S7 Topic 04 - EU Issues and challenges

Question 1

Schengen Agreement

Answer 1

Agreement allowing for passport-free movement across most European Union member states. Named after a border town in Luxembourg. Began in 1995.

Question 2

Four Freedoms

Answer 2

Free movement of Goods/Services/Capital/People across the EU.

Question 3

ECSC

Answer 3

1951/1952. Early European organisation aimed at pooling coal and steel resources among member states to promote peace and economic cooperation. European Coal and Steel Community

European Coal and Steel Community

Question 4

EEC

Answer 4

1957/1958. Precursor to the EU, establishing a customs union and a single market among member states, created through the Treaty of Rome.

Question 5

EU

Answer 5

European Coal and Steel Community. 1993 (following Maastricht treaty). Political and economic union of European countries aiming for deeper integration and cooperation.

Question 6

Council of European Union

Answer 6

Represents member state governments and makes decisions on EU legislation and policies (Heads of state or Ministers)

Question 7

European Commission

Answer 7

Executive branch of the EU responsible for proposing legislation, enforcing EU law, and representing the EU internationally (Commissioners and President)

Question 8

European Parliament

Answer 8

Directly elected legislative body of the EU, sharing power with the Council of the European Union and overseeing the European Commission. (MEPs)

Question 9

Common Market

Answer 9

The single market made up of 27 member states and supported by the four freedoms.

Question 10

Deepening

Answer 10

Relations between member states improve

Question 11

Treaty of Rome

Answer 11

1957/1958 Laid the foundation for the European Economic Community (EEC). Created common market and the four freedoms. A step towards closer political unification of Europe.

Belgium, France, West Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Netherlands

Question 12

Treaty of Maastricht

Answer 12

1992. Formally established the EU

Question 13

Treaty of Lisbon

Answer 13

2009. Gave EU legal powers to represent and sign international treaties on behalf of all member states. Amented existing EU treaties.

Question 14

EU accession

Answer 14

Application and subsequent joining of the EU

Question 15

Enlargement

Answer 15

The widening and addition of new countries to the EU

Question 16

EFTA

Answer 16

European Free Trade Association (Allows some EU benefits without being EU member)

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland

Question 17

EEA

Answer 17

European Economic Area, an example of the different architectures of european participation.

(Mostly EU states, but some exceptions, Lichtenstein, Norway, Iceland)

Question 18

EU candidate countries

Answer 18

A country that is formally in the process of joining the EU

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine

Question 19

Copenhagen Criteria

Answer 19

Are the rules that define whether a country is eligible to join the European Union (Free and fair market, Democracy, Human Rights and Acquis)

Question 20

TEN-T

Answer 20

Trans-European Transport Network is a planned network of roads, railways, airports and water infrastructure in the EU.

E.g Croatia case-study or Oresund example

Question 21

Widening

Answer 21

Enlargement of the EU by including new member states.

Question 22

GDP, Literacy Rate

Answer 22

Indicators of inequality

These may illustrate differences between the core and periphery of Europ

Question 23

Cohesion Policy

Answer 23

An attempt to bring EU countries closer together and to reduce inequality (Different funds are available to do so, Cohesion funds (inc. TEN-T), ERDF, ESF+)

Question 24

ESF+

Answer 24

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the European Union (EU)’s main fund for investing in people and supporting people and employment.

e.g. Emilia-Romagna example

Question 25

ERDF

Answer 25

The European Regional Development Fund is one of the European Structural and Investment Funds allocated by the European Union. Its purpose is to transfer money from richer regions, and invest it in the infrastructure and services of underdeveloped regions. | e.g. Bavaria example

Question 26

Employment and social inequality

Answer 26

An understanding that unemployment levels may impact inequalities across a society. This may be overcome with training and support from the EU ESF+ fund.

Question 27

Green economy

Answer 27

An investment and movement towards economically sustainable practices, slower rates of growth with minimal impacts on the environment.

Question 28

Sustainable transport

Answer 28

This can be supported by the EU TEN-T project which aims to bring about cohesion and support the four freedoms. | e.g. Croatia case study, or Oresund example

Question 29

Carbon Footprint

Answer 29

Total amount of CO2 a person produces

Question 30

Carbon sink

Answer 30

A carbon sink absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits

Question 31

European Green Deal

Answer 31

Aims to make the Europe climate neutral by 2050

Question 32

Spheres of sustainability

Answer 32

Economic, Social, Political, environmental - recognising that sustainability is not only an environmental concern.

Question 33

Varying Earth orbits

Answer 33

Paths of the Earth around the Sun (Milankovitch) - causing differential heating and being a physical trigger for climate change.

Question 34

Volcanic activity

Answer 34

Eruption of magma and gases from the Earth crust (trapping warmth, or absorbing more energy on dark surfces)- Natural trigger for climate change

Question 35

Sunspots

Answer 35

Solar activity results in wamer periods and may be a natural trigger for climate change.

Question 36

EU Climate Goal 2030

Answer 36

Carbon emissions reductions by 2030 within the EU

Question 37

Changes in ocean and air currents

Answer 37

If there are significant changes in ocean or air currents this could trigger a cooling or a heating of our planet - a natural trigger for climate change

Question 38

Fossil fuel consumption

Answer 38

A human trigger for climate change

Question 39

Agriculture

Answer 39

A human trigger for climate change

Question 40

Deforestation

Answer 40

A human trigger for climate change

Question 41

EU 2030 Climate targets

Answer 41

Reducing the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency and 32% increase in energy from renewables.

Question 42

EU 2020 Climate targets

Answer 42

Reducing the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. 20% improvement in energy efficiency and 20% in energy from renewables.

Question 43

CHP (Power plant)

Answer 43

Combined heat and power plants which attempt to transfer as much of the energy transfer process as useful energy (therefore being more efficient) | e.g. Denmark Energy case study

Question 44

Energy dependency ratio

Answer 44

The energy dependency rate shows the proportion of energy that an economy must import.

Question 45

Food security / self-sufficiency

Answer 45

producing enough food for a population’s needs.

Question 46

Organic agriculture

Answer 46

Prohibition of GMO. Limiting the use of artificial fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides. Prohibiting the use of hormones and restricting the use of antibiotics to only when necessary for animal health.

Question 47

Food safety

Answer 47

the European Commission aims to assure a high level of food safety and animal & plant health through policy and regulation.

Question 48

Subsidies

Answer 48

payments made to support “loss-making” sectors

Question 49

Single farm payment

Answer 49

a support payment for farms irrespective of their production.

Question 50

Certification

Answer 50

Protected designation of orgin and Protected geographical indication.

Question 51

Diversification

Answer 51

the movement away from reliance on single streams of income.