Introduction

• TEU


  Treaty on European Union (post-Lisbon)
• TFEU


  Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
• UN


  United Nations
• US


  United States
• WTO


  World Trade Organization
• The idea of a European Union is as old as the European concept of the sovereign state
• The 20th century saw two world wars and the forces of globalization discrediting the concept of the isolationist state
• This led to increased inter-state cooperation, marking a transition from international law of coexistence to cooperation
• The European Union was born with the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)


  1952
• Original members of the ECSC


  • Belgium
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
• The Treaties of Rome created two additional communities: European Atomic Energy Community and European Economic Community


  1957
• Single European Act


  1987
• Maastricht Treaty, which integrated the three communities into the European Union


  1992
• The Constitutional Treaty proposed significant structural changes but failed due to referenda in the Netherlands and France


  2004
• The Reform (Lisbon) Treaty rescued the reform efforts, merging the "Community" and "Union" legal orders, coming into force on 1 December 2009


  2007
• Chronology of European Treaties


  • 1951: Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community
  • 1957: Treaty establishing the European Economic Community
  • 1957: Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community
  • 1965: Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission
  • 1986: Single European Act
  • 1992: Treaty on European Union
  • 1997: Treaty of Amsterdam
  • 2001: Treaty of Nice
  • 2004: Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
  • 2007: Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community
• EU Treaty


  • Title I: Common Provisions
  • Title II: Democratic Principles
  • Title III: Institutions
  • Title IV: Enhanced Cooperation
  • Title V: External Action, and CFSP
  • Title VI: Final Provisions
• FEU Treaty


  • Part I: Principles
  • Part II: Citizenship (Non-Discrimination)
  • Part III: Union (Internal) Policies
  • Part IV: Overseas Associations
  • Part V: External Action
  • Part VI: Institutions & Finances
  • Part VII: General & Final Provisions
• Protocols (37): Integral parts of the treaties, acting as legally binding footnotes
• Charter of Fundamental Rights: External to the treaties but with the same legal value
• The EU treaties are designed as "framework treaties," primarily composed of institutional provisions forming the basis for subsequent secondary law
• The policy areas where the Union can act are outlined in Parts III and V of the TFEU
• To legislate in these areas, the Union must have legislative competence, usually found in the specific policy title within these parts of the TFEU
• The European Union evolved from cooperative efforts post-World War II to a complex legal and institutional framework
• The Lisbon Treaty marked a significant reform, integrating previous treaties and redefining the EU's legal structure
• The EU operates on a dual treaty basis with detailed protocols and a Charter of Fundamental Rights having the same legal status as the treaties