Constructing Europe Flashcards

Question

What would a demoi-cratic think of the election of Ursula Von Der Leyen ?

Answer 1

Demoi-cratic = thinks 2 democracies (represent MS & citizens) Good because : - nominated by European Council (represent MS - idea of Macron) - vote by EP (represents the citizens of MS) Parliamentarization would say no bc Council didn’t choose a spitzenkandidat for candidate

Answer 2

Meets 4 times a year - can have emergency session (eg Russia, Covid…) Head of MS, president of the Commission (VDL), High Representative 1974 : informal status, 1992 formal status, 2009 official EU institution Role/ obj : - overall direction and political directions - NO LEGISLATIVE POWER - Deal with complex and sensitive issues that can’t be resolved at lower level - set EU Common foreign and security policy President : Charles Michel (Belgium), appointed for 2.5 renewable once Decisions taken by consensus

Answer 3

Constitution supposed to make EU easier, would’ve assembled all treaties/ replaced them => process of creation clear but no attention paid to it Accepted/ ratified by Gr & Spain NL & Fr rejected : - concerns of loss of sovereignty - underlining national problems (general negative attitude) - not about the content of the constitution itself but the framework - constitutional language

Answer 4

**Denmark** : avoided thanks to one of their article (20) => change in constitution need referendum but Lisbon ‘just a treaty’ **NL & Fr** : played it like not big deal, just another treaty, fear of losing if another referendum **Spa & Lux** : easily won CT referendum, no need since Lisbon more modest than CT **Poland & Czech Rep** : didn’t have referendum for CT year, no need for the second one **General** = trying to make Lisbon looks modest and not constitutional (no big deal)

Answer 5

3 reasons : - Collusion btw governments at European level - national electoral calendars (easier to go through) - less attention in the domestic areas => dépolitisation **Overall** : multiple governments colluding to avoid public opinion impacting the treaty, (avoid public opinion = avoiding referendum),

Answer 6

Signed December 2007, entry into action December 2009 Kept 5 protocols used in CT without the constitutional language : => role of parliaments, subsidiarity & proportionality, Eurogroup permanent structured cooperation, EU’s planned accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) Clarified EU policies competences : align into *exclusive, shared, supporting* Lisbon : made EU more efficient, strengthening powers of national and EP, European Council President, High Representative, 3 pillar union dissolved in one framework, new emphasis on values and rights, citizen initiative, QMV, addressing democratic deficit (in other card) + RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL (ART 50)

Answer 7

Creation of Treaty - commission -> IGC (EP not in it, representatives from MS, council presidency moderate and coordinates, commission aware of interests of MS) 3 main things addressing democratic deficit : - strengthening role of EP - European citizen initiative - involvement of national parliament Ratification : - réflexion period after Irish defeat of referendum -> crisis legitimacy - Good european thought Eu in crisis, complained abt gvnt Revision procedure : - **Ordinary Revision Procedure** = commission proposal -> IGC -> revision - **Simplified Revision Procedure** = making it easier, used in extremely limited circumstances, changes to treaty can be made by unanimity in EP (eg used to include a mention to Stability Mechanism by altering art 136 - do we give a fuck ? No)

Answer 8

EU = system of “institutional balance” in which : - **Commission** represents the Community interests - ** Council** represents the Member state interest - **European Parliament** represents the European citizens interest

Answer 9

EU legislator : Council (MS) and EP (citizens) EU judiciary : Court of justice of the EU (& national courts) EU executive : European Commission

Answer 10

1) **European Parliament** 2) **European Commission** 3) **Council of the EU** 4) **European Council** 5) Court of Justice of the EU 6) ECB 7) Court of Auditors

Answer 11

A French term that refers literally to the Community patrimony. It is the cumulative body of the objectives, substantive rules, policies, and, in particular, the primary and secondary legislation and case law—all of which form part of the legal order of the EU. It includes the content of the treaties, legislation, judgments by the Court of Justice of the European Union, and international agreements. All member states are bound to comply with the acquis communautaire.

Answer 12

Although it was intended that the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) would introduce institutional reform in preparation for enlargement, it largely failed to do so. It was the Treaty of Nice (2001) that paved the way for European enlargement.

Answer 13

Combines : - EU influence on MS policy & processes - MS influence on EU policy & processes - EU influence on 3rd country policy & processes

Answer 14

Downloading = process through which the EU influences the domestic level

Answer 15

Uploading = process through which the MS influence the EU level

Answer 16

Export of a european model of governance

Answer 17

Differential Europeanization

Answer 18

1-B = top down - rational choice institutionalism = changing opportunity structures 2-C = top down - sociological institutionalism = logic of appropriateness 3-A = bottom up - rational intergovernmental = bargaining power 4-D = bottom up - constructivist intergovernmental = power of argument

Answer 19

**Absentee** = empty chair strategy **Public orator** = Noisy opposition **Pragmatist** = involved in limited and instrumental way **Participant** = compromising their eurosceptic convictions without being able to influence the legislative process on sensitive issues still low influence in parliament Brack

Answer 20

1) Problem-solving entity 2) Value-based community (=sharing the same values) 3) Right-based post national union (rights)

Answer 21

- strengthening role of EP - European citizen initiative - involvement of national parliament

Answer 22

- Copenhagen Criteria - Formal application - negotiations based on four steps: 1) “Screening” process → detailed examination of the policy in the involved country by Commission 2) association agreement 3) opening the negotiations led by presidency ↕ No negotiation power by the candidate country: It is the EU that evaluates the country and decides whether they’re coming in or not 4) Submission of approval of accession by Council 5) Outcome of ratification =>Nothing is done by majority, everything is done united ↳ when the Commission “prepares an opinion” and recommends the Council: Position of the EU as a whole

Answer 23

**Politics** : process by which a group of people determines “who gets what, when, and how” (Laswell 1935) **Polity** : specific form of government of a social organization; a politically organized unit. The institutional framework in which politics and policy are made **Policy** : action or inaction by public authorities facing choices btw alternative courses of action

Answer 24

QMV, Unanimity, simple majority, consensus

Answer 25

Co-legislator, budgetary, represent the people, supervisory role

Answer 26

Council and Commission

Answer 27

Preparatory body of the Council = Coreper (Commitee of Permanent Representatives) Workhorse of the Council = Working Groups Administrative Backbone of the Council = General Secretariat

Answer 28

Foreign policy

Answer 29

Directives

Answer 30

EP & Council = co-legislator, AND national Parliaments (test subsidiarity)

Answer 31

Economic plans & performance of MS are subject to review and recommandations at EU level

Answer 32

Maastricht (TEU)

Answer 33

Uniformly implemented

Answer 34

Social constructivism

Answer 35

Law chapters

Answer 36

Eastern enlargement

Answer 37

Support for enlargement is low in both MS and candidate countries

Answer 38

January 2012

Answer 39

Bilateral disputes

Answer 40

President : represents externally, elected Commissioners : 1/MS, expertise in portfolios, operate as the core decision-making body, debating Vice presidents : executive and non-executives, including HR = total of 8 vice presidents Cabinets : facilitating commissioner’s decision-making process, at least 3 =/= nationalities, chef cabinet not same nationality as Commissioner Departments (DGs) : organized thematically by policy areas, (eg agriculture, defence, education, economics & finance, migration, justice…)

Answer 41

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (“HR/VP”) - rn : Josep Borrell since 2019 (spanish guy) Roles - Vice president of the Commission - President of the FAC - Head of the European External Action Service (EEAS) (Has some role in the General secretariat but idk what)

Answer 42

- **agenda setting** : identifying problem - **policy formulation** : options, defines problem, european commission w ‘right of initiative’ - **Decision** : adopting final decision, trilogies, OLP - **Implementation** : decision into effect, national authorities (commission can assist, since Lisbon Commission has ‘implementing acts’) - **Evaluation** : reviewing outcomes, identifying modifications, final stage and/or beginning of new cycle

Answer 43

OG parliament = consultative assembly w members appointed by national parliament It became directly elected by EU citizens in 1979 (Simone Veil first president <3)

Answer 44

The EP traces its origins back to the 1950s in ECSC and EEC (predecessors of EU)

Answer 45

Dismissal of the college of commissioners (2/3 vote or QMV) Spitzenkandidaten system Co-legislator

Answer 46

OLP/trilogies - EP can veto legislation special legislative procedures Consultative

Answer 47

European Commission represents the EU as a whole Commission acts as - executive branch of the EU - responsible for proposing legislation - implementing EU policies and decisions - enforcing EU law - representing the EU in international négociations

Answer 48

EP represents citizens of the EU Parliament = directly elected legislative body of the EU, representing interestis of EU citizens + legislative + supervisory + budgetary powers => shares legislative authority w Council (of the EU)

Answer 49

Council of the EU represents the governments of the EU MS Council = - main decision body of the Eu (along w EP) - represents the MS interests & coordinates their policies - shares legislative and budgetary authority w EP

Answer 50

MEPs elected through election every 5 years Elections in all EU MS and each country has its own electoral system Members of political parties (national-level politics) Represent the citizens of their MS

Answer 51

Rapporteurs are MEP’s appointed by parliamentary committees to prepare reports on legislative proposals or other significant issues within Committee’s competence. They engage in négociations with representatives of other EU institutions. Shadow rapporteurs are MEPs appointed by political groups in the EP to monitor and scrutinize the work of the rapporteur from the opposing political group

Answer 52

The Council is composed of government ministers from the EU MS Council chaired by a minister from the MS holding the rotating presidency of the Council, which changes every 6 months.

Answer 53

Legislative Role - OLP Policy Coordination - a forum for coordinating the policies of EU MS Budgetary Authority - with the EP

Answer 54

Key preparatory body of the Council, responsible for assisting the Council in its work by preparing the agenda for Council meetings, conducting négociations on behalf of the MS, and ensuring the consistency and coherence of the Council’s decisions. Coreper I : less sensitive area & internal EU policies and legislative matters eg transport or environment Coreper II : higher level political or economic issues related to foreign affairs, security, defense, external relations

Answer 55

Defines the EU’s overall political directions and priorities and sets the EU’s policy agenda in both the short term and the long term. Heads of state or government of the EU MS, along w President of the Council and President of the Commission HR also participes in meetings President elected for 2.5 years, renewable once, now Charles Michel (fucking Belgian)

Answer 56

Setting the EU’s Political Agenda, coordinates the policies of the EU MS and ensures consistency in their actions

Answer 57

Contrary to the parliamentarization theory, demoi-cracy assumes that there are two sources of sovereignty in the EU : => the MS and the citizens MS represented by European Council; citizens represented by EP ==> election of VDL was democratic since it was in accordance to the law of the treaties, and it was based on a decision taken by the two organs that represent the legitimacy of the EU.

Answer 58

- To represent the EU abroad - Right of legislative initiative - Monitor the implementation of EU laws - improve acts and/or delegating legislation - mediating btw EP and Council

Answer 59

OLP - proposal - evaluation by Council and EP - Early Warning Systems with National Governments (yellow card) - first reading, early second reading, second reading, third reading

Answer 60

EU competences - Exclusive - shared - supporting - policy coordination

Answer 61

1) By Unanimity - amendments to the EU treaties, decisions on the EU’s budget, and certain aspects of foreign and security policy 2) QMV (55% of MS, representing at least 65% of the total EU population) - also called double majority - most legislative decisions, including those related to the single market, environmental policy, justice and home affairs… 3) Consensus

Answer 62

1) Simple Majority - more than half of the MEPs present and voting support the proposal. Absentions are not counted in determining the majority 2) Qualified Majority - certain decisions, such as the election of the President of the European Commission, require a qualified majority. => the proposal must be supported by at least 376 out of 751 MEPs (representing at least 50% of all MEPs) to be approved 3) Two-thirds Majority - some decisions, such as amending the EU treaties or impeaching a member of the European Commission, require a two-thirds of the votes cast

Answer 63

Internal - democratic deficit - rising Euroskepticism - Brexit - financial/euro crisis - deteriorating democratic standards in some MS - COVID-19 pandemic

Answer 64

External - tensions w Russia (Ukraine war) - changing relations with the US and NATO - challenging situation in regard to US/China rivalry - migration pressures - climate emergency

Answer 65

EP, Council of the EU, European Council, European Commission, ECB, Court of justice, Court of Auditors

Answer 66

Revision Procedure 1. Ordinary Revision Procedure = commission proposal ➡️ IGC ➡️ revision 2. Simplified Revision Procedure = making it easier, used in extremely limited circumstances, changes to treaty can be made by unanimity in EP (eg case used to include a mention to Stability Mechanism by altering art 136)

Answer 67

Politics = process by which a group of people determines who gets what, when and how Polity = specific form of government of a social organization; a politically organized unit. Institutional framework in which politics and policy are made Policy = action or inaction by public authorities facing choices btw alternative courses of action

Answer 68

Permissive consensus = automatic agreement with the legislation, Monnet method, as long as it works you consent to not be involved => (focus on output) Constraining dissensus = not automatic agreement, citizens can participate now and actually be critical/skeptical, decision-makers have to take into account public opinion now => (focus on output and input)

Answer 69

1) **Disintegration** = argumentation or collapse of system 2) **Piecemeal adjustment** = small steps instead of complete cooperation 3) **Functional federalism** = closer integration in specific sectors 4) **European sovereignty** = path towards federation of nation-states

Answer 70

1) EU as a peace project 2) EU is forged in crisis 3) Deeper economic interdependence fosters political change 4) Law can replace power politics in the EU *(See Google doc for +)*

Answer 71

1) Utilitarians, cost bénéfice analysis = winner vs loser globalization 2) Identity = nation identity > european identity 3) Cue taking = voice national frustrations, vote underline national problems

Answer 72

1) **Input** = by the people, people involved in decision making 2) **Output** = for the people, outcome of an institution gives legitimacy to it 3) **Throughput** = with & how, legitimacy given by what happens inside Institutional pov = transparency focus Constructive pov = discussion, collaboration

Answer 73

Created under Treaty of Nice (2001-3), made binding by Lisbon (2007-9)

Answer 74

1) Political economy and rationality (cost-bénéfice) *Egocentric utilitarian*= individual cost bénéfice *Socio tropic utilitarian* = nationwide cost bénéfice 2) Domestic proxies and attitudes to the national government 3) Influence of political elites/mass public Bottom up vs Top down 4) Political psychology (cognitive mobilization and identity) 5) Media Effect

Constructing Europe Flashcards

(100 cards)