Summary Europees Recht Deel 1

EU LAW
Minilecture 1
WEEK 1

Europe after WWII and the European Coal and Steel Community

20th century > How can we ensure that er won’t be new military conflict between the
different nations. How do we prevent a third world war?

Supernational organization > an organization by which the founding members stays had
transferred powers to supernational institution. The decision making was not no longer fully
in the hands of the different governments of the different states.

After Germany have lost the WWII, Germany was occupied by the LI forces.
Occupation of Germany and the International Authority for the Ruhr.
> France really wanted to have access to German Coal. For the reason that this is a strategic
good.

The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
Main features
1. Supranational (as opposed to intergovernmental); Dutch government would
maintain full control over the decision-making process
2. Limited in scope; there were several other initiatives that were being floated
between the different governments in order to foster European collaboration. But
they all failed. They were too ambitious. So collaboration only took place within a
very limited area. How to regulate the market for Coal and Steal.
3. Its means were trade liberalization; the regulation of competition between the
different companies. France really wanted to have access to German Coal > one of
the ways to do that is to remove trade barriers.
4. Treaty obligations applied to its Member States as well as individuals; normally
international agreements were agreements between states. By introducing
provisions on competitions preventing abusive dominance, price fixing. The European
Coal and Steel Community created types. Those types of obligations created also
obligations for individuals
5. Centre-right political initiative




The evolution of EU law
3 main sources of primary Law
 Treaty on European Union (TEU)
o Origins; Treaty of Maastricht 1993
 Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
o Origins; Treaty of Rome 1958

,  Charter of Fundamental Rights

Four themes in the history of EU integration
 The powers of the EU institutions vs Member States
 Democratic legitimacy
 Economic and non-economic objectives
 Geographic expansion

The evolution of EU law II
- 1958 Treaty of Rome; European Economic Community
 Establishes the European Economic Community
 Economic orientation (creating a common market)
- 1986 Stuttgart Single European Act;
 Strengthening of the role of the EP and supranational decision-making
 Expands collaboration in other areas; there was a legal basis for environmental
protection.
- 1992 Treaty of Maastricht;
 Establishes the European Union
 Introduction of the ‘pillar structure’
 Expands collaboration in other aress
 Strengthening of the role of the EP and supranational decision-making
- 2009 Treaty of Lisbon
 End of the pillar structure
 Expansion of the role of the EP
 Expansion of supranational decision-making (exception CFSP); no role for the Court of
Justice, limited role for the Commission and very much dominated by the Council.


 Two key features of the European Coal and Steel Community: It allowed for
supranational decision-making and it was limited in scope, only governing markets
for coal and steel.
 The Common Foreign and Security Policy; is still intergovernmental in nature.


Minilecture 2
EU institutions (listed in art. 13 TEU)
 European Parliament (art. 14 TEU)
 European Council (art. 15 TEU)
 Council (art. 16 TEU)
 European Commission (art. 17 TEU)
 Court of Justice of the EU (art. 19 TEU)

, The European Commission
Composition
 27 members one from each Member State
 A lot of what happens in Europe starts with the European Commission
 Election and oppointment process – Article 17 (7) TEU
o President (“Spitzenkandidaten’) > to make sure that when the elections are
held, the voters have an idea for whom they are voting to become President
of the EC. The European Parliament elections are always held in advanced of
the election appointment process of the European Commissions, so the
elections of the European Parliament. On the base of those elections, the
President of the EC is chosen. This system is an informal process whereby
they would indicate to the voters; this is our candidate for the EC. And if you
vote for our political group, we will back this candidate for position of
president.
o – At the end; the biggest party in the EP, lost the elections, but was still the
biggest group. Ursula became the President of the Commissions.
o High Representative
o Other members

Powers and functions
- Art. 17 (1-2) TEU
 Promotes the general interest of the EU
o Almost exclusive right of initiative (art. 17 (2) TEU)
 Guardian of the Treaties;
o The EC member of the ‘police’ and makes sure that the different Member
States abide by the EU Treaties (aan de verdragen houden). For example. If
the Netherlands is against of something, the EC can start an infringement
action against the Netherlands (inbreukprocedure).
 Applies EU law;
o It also makes EU law
 Executes the budget.
 Represents the EU externally
o When the EU negotiate a trade agreement with for instance Canada, the EC
represents the EU when engaging in negotiates with countries.

Decision-making
 Commission is ‘completely independent’
 Acts by majority of its Members

Accountability
 Appointment process and functioning
 Motion of censure – art. 17 (8) TEU
o EP can force the collective resignation of the EC