EUROPEAN UNION

By:Ibrahim Mirza
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
■ A peaceful Europe – the beginnings of cooperation 1945 - 1959
– After the end of the WWII European nations grew tired of their disagreements
– They started finding ways to cooperate with each other
– ECSC was formed which started integrating major players of Europe mainly
Belgium, France ,Germany ,Italy ,Luxemburg and Netherlands
– 1957 Treaty of Rome further deepens the integration by creating EEC and
establishing Common market
■ A period of economic growth 1960 - 1969
– Common n market was growing and it brought prosperity to the European
continents. Fee enables enough prosperity for smaller countries too.
■ A growing Community – the first enlargement 1970 - 1979
– England, Ireland and Denmark joined the EEC .Right wing government of
Portugal fell and military dictatorship of General Franco in Spain fell too.
– European Parliament started taking more interest in the investment in the
poorer countries
– In 1979 people could elect their members directly.
■ The changing face of Europe - the fall of the Berlin Wall 1980 - 1989
– In 1981 Greece become the 10th member followed by Spain and Portugal in
the period o five years
– In 1986 single European act was passed to sort out the problems in making
Single market in Europe I next six years.
– Fall of berlin reunified East and West Germany which paved the way for their
inclusion
■ A Europe without frontiers 1990 - 1999
– With the end of communism from Europe, counties got even more
concentrated.
– Maastricht Treaty of 1993 created single market across Europe which enables
free movement of
– Goods, services, people ad money and from EEC to EU
– In 1999 Eurozone was created which established common currency
– Schengen Agreement allowed European people to have European nationality.
– A common Security policy
– Cooperation in home affairs
■ Further expansion 2000 – 2009
– War on terror and absence of the threat of communism intensified the
admission into EU.
– 12 new Countries joined the organization
– Lisbon Treaty of 2009 gives more institutionalized powers to the president of
EU and to the Foreign minister of EU
STRUCTURE OF EU
■ The main institutions that administer the EU are listed in Article 13 as:
– The EU building in Brussels
– The European Parliament
– The European Council
– The Council
– The European Commission
– The Court of Justice of the European Union
– And the Court of Auditors.
■ There is a variety of committees stemming from these institutions and
also the European Investment Bank, which is a separate entity from
the European Central Bank
FUNCTIONS OF EU
■ European Parliament
– Directly elected representatives from across Europe. Total members 751
– Main legislative, Supervisory and budgetary body.
– Makes laws with Council of EU on the proposals of European Commission
– Passes the budget and supervises the treaties and all committees working under
EU
■ The European Council
– Consists of Heads of State or Government of member states, plus its President
(currently Poland’s Donald Tusk) and the President of the Commission.
– It cannot pass or amend laws rather it gives general direction of the policy making
■ The Council of European Union
– It is the law-making body, along with the European Parliament
– It discusses, amends, passes laws and coordinates for policies
– Not to be confused with Council of Europe
– Government ministers are its members and they have the authority to commit their
govt. on agreed issues.
■ European Commission
– An independent executive arm of EU
– It proposes new laws and amendment to the parliament and the council
– Sets up spending priorities and draws up budget
– It is the enforcer of the law of land along with Court of Justice

■ The Court of Justice of the European Union

– Consists of a number of different courts, some specialized, with judges
appointed by member states. There is a detailed statute covering the court at
Protocol 3.
■ The European Central Bank
– Together with national central banks, constitutes the European System of
Central Banks, which gets a bit complicated. There is a detailed statute covering
the banking system at Protocol 4.
 Act of EU Institutions

■ Regulations: these are effectively a law in their own right and

are directly applicable to all member states.
■ Directives: these require member states to implement them
by incorporating their provisions into national law.
■ Decisions: these are binding only on those to whom they are
addressed.
■ There are also Recommendations and Opinions, but these
are not binding.
 Europe Right now
■ One of the most successful political and economic alliance is in
trouble
■ BREXIT is a reality now
■ Poland is in political crisis
■ Hungary is moving towards illiberal democracy
■ Italy has a populist government
BREXIT
 Why did Britain leave EU?

■ Chequered past of England with EU

■ They think EU puts too many restrictions on their sovereignty.
■ Adoption of Euro as currency by 2020
■ Benefits to immigrants
■ EU law subservient to British law
■ General polarity in the society
■ Mentality of Oldies
 Three major negotiation points of Brexit

■Divorce bill
■Citizens’ rights
■Good Friday agreement
■Current situation
■What can happen in the future?
POLAND
 Poland (Another Bone of Contention)

■ PiS bringing back authoritarianism

■ Poland invaded by Germany first then by soviet
■ Stayed under control of Soviet
■ 1980s solidarity movement took momentum which finally led to
topple of communism
■ Article 7 initiated first time but there is a hurdle

Why Populism is on the rise in Europe?

NATO
 Structure and Function

■ 29 country alliance founded on 4th April 1949

■ NATO ensures security of the member countries through political and military
cooperation
■ It promotes democratic values by allowing members to consult and cooperate on
security related issues
■ It goes for diplomatic solution but if that fails Article 5 lies at the heart of its
cooperation

Article 5: Attack on one means attack on all

 NATO’s Historical Contribution

■ It played significant role to end crisis of Bosnia and Kosovo and it

spearheaded ISAF after 9/11
■ In Cold War: The purpose of the NATO was to counter the aggression
of WARSAW pact countries
■ Post-Cold War:
– Foster dialogues with former adversaries
– Conflict management in Balkan states
 Trump and NATO

■ According to an agreement in 2006, every country has to pay 2% of

their GDP in the defense spending but most of the countries dot fulfil
that responsibilities
■ So Trump wants their allies to fulfill their responsibility if they want US
help
Idea of Credible Commitment

■ Russia has to believe that US will intervene if Russia attacks any of its
members
■ NATO is more relevant now because of Annexation of Crimea and INF
treaty Suspension