European Integrationand the EU

GEOG 3762

Geography of Europe

Understanding the EU

Why the European Union? What is the EU today? Historic Steps Enlargement How does the EU work? What does the EU do?

Why the EU?

Peace Safety and Security Economic and Social Solidarity Bridging the gap between “rich” and “poor OR is it about something else? (see video

later)

What is the EU today?

Supranational Organization of 25 nation states

450 million people One of the largest global economies An organization with distinct economic

and social patterns

Population

Population Density

Land Area

Population Density in Comparison

Population Projections

Life Expectancy of Elderly People (Seniors)

Schoolchildren under Age 18

Families

Average Household Income

Total GDP

Historic Steps

Treaty of Paris (1951) = ECSC Treaty of Rome (1957) = EEC+Euratom Single European Act (1986) Treaty on the European Union (1992) Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) Treaty of Nice (2001)

= Growth from 6 to 15 countries

Enlargement

Copenhagen Summit 2002 Expansion to 25 countries by May 2004 Historical origin: 1989 Criteria for membership:

Political Economic Acquis communautaire

Enlargement Economic issues

10 new members are at 40% of average EU GDP

How large can the EU become? 25 countries 454 Million people Expansion to 27 in 2007 Bulgaria and Romania

Turkey, anyone?

New Member Populations

How does the EU work? Confederation of Countries NOT a federal state Something NEW!! Delegation of SOME (?) national sovereignty to

EU organizations National interests Collective interests

How does the EU work?

Political Structure Council of European Union European Commission European Parliament

European Court of Justice European Court of Auditors European Ombudsman

How does the EU work?

Political Structure Council of European Union Not European Council or

Council of Europe Main decision making body

• Rotating presidency (6 months)

• Economic cooperation • Budgetary control• Member state are represented proportionally according to population they represent

• Acts on proposals from the Commission, in consultation with the parliament

• Majority Vote

How does the EU work?

Political Structure European Parliament

• 626 members • Elected for 5 years • Largest groups

• EPP - European People’s Party

• PES - Party of European Socialists

• Strasbourg and Brussels• Democratic control over

community institutions • Shares legislative power

with council• Cooperation• Assent• Codecision

How does the EU work? Political Structure

European Commission • Executive arm of EU• 25 members• Driving force in the

integration process • Proposes directions to take• Implements the measures

decided on by the Council and Parliament

• Answerable to the European Parliament

• Since1967, a single Commission has served all three European Communities (ECSC, Euratom and EC).

How does the EU work?

Political Structure European Court of Justice

• 25 judges • Ensure the equal application of community law • Issues proceedings

• Failure to fulfill obligation • Annulment• Failure to Act

How does the EU work?

Political Structure European Court of Auditors

• Fiscal watchdogs• Monitors the income and spending of the EU• Ensures correct contributions and redistribution of

resources• Monitors the spending habits of member states and

individual EU projects and funding sources• Central concern: fraud protection

How does the EU work?

Political Structure European Ombudsman

• Liaison between EU citizens and the organization • Helps individuals in their legal battle against

maladministration in the EU• Makes recommendations to Commission to counteract

maladmistration

How does the EU work?

Economic Structure European Central Bank European Investment Bank

How does the EU work?

Economic Structure European Central Bank

• Define and implement the monetary policy of the euro zone• Conduct foreign exchange operations• Hold and manage the official exchange reserves of the countries

of the euro zone; • Issue notes in the zone euro; • Promote the smooth operation of payment systems. • Collects statistical information from national authorities