A political & economic union of 27 different members which aims to:
Promote peace, its values and the wellbeing of its citizens
Offer freedom, security and justice without internal borders
Offer sustainable development
Offer a competitive market economy
Combat social exclusion and discriminatory regulation
Promote scientific and technological progress
Enhance economic/social and territorial cohesion/solidarity
Respect culture and linguistic diversity
Establish economic & monetary union - Euro
4 Freedoms:
Free movement of workers (Schengen area 23/27 controversial)
Free movement of goods (no tariffs/taxes)
Free movement of services (business in multiple countries)
Free movement of capital (easy transactions across countries)
Lisbon treaty forms the constitutional basis of the EU. It came into force in 2009, it brought new law-making powers to the European Parliament and put it on an equal footing with the council of ministers in decision making and finance.
European Council = has a permanent president with 2 & 1/2 year terms that the same person can only be renewed once
Double majority voting system in European parliament, legislative bills to be passed with 55% of member states support, at least 65% of member-states populations
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union brings together the fundamental rights of everyone living in the EU. It was introduced to bring consistency and clarity to the rights established at different times and in different ways in individual EU Member States.
The Charter sets out the full range of civil, political, economic and social right. The Charter became legally binding on EU Member States when the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force.
The uk refused the charter of fundamental rights because, the uk was worried that the charter might be used to alter British labour law, especially as relates to allowing more strikes
Intergovernmental is the joining of different governments.
Supranational has power above separate countries governments and dont have a responsibility to countries?
The European Commission - Supernational
Consists of officials nominated by each member state government
Proposes EU law and prepares EU budget
Enforces EU laws on member states and other governments
The European Council - Intergovernmental
meets up to 4 times a year
consists of the heads of governments of member states
takes key strategic decisions like admission of new members
The Council of the European Union - Intergovernmental
consists of ministers from member states
discusses different policy areas like agriculture or trade
takes decisions on whether to adopt legislation, working in co-operation with the European Parliament
The European Parliament - Supranational
the only directly elected EU institution
co-decision on most legislation with the council of the EU
has a say in the adoption of the EU budget
can accept/reject nominations to the European commission
The European Court of Justice - Supranational
enforces EU law
resolves disputes between member states
The European commission and council work together as a sort of executive
The council of the European union considers (with experts) laws made by the commission while the parliament debates and votes on the laws. The parliament is proportional to countries populations so bigger countries have more seats. They are voted in separately, we used to use SVT to vote them in. (legislature)
The European court of justice is the judiciary, every country has a justice (judge). Holds countries accountable to the laws.
Directives: sets out a goal all member states must work towards. Expected to pass laws to achieve (e.g. 1998 working time regulations in the uk)
Regulations: all member-states are bound by this, must be immediately enforced (e.g. 2015 regulation on import safe-guards for imports outside EU)
Negotiations of treaties:
legal document that sets out power of EU institutions & rules for decision-making
European Councils are a key body that has powers to commit their countries to treaties
European Parliament than votes on a treaty, it is then ratified by each member state domestically, e.g. in a vote in their respective parliament
Factorfame Case:
The EU created a quota on the amount of deep-sea fishing, of fish caught within a system, in effect from 1983. And allowing member states to have equal access to each others fishing grounds
Factorfame Case:
Factorfame - Spanish fishing company sued the UK government for restricting its access to UK waters
The Law Lords followed the European Court of Justice in ruling that the 1988 Merchant Shipping Act, could not be allowed to stand because it violated EU law
It established the supremacy of EU law over UK law
EU Aim = Economic Integration and the Single Market
free movement/trade is beneficial for all and growth
migration and borders can cause conflict
1 of the 4 freedom
EU Aims = Economic & Monetary Union
creation of Euro & Central Bank
19 states are part of the Eurozone
2012FiscalCompact treaty - strict budgetary rules due to 2007-8 financial crisis
EU Aim = Enlargement
This is somewhat controversial as it can lead to increased migration which causes tensions
the criteria of the EU is stopping some countries form joining-Turkey
EU Aim = Promoting Peace & Social Policy
avoided another conflict like ww2
support human rights and anti-discrimination (workers)
Ukraine/Russia war
EU Aim = Political Union
Lisbon treaty - gave law making powers to parliament (EU)
Supranational and intergovernmental
some countries like france, germany and Italy have more influence than places like Croatia
The social chapter, formed part of the 1992Maastricht treaty, was the most significant Eu measure to protect workers rights. Initially majors government negotiated an op-out since it didn't want businesses to be held back by "red tape"
Labour in 1997 signs up to the social chapter (workers got parental leave, paid annual holidays & equal rights for part/full time). The government wanted to balance social protection and market flexibility.
The coalition government was more concerned with boosting economic growth though deregulation. A conflict arose when the European court of Justice ruled that time spent by tradesmen travelling to a job needs to be included in the maximum 48-hour work week. Cameron's government took the side of businesses
Why was the 2016 referendum called
divisions in the tory party
2014 - UKIPs success in the European parliament 24 seats
British publics increased euroskeptism
pressure for no more EU intergration
backbenchers (rebelling) forced a vote on a referendum
France + Germany wanted a new treaty with more regulation of member states
Impact on UK sovereignty after leaving the EU
no longer subject to EU law
more control over immigration policy
more economic freedom
end of freedom of movement
Impact on UK sovereignty after leaving the EU
EU doesn't have influence on UK domestic policy
UK negotiates its own trade deals
UK supreme court is the highest
no customs union or single market so more power over trade finance
The Lisbon Treaty (2007) updated EU regulations, establishing more centralized leadership, a process for countries that want to leave the EU, and a streamlined process for enacting new policies.
The EU charter and ECHR is often confused. The Charter is only applied when the government acting within the scope of EU law while ECHR is all. Which is why the Uk isn't bound to the EU charter.
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European was created by the European council (EU) and is interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
The European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) 1950 was created by the Council of Europe and is enforced by the European Court of human rights.