Institutions of the European Union
Overview of the treaties
Treaties are important in shaping and defining the EU integration process. They represent primary
EU law, outline basis for regulations and power of EU institutions. They form the beginning of the
EU constitutions.
1951 the treaty of Paris
o Established in 1951, implemented in 1952
o Life of 50 years, expired in 2002
o Created the European Coal and Steel community.
o Its purpose was to create a common market through eliminating duties. The key industries
are connected to avoid war and by creating the High Authority the different representatives
have to work together.
o Signed by France, Italy, West Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.
1957 the treaty of Rome
o Established in 1957, implemented in 1958
o Created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy
Community (EURATOM).
o It showed they were ready to work together on more than just coal and steel.
o It established how the European Union was going to function by making a common market,
common external taxes, and common policies.
1965 the merger treaty (the treaty of Brussel)
o Established in 1965, implemented in 1967
o Created single institutional structure for all the three communities.
o Merger together the ECSC, EEC, and EURATOM.
o The special council was renamed the council of ministers.
o The High Authority from the ECSC became the European commission.
o The common assembly became the European Parliament.
1986 the single European act
o Established in 1986, implemented in 1987
o It tried to complete what the EEC and EURATOM started and established European political
cooperation.
o The European parliament was officially recognized and got its official legislative function.
1992 the treaty of Maastricht
o Established in 1992, implemented in 1993
o Created the European Union
o The three pillars under the EU were founded: (1) European committees (2) Common
Foreign and Security Policy (3) Cooperation in Justice and Home affairs.
o Cleared way for economic and monetary union.
o Expanded EU responsibilities in policies.
o EEC changed to the European community.
1
, o The entire commission must now be approved by the European parliament.
o European court of auditors was made official.
o Committee of the regions was made official.
1997 the treaty of Amsterdam
o Established in 1997, implemented in 1999
o Expanded EU policy responsibilities.
o National governments transfer more power to the European parliament.
o Implementing institutional changes for expansion of new member states.
o Made change to previous treaties.
2001 the treaty of Nice
o Established in 2001, implemented in 2003
o Resolved institutional problems not addressed by the treaty of Amsterdam.
o Aimed to reform the institutional structure of the EU to stand the enlargement.
o European parliament got more legislative and supervisory powers.
o Qualified-majority voting is extended to more areas within the council of ministers
2004 the treaty of the European Constitution
o Established in 2004, not implemented (failed)
o Wanted to reconsider all existing treaties and institution structure.
o Wanted to make EU more stable with a strong focus on democratic values and all the rules
in one treaty.
o France and The Netherlands rejected due to nationalism and fear of power.
2007 the treaty of Lisbon
o Established in 2007, implemented in 2009
o In order for the EU to still make changes a big treaty was needed.
o Revised version of the treaty of Rome (1975).
o European Parliament has right to appoint president of the commission on the basis of the
proposal of the Council of ministers.
o Co-decision is further extended to new areas, also known as ‘ordinary legislative
procedure’.
o European Parliament and Council of ministers are now at equal level.
o Laid out what the EU is like today and forms basis of EU law.
o Some changes to the European Court of Justice were made, this included renaming the
Court of First Instances to General Court.
o Established the European Council
The basis of the European Union
o The wars were a turning point for EU leaders and could be seen as the origins of a lot of EU
institutions.
This leads to the definition of 3 key priorities Europe needed:
1. The EU needed to be economically reconstructed
2. No nuclear production
3. Nationalism must be contained in order to prevent war
o The 3 key ideas of the European Union
2
Overview of the treaties
Treaties are important in shaping and defining the EU integration process. They represent primary
EU law, outline basis for regulations and power of EU institutions. They form the beginning of the
EU constitutions.
1951 the treaty of Paris
o Established in 1951, implemented in 1952
o Life of 50 years, expired in 2002
o Created the European Coal and Steel community.
o Its purpose was to create a common market through eliminating duties. The key industries
are connected to avoid war and by creating the High Authority the different representatives
have to work together.
o Signed by France, Italy, West Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.
1957 the treaty of Rome
o Established in 1957, implemented in 1958
o Created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy
Community (EURATOM).
o It showed they were ready to work together on more than just coal and steel.
o It established how the European Union was going to function by making a common market,
common external taxes, and common policies.
1965 the merger treaty (the treaty of Brussel)
o Established in 1965, implemented in 1967
o Created single institutional structure for all the three communities.
o Merger together the ECSC, EEC, and EURATOM.
o The special council was renamed the council of ministers.
o The High Authority from the ECSC became the European commission.
o The common assembly became the European Parliament.
1986 the single European act
o Established in 1986, implemented in 1987
o It tried to complete what the EEC and EURATOM started and established European political
cooperation.
o The European parliament was officially recognized and got its official legislative function.
1992 the treaty of Maastricht
o Established in 1992, implemented in 1993
o Created the European Union
o The three pillars under the EU were founded: (1) European committees (2) Common
Foreign and Security Policy (3) Cooperation in Justice and Home affairs.
o Cleared way for economic and monetary union.
o Expanded EU responsibilities in policies.
o EEC changed to the European community.
1
, o The entire commission must now be approved by the European parliament.
o European court of auditors was made official.
o Committee of the regions was made official.
1997 the treaty of Amsterdam
o Established in 1997, implemented in 1999
o Expanded EU policy responsibilities.
o National governments transfer more power to the European parliament.
o Implementing institutional changes for expansion of new member states.
o Made change to previous treaties.
2001 the treaty of Nice
o Established in 2001, implemented in 2003
o Resolved institutional problems not addressed by the treaty of Amsterdam.
o Aimed to reform the institutional structure of the EU to stand the enlargement.
o European parliament got more legislative and supervisory powers.
o Qualified-majority voting is extended to more areas within the council of ministers
2004 the treaty of the European Constitution
o Established in 2004, not implemented (failed)
o Wanted to reconsider all existing treaties and institution structure.
o Wanted to make EU more stable with a strong focus on democratic values and all the rules
in one treaty.
o France and The Netherlands rejected due to nationalism and fear of power.
2007 the treaty of Lisbon
o Established in 2007, implemented in 2009
o In order for the EU to still make changes a big treaty was needed.
o Revised version of the treaty of Rome (1975).
o European Parliament has right to appoint president of the commission on the basis of the
proposal of the Council of ministers.
o Co-decision is further extended to new areas, also known as ‘ordinary legislative
procedure’.
o European Parliament and Council of ministers are now at equal level.
o Laid out what the EU is like today and forms basis of EU law.
o Some changes to the European Court of Justice were made, this included renaming the
Court of First Instances to General Court.
o Established the European Council
The basis of the European Union
o The wars were a turning point for EU leaders and could be seen as the origins of a lot of EU
institutions.
This leads to the definition of 3 key priorities Europe needed:
1. The EU needed to be economically reconstructed
2. No nuclear production
3. Nationalism must be contained in order to prevent war
o The 3 key ideas of the European Union
2
