Politics - UK European Union

Why was the ‘European project’ created?

To strengthen the political and economic ties between the democracies of Western Europe

Positives of European Union?

Commitment to democratic values, embracing European unity, wields power over China and the US

Negatives of the European Union?

Represents overarching gov being bureaucratic, tries to unite countries with very different economies and cultures and diminishing national sovereignty

Aims of the EU?

Economic prosperity, embedding democratic values and human rights, peace between nations

How did the EU start?

As treaty of Paris with 78 parliamentarians in Strasbourg, with 6 countries

When was the first significant expansion in the European economic committee (EEC) membership?

In 1973

When did the UK join the EU?

In 1971

Who secured an opt-out from the Schengen Agreement which effectively created a single travel area within the EU?

The UK and Ireland

What happened in 1992 which created the EU and established a timetable for economic and monetary union?

Maastricht treaty

When was the Eurozone created?

In 1999

What happened in 2001 that was implemented in 2003 which created a European security and defence policy?

Nice Treaty

What in 2007 which was implemented in 2009 that extended the QMV to over 45 policy areas?

Lisbon Treaty

By what margin did the UK vote to leave the EU?

52%-48%

What is the qualified majority voting (QMV)?

Voting system used by the council of the European Union when deciding many policies

How many states have to be in favour on the qualified majority voting (QMV)?

Requires at least 55% of member states to vote in favour

What is a downside of the qualified majority voting (QMV)?

It significantly weakens the power of individual nations

How has there been problems with peace and stability within the European Union?

The sudden collapse of USSR and dismantling of Iron curtain in 1989-90 potential for instability

How has the EU promoted peace and stability?

Healed from 2 WWs, normally a swift regime change follows a collapse of an autocratic system but that didn’t happen in the EU, peaceful transition to democracy

What countries joined the EU after deadly civil wars?

Slovenia and Croatia

Where have there been conflicts in the EU?

In Eastern Europe e.g Yugoslavia and Kosovo

What is the issue with the EU’s target of promoting economic growth in member states?

Hard to assess effectiveness of economic growth and government policies may affect wealth inequality e.g taxes

How has the EU helped ex povertisied nations such as Ireland?

Large growth from single market and EU grants allow for better transport

How much bigger is Germany’s economy than Bulgaria’s?

5x bigger

How May have the EU worsened wealth inequality?

In the 2000s Europe’s income distribution is worse than the average developed country

How is the EU potentially bad for small businesses?

They find it harder to stick to regulations and ‘red tape’

How many economic migrants and refugees were there in Europe in 2015?

1.8 million

What is an issue with migrants and refugees in the EU?

Responsibly of holding them until asylum applications complete, mainly in Greece and Italy

How many refugees did Germany offer asylum to?

Over 1 million

What was Hungary’s reaction to an influx of economic migrants and refugees?

It closed it’s borders to Croatia

How has the principle of movement had positive effects in the EU?

Increased opportunities for east travel, reciprocal healthcare (GHIC), could study abroad with Erasmus grants

How has the EU enhanced worker provision?

Through working time directive 20.3 where works can’t work more than 48 hours a week

What is an issue with individual rights and freedoms in the EU?

Tensions in countries like UK with high levels of immigration

How could the EU respond to immigrants?

Retain control of borders and asylum policies

How has integration had negative effects on member states?

Growth of populism and poorer countries feel dictated by EU institutions

How has populism rose in Italy and France which has increased eurosceptism?

Northern League in Italy and National Rally in France

Why does the EU now have large areas of policy-making ability?

Due to expansion of competences through treaties and creation of eurozone and single market and expansion of QMV

How is there a sense of unity in the EU?

there is an EU flag and anthem

How is the EU an ever growing union?

Through economic policy and single customs Union and EU standards in environmental production and food safety

How does the EU lack unity?

Bailouts of certain countries which leads to some countries feeling annoyed subsiding countries who haven’t controlled finances e.g Germany

What was the EU’s response to COVID?

Lack of coordinated response with different approaches to lockdown and sale of personal protective equipment (PPE)

What countries rejected EU officials attempts to lift controls on the export of protective medical gear?

France and Germany

In April 2020 how much did EU finance ministers agree as a rescue package for hard hit European countries?

€500 billion

How did the pandemic help the EU?

Brought economies and public finances of member countries closer

What did the president of European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen say about the €750 billion recovery plan?

‘The crisis has huge externalities and spill overs across all countries and none of that can be fixed by any single country alone’

How has the EU achieved its aims?

500 million consumers, boosted trade, coordinated support in 2008 financial crisis, democracy cemented in emerging countries, unified front on foreign policy

How has the EU not achieved its aims?

Overregulated single market, EU labour market too rigid, no European army so different approaches to foreign affairs

What branch is the European council?

Executive

What EU institution sets agenda of EU and has quartley meetings with leaders of member states and formulated responses to Ukraine and Russia war?

European Council

Who was the 5 year term president of the European council in 2019?

Charles Michel

What EU institution is the main decision making body and has gov ministers from each EU country who are selected by national govs?

Council of the EU

What EU institution does the council of the EU share legislative power with and coordinate economic policy across the states?

European Parliament

Which EU institution negotiates and approves laws passed by the European Commission regarding policy and directives and negotiates trade deals with non-EU states?

Council of the EU

Which EU institution has a commissioner from each EU state and is led by the commission president (Ursula con der leyen) who allocates responsiblites for policy areas?

European Commission

Who is the commission president nominated by?

The European council but must be approved by the European Parliament

Who are individual commissioners in the European Commission nominated by?

National govs then voted on by the European Parliament

What EU institution is a hybrid of the civil service and administrative branch of the EU?

European Commission

What EU institution manages EU policies, allocates EU funding, enforces EU law and ensures that member states comply?

European Commission

What is the only EU body that can propose new laws and in 2020 announced a 9% cut in funding for the common agricultural policy?

European Commission

What EU institution approves annual EU budget and amends and vetos EU legislation?

European Parliament

What EU institution has 705 members where number of members are determined by country size?

European Parliament

Why did the European parliemnt veto 2019 Romanian nominee Rovana Plumb to be a commissioner?

Concerned with irregularities in her wealth declaration

What EU institution approved the new EU copyright law in 2019?

European Parliament

What EU institution has ulitimate legal authority across EU bodies and deals either cases brought by commission?

European court of justice

What case did the European court of justice differ with the commission?

Blocked merger of O2 and Three

What does the court of justice in the European court of justice rule on?

Preliminary rulings from national courts

What does the general court in the European court of justice rule on?

Actions for annulment brought by countries

How did the EU have an impact on the UK judiciary?

Judges had to give precedence to EU law, EU courts could suspend UK statue law if conflict with EU law

Example of UK judges giving precedent to EU law?

Factortame 1990, law lords ruled that as merchant shipping act 1998 illegal under EU law could apply that judgement

What did Lord Pannick say about Factortame?

‘The most significant decision of UK courts on EU law’

How were limits on UK parliamentary sovereignty imposed?

By European communities act 1972

Why was there unusual gridlock in UK parliament in 2017-2020?

Due to Brexit negotiations

Example of EU membership dividing the Tory’s?

In Sep 2019 they had 21 rebels who had the whip withdrawn after they voted to stop a no deal Brexit

Example of a eurosceptic?

John Redwood

Example of a pro-European?

Ken Clarke

How were the Lib Dem’s unified over Brexit?

Wanted to revoke article 50 in election manifesto

Competences definition?

Areas of policy over which the EU has authority

EU institutions definition?

The main bodies of the EU that comprise its legislative, executive, judicial and administrative branches

Intergovernmental definition?

Relating to or conducted between 2 or more governments e.g European council

Supranational definition?

Having power or authority that is greater than that of single countries e.g European Parliament