European Union: History, Institutions, and Principles Exam Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering European Union history, institutional structures, legal principles, and integration theories.

Schuman Declaration (1950)

A proposal by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman to create a supranational community of European countries, which initiated the process leading to the modern European Union.

European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) (1951)

The first step in European economic integration involving the shared management of coal and steel resources.

Treaties of Rome (1957)

Established the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom with goals to create a common market within 12 years and establish shared agricultural, trade, and transport policies.

Merger Treaty (1967)

Merged the institutions of the three communities to form the European Communities (EC), creating a single Council of Ministers and Commission.

Single European Act (SEA) (1986)

A treaty aimed at achieving a single market, addressing Eurosclerosis, and granting more power to the European Parliament and Commission while adding environmental and R&D competences.

Schengen Agreement (1985)

An intergovernmental agreement outside the EU framework that began the gradual removal of border controls between participating countries.

Maastricht Treaty (1992)

Formally created the European Union, established the three-pillar system, introduced European citizenship, and paved the way for the common currency (EMU).

Amsterdam Treaty (1997)

Introduced the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, expanded EU competences into health and consumer protection, and created the mechanism for enhanced cooperation.

Nice Treaty (2001)

Introduced institutional changes including the growth of parliamentary seats and the proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Lisbon Treaty (2009)

Abolished the three-pillar system, made the EU a legal entity, institutionalized the Ordinary Legislative Procedure, and created the permanent office of the President of the European Council.

EFTA (European Free Trade Association)

Founded in 1960 as an alternative trade block for European countries that did not join the European Economic Community.

First Wave of Enlargement (1973)

The expansion of the community to include Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Ursula von der Leyen

The current President of the European Commission.

Kaja Kallas

The Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Antonio Costa

The President of the European Council, elected by a qualified majority for a 2.5-year term to lead the Council's work.

Roberta Metsola

The President of the European Parliament, who directs parliamentary work and represents the institution externally.

European Commission

The executive branch of the EU that proposes legislation, represents the Union's interests, ensures treaty compliance, and implements the budget.

European Parliament

The democratically elected body of 720 members that shares legislative and budgetary powers with the Council and elects the Commission President.

Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers)

The body representing Member States' governments, composed of ministers who share legislative and policy-making roles with the Parliament.

COREPER

The Committee of Permanent Representatives, which acts as the main preparatory body and decision-making engine for the Council of the EU.

European Council

The highest political body of the EU, consisting of heads of state or government, which defines general political directions and priorities.

Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)

The judicial body that ensures EU law is observed and develops EU law through the resolution of legal disputes involving institutions, states, or individuals.

Qualified Majority Voting (QMV)

The standard voting method in the Council, used for approximately $80\%$ of decisions.

Regulation

A legislative act that is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Directive

A legislative act that sets a binding goal for Member States to achieve but allows them to choose the form and methods of implementation.

Principle of Subsidiarity

The principle that in areas of non-exclusive competence, the EU only acts if objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved by Member States alone.

Principle of Proportionality

The principle that the content and form of Union action shall not exceed what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaties.

Maastricht Criteria (Inflation)

The average inflation rate over one year must not exceed that of the three best-performing states by more than $1.5$ percentage points.

Maastricht Criteria (Debt and Deficit)

A country's annual budget deficit must not exceed $3\%$ of GDP, and its government debt must not exceed $60\%$ of GDP.

Copenhagen Criteria

The conditions for EU membership, including political stability (democracy, rule of law), a functioning market economy, and the ability to adopt the acquis communautaire.

Supranationalism

A form of cooperation where decision-making power is delegated from Member States to an international body (e.g., the European Commission).

Intergovernmentalism

A form of cooperation where national governments retain control and sovereignty over the nature of the cooperation.

Neofunctionalism

An integration theory by Ernst Haas suggesting that cooperation in one area creates pressure (spillover effect) for further integration in other areas.

Single Market

An economic area without internal borders ensuring the free movement of goods, capital, services, and labor.