EU

• European Union - a political + economic union of 28 states, which arose out of the establishment of the European Coal + Steel Community established by 60 nations in 1950.
• Aims of the EU:

  • to promote peace
  • to establish economic integraiton
  • to establish an economic + monetary union
  • to enlarge/expand
  • to create social policy
  • to establish political union
• Different bodies of the EU:

  • European Commission
  • European Council
  • Council of European Union
  • European Parliament
  • European Court of Justice
• Brexit - On 23 June 2016, the British public voted to leave the EU in a referendum by a margin on 52%-48%, meaning that the UK will become the first member state to leave the EU.
• European Commission (executive)

  • based in Brussels
  • consists of 27 commissioners (one from each EU state) led by the commission president, who allocates responsibilities for policy areas
  • proposes new laws, manages EU policies + allocates EU funding, enforces EU law
  • example - June 2020, Commission announced 9% reduction in funding for the Common Agricultural Policy
• Council of European Union (legislative)

  • based in Brussels
  • consists of government ministers from each EU country, according to the policy area being discussed
  • the main EU decision-making body + shares legislative power with the European Parliament
  • example - 2019, negotiated trade deals with Japan
• European Council

  • based in Brussels
  • quarterly summit meetings of the leaders of all member-states. In addition, the Council chooses a president to serve for a 5-year term.
  • purpose is ‘agenda setting’ and defining the EU’s overall direction and priorities.
  • example - oversaw Brexit negotiations with the UK, laying down the EU’s terms.
• European Parliament (legislative)

  • based in Strasbourg + Luxembourg
  • it contains 705 members directly elected by member states.
  • approve annual budget, amend/veto EU legislation, cannot propose its own legislation + confirms appointment of commissioners nominated by national governments
• European Court of Justice (judiciary)

  • based in Luxembourg
  • court mainly deals with competition law, state aid, trade, agriculture + trademark
  • they uphold EU laws, ensuring they are implemented fairly + uniformly across member states
  • example - 2020, General Court overturned the Commission’s decision to block the merger of two UK mobile companies - O2 + Three