The European Union

The 2 logics of the EU politics

Intergovernmentalism + Supranationalism

Intergovernmentalism

Interactions between national governments

Supranationalism

Forces or actors at the European level

Applications of the 2 logics of EU politics

Explaining European integration over time

Characterizing EU institutions

Understanding day-to-day politic

The (dual) executive branch

European Commission + European Council

The (bicameral) legislative branch

European parliament + European Council (mostly co-decision procedure)

The judicial branch

Court of Justice of the EU

Court of Justice of the EU: Structure + 3 tasks

2 courts: ECJ (1 judge per member state). Tasks: 1. Infringement vs member states. 2. Judicial review. 3. Preliminary rulings (national court references)

4 key principles of EU law

Direct effect: Citizens enforce EU rights in national courts

Supremacy: EU law > national law

Mutual recognition: National standards accepted EU-wide

CJEU critique: Pushing integration without mandate?

EU Single Market: 4 freedoms + key facts

Notional start 1993. Four freedoms: Goods + Services + Capital + Labour. Deregulation/reregulation + EMU

EU competences: 3 types + examples

Exclusive: Customs, commercial policy, internal market, monetary (Eurozone), fisheries

Shared: Environment, immigration, social policy, energy, transport

Supporting: Health, culture, industry, education

EU policy constraints (3)?

1. No tax collection. 2. Small budget (CAP largest + cohesion + research). 3. Single market focus

EU power/choice/outcomes (5)?

Dispersed power + supermajorities block change + hard responsibility attribution + internal market focus + regulation/centrist/small denominator