Historical evolution of the European Union: from WWII to Brexit

8 important questions on Historical evolution of the European Union: from WWII to Brexit

Name the four institutions of the European Economic Community from 1957:

  1. The Commission (replaced the High Authority).

  2. The Council of Ministers.

  3. The Assembly (as of 1962 the European Parliament).

    - Would eventually be directly elected by the people.

  4. The Court of Justice.

    - The law must be observed for the interpretation and observation of the treaties.

Deepening of the European Integration.

Treaty development resulted in:

Development of policy processes. Name the three most important developments of the policy processes:

  • Decision-making has become more democratic: the growing power of the European Parliament.

  • Decision-making has become more efficient (example: Council of the EU has come to vote less on the basis of unanimity).

  • A new institution with mainly an agenda-setting role has been added: the European Council (regular meeting of the heads of government of the member states).

Describe the development of the three most important treaties concerning the economic integration of the EU:

  1. Coal and Steel only (1951).
  2. Nuclear energy, free trade and customs union (1957).
  3. Common market (1986).


  • Establishing common standards for products.
  • Liberalizing national economies (breaking up of monopolies).
  • Preventing governments from subsidizing domestic industries.
  • Increasing EU attention for employment, environment, consumer protection, working conditions, research, higher and professional education etc.
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What do the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) entail?

  • Combatting social and regional inequalities that reduce economic growth.

Development of policies.

To a monetary policy, Economic and Monetary Union, late 1980s, adoption of a common currency, the Euro, in 1999.

Another development occurred in the 1990s. Describe this development:

  • Increasing role in foreign and security policy, defence policy and justice and home affairs.

Widening of European Integration.

Widening (also called horizontal integration) = geographical spread due to accession of new member states.

Widening from 6 to 28 (now 27) Member States has occurred through consecutive enlargement rounds.

The widening of the EU also has a lot of impact. Describe 8 points of impact that the enlargements had to tackle:

- Treaty reform (due to growing need to ease decision making).

- The growing size of EU institutions.

-   More differentiation in policy-making procedures.

-  Axis of Germany and France have become less important.

- New members bring new requirements, preferences and problems.

- The growing power of the EU.

- The introduction of the Copenhagen criteria in 1993.

After gaining their independence in 1989-1990 following the collapse of communism, most CEECs were soon openly expressing the hope that as the established liberal democratic and market-based systems the way would be eased for their accession to the EU. 

In 1993 the Copenhagen criteria were enlisted. Name in short the 7 criteria:

  1. Democracy.

  2. Rule of law.

  3. Human rights.

  4. Protection of minorities.

  5. Market economy.

  6. Capacity to cope with competition in the EU.

  7. Willingness and ability to adapt the acquis communautaire (EU laws and policies).

From reluctance to application of the UK.

  • 1958-1969: Seeking membership of the EEC.

Name three arguments why the UK sought membership in these years.

  • 1969: The start of the negotiations that resulted in Britain's accession in 1973.
  

  • The UK realized it was no longer a world power of the first rank.

  • The relationship with the USA had changed.

  • The Community was providing to be a success and the UK faced declining trade with the Commonwealth.

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