased funding and investment;
✓ higher social, environmental, and consumer standards, ….
Disadvantages for states joining the EU
✓ Economic challenges: loss of national control over monetary policy, economic
✓ disparities among member states;
✓ Political issues: loss of sovereignty;
✓ Cultural and identity concerns, …
Procedure for Membership
Step 1: Candidacy
A state wishing to join the EU must submit a membership application to the Council of the EU.
The Council then asks the European Commission to check the applicant country’s ability to fulfill
the membership criteria.
Based on the Commission's recommendations, the Council decides whether to grant the country
candidate status and to begin formal negotiations for its accession to the Union. All EU Member
States must agree on this decision.
Step 2: Membership negotiations
During membership negotiations, the candidate country prepares to implement EU laws and
standards, also known as the acquis.
Throughout the negotiations, the Commission monitors the candidate's progress on these
reforms and keeps the Council and European Parliament informed of this through regular
reports and communications.
4
1) What is the European Union? ...................................................................................................................... 2
1.1. Supranational VS Intergovernmental Organizations.................................................................... 2
1.2. History of the European Integration ................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Enlargements and Withdrawals ............................................................................................................ 4
2) The Institutions of the EU.............................................................................................................................. 6
2.1. European Parliament ................................................................................................................................. 6
2.2. European Council ........................................................................................................................................ 9
2.3. The Council of the EU .............................................................................................................................. 11
2.4. European Commission ........................................................................................................................... 13
2.5. The Court of Justice of the European Union .................................................................................. 16
3) EU Policy............................................................................................................................................................ 20
3.1. Legislative Procedures ........................................................................................................................... 20
3.2. Vertical and Horizontal Separation of Powers in the EU ......................................................... 24
3.3. The Internal Market / Single Market................................................................................................ 25
3.4. The Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) ................................................................................... 29
3.5. The Competition Policy .......................................................................................................................... 35
3.6. The External Relations of the EU ....................................................................................................... 38
,1) What is the European Union?
EU by definition is an International Organization
➢ treaty – legally binding drafted by states and signed by the members of that organization
➢ to ensure the continuity of the corporations, it needs organs or board with a distinct
work
➢ established under international law – not about national
1.1. Supranational VS Intergovernmental Organizations
Supranational Organization (EU predominantly, Security Council)
➢ Operate above the state – International
➢ Decision making – can be binding even on dissenting members
➢ Goal – deeper integration like common currency and shared law
Intergovernmental Organization (UN, WTO, NATO, IMF, WHO, ASEAN)
➢ Operate between the states - No transfer of sovereignty to the organization
➢ Decision making – voting in the general assembly - require consensus and states often
retain veto power – not legally binding because they cannot bind a member state against
their will (members who doesn’t agree)
➢ Goal – policy coordination and cooperation
1.2. History of the European Integration
After World War II: initial steps to co-operation:
Organization for European Economic Co-operation (1948):
Established to co-ordinate economic recovery of Europe and in particular to distribute aid
granted under the Marshall Plan
Rebuild the economy – needs capital therefore Martial Plan was established
Council of Europe (1949):
Winston Churchill launched this initiative and was established to achieve greater unity and
cooperation amongst European states on the basis of a number of fundamental principles:
respect for the rule of law and human rights.
Members maintained their full sovereignty
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949):
Military alliance: established as a collective self-defence organization.
Members maintained their full sovereignty
Fifties: first steps in integration process:
European Coal and Steel Community (Treaty of Paris, 1951):
Member states agreed to transfer the administration of their coal and steel
industry to an independent supranational institution
European Defense Community (1952):
Integration of forces, placed under a supranational command:
France refuses to ratify
2
,Western European Union (1954):
Alternative for EDC: based on the concept of collective self-defence
European Economic Community and European Atomic Energy Community
(Treaties of Rome, 1957):
Promote economic integration through the establishment of a common market and a common
competition, agricultural, commercial and transport policy
Based on the principles of the ECSC but with some adjustments
Sixties: the European integration in crisis
Seventies: the start of European Political and monetary co- operation
Eighties: a new impetus for European integration:
Single European Act (1986):
➢ First real revision of the Treaty of Rome
➢ New impulses for economic integration: Achievement by December 31, 1992 of an
internal market
➢ Increased involvement of the European Parliament in decision-making (co-operation
procedure)
➢ Decision-making by qualified majority voting in the Council
Nineties: establishment of the European Union:
Treaty on the Establishment of the European Union (Treaty of Maastricht (1992)):
Two integration tracks were brought together: three pillars:
First Pillar:
➢ European Community (ECSC, EEC, EURATOM)
➢ + Enlargement and strengthening of competences: Economic and Monetary Union, social
policy, education, culture, ...
➢ Further extension of the scope of qualified majority voting in the Council and further
enlargement of the powers of the European Parliament in the legislative process (co-
decision procedure)
Second Pillar:
➢ Common Foreign and Security Policy
➢ Purely intergovernmental
Third Pillar:
➢ Co-operation in the field of Justice and Home Affairs
Beginning of a new millennium: paving the way for the enlargement of the EU:
Treaty of Nice (2001):
With a view to the enlargement, institutions of the EU were partially reformed
Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe (2004):
Was rejected in France and the Netherlands
Treaty of Lisbon (Reform Treaty 2007):
Keeps most institutional innovations that were agreed upon in the European
Constitution:
▪ Treaty on European Union
3
, ▪ Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
▪ Pillar structure is abolished
Brexit (2020)
The Future of the EU
1.3. Enlargements and Withdrawals
Who can join?
Any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to
promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union (Art. 49 TEU)
Copenhagen criteria:
✓ stable institutions that can guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the
protection of minorities.
✓ a functioning market economy and the ability to cope with the competitive pressure of
the EU market.
✓ the ability to take on the obligations of EU membership, including the capacity to
implement all EU law and adhere to the aims of the Union
Benefits for states joining the EU
✓ political stability;
✓ freedom for citizens to live, study or work anywhere in the EU;
✓ increased trade via access to the single market;
✓ increased funding and investment;
✓ higher social, environmental, and consumer standards, ….
Disadvantages for states joining the EU
✓ Economic challenges: loss of national control over monetary policy, economic
✓ disparities among member states;
✓ Political issues: loss of sovereignty;
✓ Cultural and identity concerns, …
Procedure for Membership
Step 1: Candidacy
A state wishing to join the EU must submit a membership application to the Council of the EU.
The Council then asks the European Commission to check the applicant country’s ability to fulfill
the membership criteria.
Based on the Commission's recommendations, the Council decides whether to grant the country
candidate status and to begin formal negotiations for its accession to the Union. All EU Member
States must agree on this decision.
Step 2: Membership negotiations
During membership negotiations, the candidate country prepares to implement EU laws and
standards, also known as the acquis.
Throughout the negotiations, the Commission monitors the candidate's progress on these
reforms and keeps the Council and European Parliament informed of this through regular
reports and communications.
4
