History, Institutions, and Sustainability in European Integration

Flashcards covering the history of European integration, EU institutional framework, Swiss-EU bilateral relations, and corporate sustainability metrics and governance.

Europa

The mythological Greek figure associated with the origins of the European idea.

Pax Romana

The period from $100$ to $200$ during the Roman Empire representing an early form of European unity.

Charlemagne

Known as Pater Europae in $800$ AD.

Subsidiarity (1603)

A principle attributed to J. Althusius stating that the EU acts only if action is more effective at the European level than at national or local levels.

United States of Europe (1849)

A concept promoted by Victor Hugo during the mid-19th century.

Pan-European Union (1922)

A proposal for a customs union and confederation of European States.

OEEC

The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, created on $16.04.1948$ to distribute American aid; it became the OECD in $1961$.

Council of Europe

Created on $05.05.1949$, it established the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights.

Schuman Plan

A proposal on $09.05.1950$ by the French Foreign Minister to unify coal and steel production; led to the ECSC in $1951$.

European Defence Community (EDC)

A proposed defense alliance rejected by France in $1954$.

Treaties of Rome (1957)

The agreements that established the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom.

European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

Created in $1960$ by $7$ non-member countries (Denmark, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Switzerland) to counterbalance the EEC.

Empty Chair Crisis

A period in $1965$-$1966$ when France boycotted Community institutions because Charles de Gaulle wanted a 'Europe of Nations' rather than a supranational model.

Customs Union

The stage of integration completed in $1968$.

Maastricht Treaty

Signed in $1992$, it transformed the EEC into the European Community (EC), introduced EU citizenship, the single currency, and expanded the role of Parliament.

Lisbon Treaty

Signed in $2007$ and entering force on $1$ Dec $2009$, it adapted previous treaties, gave more power to Parliament, and introduced the European Citizens’ Initiative.

Copenhagen Criteria

The $1993$ requirements for EU accession, including stable democratic institutions, a functioning market economy, and the ability to adhere to EU political and economic aims.

Acquis Communautaire

The body of EU laws and standards that candidate countries must prepare to implement during negotiations.

Integration Capacity

A criterion added in $2006$ regarding the EU's own ability to assimilate new members under sound conditions.

Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP)

A unique procedure applied to Western Balkan countries to stabilize them politically and economically.

Deepening

The process of reforming EU institutions and policies before integrating new members.

Supranational Association

A model where independent States cooperate by setting up common organizations to make shared decisions that ensure compliance.

Principle of Conferral

The rule that the EU can only act within the limits of the competences specifically granted to it by member states in the treaties.

Exclusive Competence

Areas where EU law takes precedence over national law, such as the customs union, monetary policy for the euro, and common commercial policy.

Shared Competence

Policy areas like the internal market, agriculture, and environment where member states can only act if the EU has chosen not to.

The Regulation

An EU legal act that is directly applicable to citizens and companies across the EU, leaving states no margin of maneuver.

The Directive

An EU legal act that sets common goals but must be transposed into national laws, allowing states a margin of maneuver.

European Council

The political steering body composed of heads of state or government that defines general priorities but has no legislative function.

European Commission

The executive body of the EU; it holds the sole right to propose legislation and acts as the 'guardian of the treaties'.

Council of the European Union

Also known as the Council of Ministers, it represents the voices of governments and adopts laws and budgets alongside Parliament.

Qualified Majority

A voting mechanism used for $80\%$ of laws requiring $55\%$ of countries representing $65\%$ of the population.

European Parliament

The legislative body representing the voice of the citizens, composed of $720$ MEPs elected every $5$ years.

Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)

The EU's $7$-year budget plan; the current $2021$-$2027$ allocation is \text{\euro}1,824.3 billion.

The Four Freedoms

The core of the Internal Market: Free movement of Goods, Persons, Services, and Capital.

Dublin System

A mechanism that determines which single country is responsible for examining an asylum seeker's application, tracked via the Eurodac database.

Guillotine Clause

A provision in Switzerland's Bilateral Agreements I stating if one agreement is terminated, all others become void within $6$ months.

Bilateral Agreements III

Also known as the 'Package Approach' signed in Brussels in March $2026$, covering electricity, health, and food safety.

United Nations Global Compact

A voluntary ethical framework for businesses based on $10$ principles across Human Rights, Labour, Environment, and Anti-Corruption.

ISO 26000

An international standard published in $2010$ that provides guidance on social responsibility through $7$ core subjects.

B Impact Assessment (BIA)

A free tool created by B Lab used to measure a company’s impact on workers, community, environment, and governance.

2030 Agenda

A global plan launched by the United Nations in $2015$ featuring $17$ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).