EU Institutions & Policies: Chapter 1 - What is the EU?

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the foundational concepts, theories, and definitions of the European Union as a unique political system, including its institutional structures and the main theories of integration.

Sui generis

A term meaning unique or one of a kind, used to describe the EU because it combines characteristics of a state, international organisation, federation, and political system.

Europe vs. EU distinction

Europe refers to the continent, whereas the EU is a political organisation of 27 Member States (MS).

Federation

A concept used to understand the EU where sovereignty is shared between the EU and its states; it involves a union of people where power is divided between levels of government.

Confederation

A system where sovereign states cooperate and power rests with the states; the central government derives authority from those states.

Supranationalism

A system where EU institutions (like the European Commission, European Parliament, CJEU, and ECB) are autonomous and can act independently in the common European interest.

Intergovernmentalism

A system where states remain dominant and decision-making is a negotiation between governments focused on national interests; key actors include the European Council and Council of Ministers.

Multilevel Governance

A system in which power is shared among supranational, national, subnational, and local levels, involving public and private actors and considerable interaction.

International Organisation (Olsen definition)

Bodies that promote voluntary cooperation and coordination between members but have neither autonomous powers nor the authority to impose rulings on members.

Intergovernmental Organisations (IGOs)

Organisations with at least three state parties, a permanent HQ or secretariat, regular meetings, and budgets; examples include NATO, ASEAN, and the UN.

Primacy of EU law

The principle that EU law takes precedence over national law, allowing EU courts to overrule states.

Exclusive EU competences

Specific areas, such as competition, where Member States have transferred sovereignty entirely to the EU level.

Democratic deficit

A term describing the perceived distance between EU institutions and citizens, despite the existence of a directly elected European Parliament.

Government

Institutions and officials that make up a formal governing structure of a state with the power to make laws and set the formal political agenda.

Governance

A process where laws and policies are made through interactions involving a complex variety of actors (governments, IOs, interest groups) without a single formal governing institution.

Differentiated integration

A concept where not all states integrate equally, appearing in forms such as Multi-speed Europe, Variable geometry, or Europe à la carte.

Multi-speed Europe

A type of differentiated integration where all states have the same goal but achieve it at different timings.

Variable geometry

A type of differentiated integration where only some member states pursue different levels of integration indefinitly

Europe à la carte

A type of differentiated integration where states choose which specific sectors they wish to participate in.

Functionalism (David Mitrany)

A theory suggesting that cooperation in practical, economic areas creates peace and will eventually lead to political integration.

Neofunctionalism (Ernst Haas & Leon Lindberg)

A theory suggesting that integration becomes self-sustaining through a process called spillover.

Functional spillover

Occurs when integration in one economic sector (like coal and steel) creates pressure for more integration in interconnected sectors.

Technical spillover

Integration driven by the need for common standards across different states.

Political spillover

Occurs when interest groups and actors shift their focus and expectations from the national level to the EU level.

Intergovernmentalism (Stanley Hoffmann)

A theory arguing that national interests dominate and integration only progresses when governments agree; states remain the most important actors.

Liberal intergovernmentalism (Andrew Moravcsik)

A theory positing that integration is a series of rational choices made by national leaders through a two-level process of domestic preferences and interstate bargaining.

National preference formation

The first stage of the liberal intergovernmentalism process where governments form preferences based on domestic interests and pressure groups.

Interstate bargaining

The second stage of liberal intergovernmentalism where states negotiate with each other at the EU level.

Institutional choice

The final stage of liberal intergovernmentalism where states create institutions to manage and secure their agreements.