The New Europe

The European Union: The Evolution of the Dream

Evolution from

A customs union of 6 countries to

An unprecedented level of economic and political integration of 27 countries (2012)

How?

Gradual Change

Bold Experimentation

Flexibility

1951

Treaty of Paris

Purpose: Purpose: to reduce economic (and, hence, military) competition in coal and steel industries among original six members by forming a customs union for coal and steel.

Geographical Scope:

The Original Six –

France

Germany

Italy

Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg (collectively referred to as the BENELUX countries)

1957

Treaty of Rome

Purpose: Est’d European Economic Community (EEC) and EURATOM along side ECSC

EEC purposes:

1. to expand the ECSC customs union to other goods

2. elimination of customs duties

3. common external tariffs

4. free movement of labor / capital

5. common policies in agriculture, transport, competition

EURATOM: cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology (i.e., energy)

1962 (1963)

Common Agricultural Policy

1968

Customs union in place

1970

Financial autonomy achieved through:

Customs duties on imports and

Value Added Taxes (VAT)

1970

Foreign Policy Coordination

Regular meetings of foreign ministers begin

1973
Accession of UK, Ireland, Denmark

1974

Summits of Heads of State European Council begin

1978

European Monetary System (EMS)

members start to coordinate the value of their currencies, limit the range of variation between them over time

1981

Accession of Greece

1986

Single European Act

Laid out in White Paper drafted under Commission leadership of Jacques Delors

Goals:

1.Single market/free trade area to be in place by 1992

2. eradicate all NTBs (non-tariff trade barriers)

3. introduce qualified majority voting at Council of European Union

1986

Accession of Spain, Portugal

1992

Treaty of the European Union (TEU)

also called the Maastricht Treaty because it was negotiated and signed at Maastricht, The Netherlands, during the Dutch presidency

Purpose: Political Integration

Enumerated

3 Pillars of the European Union

Pillar I: European Economic Communities and Economic and Monetary Union

Set timeline and criteria to adopt Euro

Pillar II: Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

Pillar III: Judicial and Home Affairs

visas, asylum, border control

fighting international crime, trafficking

TEU also introduced:

An enhanced role for the European Parliament

Co-decision with Commission in some areas

1997

Treaty of Amsterdam

Four Main Areas of Emphasis

1. Citizens Rights

2. Borders – no internal; stronger external

3. A Stronger Voice in World Affairs

4. Decision Making to be Streamlined

with an eye toward expansion

1995

Accession of Austria, Sweden, Finland

(Norway referendum fails)

2001

Treaty of Nice drafted (into effect in 2003)

Capped the number of MEPs at 732; reapportioned

Changed the rules for Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) at the Council level

Double majority of member states and percentage of population

Reduced the Commission representation of the larger states from 2 to 1 Commissioner

2004

Accesssion of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia,

Slovenia

2004-5

EU Constitution

Drafted then Rejected in French, Dutch Referenda

Widely believed to be a referendum on
“Europe,” i.e., supra-nationalism

Especially scorned: references to EU flag, anthem

BBC story on

2007

Accession of Romania, Bulgaria

2007

The Lisbon Treaty aka The Reform Treaty

Got rid of the symbols, preamble, principles

Kept the substance, “amends the treaties”

A 2 ½ year European Presidency

And a EU Foreign Minister

Rejected first time by Irish voters in referendum

Enter 2008 Financial Crisis!!

BBC story on particulars

2008

Applicant Countries

The EU Today

BOTH an intergovernmental AND a supranational institution

Sovereignty resides with the nation-states in some areas

Has been transferred to the EU level in other areas