The EU (UK) Flashcards
(57 cards)
What were the aims for the European project?
Economic recovery and prosperity across Europe.
Embedding democratic and human rights in Europe.
Reconciliation and peace between warring states.
What key events were there in the structural history of the EU?
Began as the European Coal and Steel Community (1952).
European Economic Community (1958).
European Community (1967)
The European Union (1993).
Treaty of Paris (1951) :
Established the European Coal and Steel Community (1952)
Membership was only 6 countries - France, West Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy and Luxembourg.
Treaty of Rome (1957) :
Established the European Economic Community.
Creates a wider common market, expanding the scope of the institution to agriculture and common tariff policy.
1973 - Enlargement Round 1.
Denmark, Ireland and the UK join.
The Single European Act (1985) :
The European Market created.
Qualified majority voting adopted for votes on legislation regarding the single market.
The Schengen Agreement (1985) :
Removed border controls for EU citizens traveling between member states.
The UK and Ireland opt out.
Maastricht Treaty (1992) :
Creates the EU.
Increases co-operation between member states in foreign and security policy.
Enlargement round 2 - 1995.
Austria, Finland and Sweden join.
Amsterdam Treaty (1997) :
Extends the role of the EU into immigration and security.
Amends parts of the Treaty of Rome - updates the integration clause.
Eurozone created (1999) :
11 countries abolish their national currencies and adopt the Euro.
Meant that monetary policy for those states was in the hands of the European Central Bank, not national governments.
Since 1999, 8 more countries have adopted the Euro.
Nice Treaty (2001) :
Created a European security and defence polciy.
Enlargement round 3 - 2004.
Single largest influx of new members.
Mainly Eastern European countries that had gained independence after the Cold War.
The Lisbon Treaty (2007) :
Qualified Majority Voting extended to 45 policy areas.
Creates the president of the European council.
What was the out come of the 2014 Brexit referendum?
52% leave.
48% remain.
What is Qualified Majority Voting?
- Requires 55% of member states who represent at least 65% of EU population in order to pass a piece of legislation.
Weakens the powers of individual nations.
What are the four freedoms promoted by the EU?
Freedom of the movement of people.
Freedom of the movement of services.
Freedom of the movement of capital.
Freedom of the movement of goods.
What proportion of goods produced in the EU are exported to other EU countries?
2/3s
What are the wider aims of the EU?
Peace and stability.
Promotion of economic growth for member states.
Promotion of individual rights and freedoms.
Integration into an ever closer union.
Has the EU achieved its aim to created peace and stability?
Mainly yes…
The collapse of the USSR in 1998 had the potential to lead to violence., however the EU allowed for the region to be reintegrated.
Argument that the EU does promote economic growth to member states?
Some economically impoverished states like Ireland and Eastern-European countries have enjoyed economic growth.
The Single Market has had a GDP increase by 15%.
Argument that the EU does not promote economic growth to member states?
Economies of member countries remain disparate.
The GDP of Germany is 5 times that of Bulgaria.
Greece and Italy were severely impacted by the 2008-9 financial crisis - required economic aid from the EU.
Argument that the EU has protected individual rights and freedoms?
Freedom of the movement of people has allowed people to access higher paid jobs.
EU citizens largely enjoy easy travel across the EU.
Argument that the EU has not protected individual rights and freedoms?
Influx of immigration into the EU - 1.8 million in 2015 as a result of the conflict in Syria.
Germany took in 1 million migrants.
Hungary more reluctant and closed its borders with Croatia.
