Summary European Union Politics: time line, lecture notes and key points

Contents


Contents 1
Timeline 2
The Four Key EU Treaties 4
Establishment and Development on the European Union (EU) 7
Neo-Functionalism 11
Intergovernmentalism 12
Governance in the European Union 13
Europeanization 16
Democracy and Legitimacy in the European Union 17
The European Green Deal: A Plan for Sustainability 19
Institutional Framework of the EU 20
Policy-Making in the European Union 22
Trade and Development Policy 24
The Common Agricultural Policy 26
Environmental Policy 28
The Single Market 30
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) 32
European Foreign and Security Policy and Area of Freedom, Security and Justice 35
The Migration and Refugee Crisis 36
Euro crisis and European integration 38
Brexit 40
Future of Europe 42




1

,Timeline
1920-1930 Early discussions about European Unity

1941 Altiero Spinelli’s Ventotene Manifesto calls for a free and united Europe

1945 End of WWII

1947 Treaty of Dunkirk (France and UK) on establishing a defensive alliance and mutual
assistance pack for fears of German military revival.

1948 Marshall Plan, US provides nancial support to rebuild Europe, fostering economic
integration

1948 Benelux Customs Union established

1948 Treaty of Brussels expands defense alliance to Benelux countries (so France, UK,
Benelux)

1948 Organization for the European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) established

1948 The Hague Congress discusses European Integration

1949, May 5 Council of Europe founded (10 countries), First step toward institutionalized political
cooperation in Europe.

1949 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

1950 Schuman Plan proposes Franco-German coal and steel integration

1951 Treaty of Paris - European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) signed

1952 European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) established with its own institutions

1954 European Defense Community (EDC) failed due to French (Assemblee Nationale)
rejection

1954 Western European Union (WEU) founded

1955 Messina Decleration relaunches European integration

1957 Treaties of Rome - establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and
European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) - signed

1958 EEC and EAEC (Euratom) established, with institutions like the European Commission
and the Court of Justice

1960 European Free Trade Association (EFTA) established as alternative to the EEC

1961 Fouchet Plan proposes intergovernmental cooperation: ‘Union of States’ (fails)

1962 The EEC develops basic regulation for a Common Agricultural Policy

1963 De Gaulle vetoes UK membership

1965-1966 Empty Chair Crisis over national sovereignty in decision-making

1967 Merger Treaty - establishing a single institutional structure for the ECSC, EEC and EAEC
- established

1968 EEC customs union established

1970 Werner Report proposes Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

2


fi

, 1972 Currency ‘snake’ established - mechanism where member countries' currencies could
only uctuate within a limited range to maintain stability

1973 First enlargement: UK, Denmark and Ireland joined EEC

1974 Paris Summit agreed to establish a European Council and accepted the principle of direct
elections to the European Parliament

1975 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Council established

1979 European Monetary System (EMU) established

1979 First direct elections to the European Parliament

1986 Single European Act (SEA) signed, laying groundwork for the Single Market

1990 Schengen Agreement signed, removed border controls between Germany, France,
Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, allowing free movement of people.

1991 Maastricht European Council agrees on the Treaty on European Union (TEU), which
paved the way for the creation of the European Union and the introduction of the single
currency, the euro

1992 TEU signed, o cially creating the European Union (EU) under the Maastricht Treaty

1993 Establishment Pillar-Based EU under Maastricht Treaty

1933 Establishment Single Market: free movement of goods, services, people and capital

1995 Schengen Agreement entered into force

1996 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) launched, leading to preparations for Treaty
Amendments

1997 Agenda 2000 published, setting out EU’s priorities and goals for next century

1999 Stage III of EMU launched, marking the start of euro’s introduction

1999 Treaty of Amsterdam enters into force, enhancing EU’s institutional framework and
introducing new policies for justice, freedom and security

2002 Introduction of the Euro

2003 Treaty of Nice enters into force, making changes to EU’s structure and preparing for
future enlargement

2009 Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, improving EU’s e ciency, transparency, democratic
legitimacy, and includes key reforms like a permanent President of the European Council
and creation of the High Representative for Foreign A airs and Security Policy




3


fl ffi ffiff

, The Four Key EU Treaties
- 1951 - Treaty of Paris (European Coal and Steel Community - ECSC):
- Purpose: Established the ECSC, a joint organization for regulating coal and steel production
in Europe to prevent war, particularly between France and Germany, by making these
industries economically interdependent.
- Outcome: Created a common market for coal and steel, laying the groundwork for deeper
European integration, which eventually led to the formation of the European Union.
- Founding Countries: France, West Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, and the
Netherlands.

- 1957 - Treaty of Rome (European Economic Community - EEC & Euratom):
- Purpose: Created the European Economic Community (EEC) to foster economic
integration, free trade, and the movement of people, goods, services, and capital. It also
established Euratom to regulate and promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
- Outcome: Set up the customs union, allowing for the free movement of goods and services
among member states, and laid the foundation for the modern EU’s economic structure. It
also contributed to nuclear energy cooperation.
- Key Institutions: Established the Commission, Council, Assembly, and Court of Justice,
which evolved into the EU’s institutional framework.

- 1992 - Treaty of Maastricht (European Union - EU):
- Purpose: Formally established the European Union, expanding cooperation beyond
economics to include foreign policy and justice matters. Introduced the three-pillar
structure:
- European Communities (economic and social cooperation).
- Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) (uni ed external relations and security).
- Justice and Home A airs (JHA) (immigration, asylum, and police cooperation).
- Outcome: Created the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), leading to the introduction
of the euro in 2002. Also strengthened the role of the European Parliament and introduced
the principle of subsidiarity(decisions should be made at the most local level possible).

- 2009 - Treaty of Lisbon:
- Purpose: Reformed EU institutions to streamline operations and enhance democracy.
Abolished the three-pillar structure, consolidating EU internal and external policies under
one framework.
- Outcome:
- Competences: De ned three types of EU competences:
- Exclusive Competence: Only the EU can act (e.g., trade).
- Shared Competence: Both the EU and member states can legislate (e.g., environment).
- Supporting Competence: The EU supports national action (e.g., education).
- Institutional Reforms: Increased the European Parliament’s powers, created the President
of the European Council and the High Representative for Foreign A airs and Security
Policy.
- Introduced the Charter of Fundamental Rights as legally binding and launched the
European Citizens’ Initiative, enabling EU citizens to propose new laws.




4



fi ff fi ff