European Youth Experience

 

 

: Tour of the EU
 

N

ow that we’ve covered some of the travel, work and study opportunities available in Europe, many of these thanks to the European Union’s policies and programmes, it might be appropriate to explain what this ‘European project’ is, how it came about and what it does exactly.

A Brief History

It all started back in 1950, following on the heels of World War II, when Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman (both French) developed a plan to prevent wars between France and Germany from ever erupting again. This plan consisted of bringing the two countries together in a specific and mutually beneficial joint venture. The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was thus created in 1951 to oblige the two states to work together in the management and trade of these, at that time, very important industries. The ECSC brought together six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg). Its success led to the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957 and the subsequent creation of the European Economic Community (EEC) Click for plain text - Accessibilityand the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in 1958.  These two communities built on the initial joint trade project of the ECSC; the first would remove barriers to trade and services between the Member States while the second would develop nuclear energy for peaceful uses.  This “common market” was later dubbed the European Community (EC) and was based on 4 basic freedoms. The EC began the construction of a European single market which would tie together its Member States (MS) through economic prosperity. Very soon, other European countries became interested in this unique project and in 1973 the United Kingdom, Learn more about the EU Constitutional Treaty Denmark and Ireland joined. They were followed in 1981 by Greece, in 1986 by Portugal and Spain, in 1995 by Austria, Finland and Sweden and in 2004 by the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia – for a total of 25 MS. Although Norway has applied twice for membership, national referendums have voted against accession both times. Switzerland has also voted against joining, while Greenland voted to come out. Other waves of enlargement are at various stages, with Romania and Bulgaria joining in 2007, Turkey and Croatia negotiating their candidacy and other countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) possibly applying in future.

The EC grew in numbers and also in political scope. In 1986, the Single European Act would mark the first major adaptation of the EC. The EC’s bodies were reorganised and powers redistributed and the first real goal of an ‘internal market’ was laid down. The Treaty of Maastricht followed in 1992 and introduced new levels of ‘integration’ and ‘supranationality’, including giving the European Parliament tangible legislative powers. This treaty is also famous for changing the official name from European Community to European Union (EU)  – testifying to its evolving aims and priorities. The Treaty of Amsterdam, in 1997, amended and renumbered the EU and EC Treaties, consolidating nearly 40 years of texts, amendments and additions. It also increased the European Parliament’s powers, extending its jurisdiction (or competence in Euro-speak) to more policy areas under the co-decision procedure (see below). In 2001, the Treaty of Nice laid down the major institutional changes which would need to be instituted in view of the EU’s future enlargements and a potential membership of 30 countries.


 

 

The EU’s Institutions

The European Union is run by 5 institutions: The European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers, the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Auditors. These institutions are assisted by several other bodies, including the Committee of the Regions, the Economic and Social Committee, the European Ombudsman, the European Investment Bank and the European Central Bank. Together they are responsible for developing, promoting, defending and enforcing the EU’s central aims and principles: peace, democracy, justice, rule of law and free trade.  The EU’s internet portal can be found at: www.europa.eu.int

  • The European Commission

As the guardian of the treaties and initiator of legislation, the European Commission is the hub of the European Union. It proposes legislation, administers and implements Community policies, enforces Community law and represents and negotiates international agreements for the European Union as a whole. The Commission’s powers and areas of jurisdiction (or ‘competence’ in euro-speak) are laid down in the treaties and include trade, environment, competition, management of the EU’s budget, agriculture, fisheries and research.  

The Commission itself is composed of 25 Commissioners (one per Member State) and an administrative staff of over 27 000 civil servants. Each Commissioner is nominated by his/her national government. Each Commissioner heads one or two “directorates-general” (DG) which are similar to Departments and Ministries in national governments.

For more information visit: www.europa.eu.int/comm

  • The European Parliament

The European Parliament (EP) represents the 456 million citizens of the EU and is composed of 732 Members of the European Parliament (MEP) from the 25 Member States. MEPs are elected in European elections every five years. Each MS conducts the elections according to its own system. In the UK, for example, the proportional voting system, whereby each party wins a share of the seats roughly matching the share of votes it obtained, was introduced in 1999, replacing the previous traditional single member constituency “first past the post” system. The UK has 78 MEPs, which is roughly based on its population (Luxembourg, for example, has 6 and Germany 99).  

European Political Parties 

Interestingly, MEPs do not align themselves along national lines in the EP, instead, they group themselves into European political parties.  

The EP is currently home to 7 groups:

  • the European People’s Party and European Democrats (EPP-ED)

  • the Party of the European Socialists (PES),

  • the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

  • the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA)

  • the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (EUL/NGL)

  • the Union for a Europe of Nations (EUN),

  • Independence/Democracy Group (ID)

  • plus the Unattached or NI MEPs 

www.europarl.eu.int/groups/default.htm

The EP’s powers have grown considerably. At first merely a consultative assembly, the EP became directly elected from 1979 onwards and, is now a legislative parliament. The EP shares with the Council the power to adopt European laws (directives, regulations and decisions). It also shares budgetary authority with the Council and can influence EU spending in many policy areas (although not in agriculture!). The EU budget does not come into force until it has been signed by the President of the Parliament. The EP also fulfils the important role of checks and balances by exercising democratic supervision over the Commission. The EP must approve the nomination of Commissioners and has the right to censure the Commission and call for its resignation.

The Parliament’s legislative work is divided amongst 20 parliamentary committees specialising in the EU’s various areas of activity. Following scrutiny in the relevant committee, a given piece of legislation then proceeds to the Plenary session, where it is voted on by all 732 MEPs. Committee meetings are held in Brussels, whilst the Plenary sessions take place in Strasbourg (due to its increased powers and workload, a few extra plenaries are also held in Brussels).

You can find out more at: www.europarl.eu.int

  • The Council of the European Union

Often referred to as the Council of Ministers, the “Council” is made up of government representatives from each MS and is based in Brussels. If the Commission defends the EU itself, impartially and with no preference to any one MS, and the Parliament represents the citizens of EU, along ideological and political lines; then the Council gathers and negotiates the national interests of Member States. Each government sends the relevant minister to discuss particular issues. For example, the 25 agriculture ministers (or their staff representatives) often meet to discuss and decide agriculture policy.

The Council is the EU’s legislative body, although it shares this role in ‘co-decision’ (see below) with the European Parliament. These two bodies also share budgetary authority. The Council also co-ordinates the broad economic policies of the Member States and concludes, on behalf of the EU, international agreements with one or more countries or international organisations. Several policy areas, including the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters, are co-ordinated by the Council – as they are fields over which the MS wish to retain total discretion and sovereignty. In these matters, unanimity voting is used to decide policy, whilst a special weighted majority vote is used to pass most EU legislation.

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is rotated every six months between each of the Member State governments. Holding the presidency gives a Member State a significant amount of power to set the work agenda of the Council and the EU in general. For example, the United Kingdom holds the Presidency for the second half of 2005, followed by Austria and Finland for 2006 and Germany and Portugal for 2007. More information available at: http://ue.eu.int

  • The European Court of Justice

Based in Luxembourg, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) adjudicates on all legal issues and disputes concerning EU law. It has jurisdiction in disputes involving MS, EU institutions, businesses and individuals. It also ensures that EU law is uniformly and properly interpreted and applied.

The ECJ is composed of 25 judges, one from each MS, so that the various national legal systems are represented. The judges are assisted by 8 advocates-general, who present publicly and impartially reasoned opinions on the cases brought before the Court. Both the judges and the advocates-general are appointed by joint agreement between the governments of the MS for 6-year terms.

The ECJ acts in a variety of situations. Following a request by a national court, the ECJ often interprets the validity of an EU law involved in a national court case. The ECJ can also hold proceedings for ‘failure to fulfil an obligation,’ for an ‘annulment’ or for ‘failure to act.’ In the first instance, the Commission or an MS can initiate proceedings against an MS which has failed to comply with its obligations under EU law. In the second scenario, the MS, Council, Commission and EP can request the annulment of an EU provision, while individuals can request the annulment of legal acts which affect them directly. In these proceedings, the ECJ examines the legality of acts adopted by the EU’s institutions. The third type of proceeding, for ‘failure to act,’ is undertaken in cases where, contrary to the Treaties, the EP, Council or Commission fail to make a decision. In this case, MS, the other EU institutions and natural and/or legal persons can lodge a complaint with the ECJ.

A Court of First Instance was created in 1989 to assist the ECJ with its ever-increasing workload. This court’s primary aim is to strengthen the judicial safeguards available to individuals by introducing a second tier of judicial authority, whilst enabling the ECJ to concentrate on interpreting EU law.

To learn more visit: www.curia.eu.int

  • The Court of Auditors

The Court of Auditors sits in Luxembourg and is composed of 25 members, appointed by the Council (after consulting the EP) for 6 year terms. This court’s main role is to monitor the correct implementation of the EU budget. It reports on the legality of the EU’s income and expenditures and is meant to oversee the sound management of the budget.

The Court of Auditors produces reports and performs audits independently, which it then presents to the public, the Member States and the EU’s other institutions. Its annual report details the implementation of the EU budget for the previous financial year. It can audit EU institutions, Member States and all third countries benefiting from EU aid. To learn more or access the latest report on the EU budget visit: www.eca.eu.int
 

The EU Budget: where does it come from? 

The EU is financed from its own resources: 

  • 11.6%    - Customs duties levied at the EU’s external borders             

  • 14.4% - A proportion of national VAT on goods and services throughout the EU

  • 73% - A third resource, calculated on the basis of the relative prosperity of the Member States and based on their GNPs 

  • Other Institutions

In addition to the five main institutions described above, the EU is composed of several other institutions, which help to complement the work of the EU. The Economic and Social Committee (ESC) is an advisory committee of 317 representatives from economic and social interest groups in the 25 MS chosen by the governments of each MS and appointed by the Council for four year terms. It represents the interests of different parts of society and business and advises the Council, Commission and European Parliament with regard to specific issues or legislation.

The Committee of the Regions (COR) works much in the same way as the ESC. It too has 317 members with four-year terms, but these are municipal or regional politicians – often mayors, town councillors, regional presidents. Its role, as its name suggests, is to ensure that the views and concerns of local and regional authorities are represented and considered in the decision-making process of EU policy.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) funds projects that promote European integration, balanced development, economic and social cohesion and the development of an innovative knowledge-based economy.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is responsible for shaping and implementing European monetary policy. It defines and implements the monetary policy of the Eurozone (which presently comprises all MS except Denmark, Sweden and the UK, while new MS are working towards meeting the economic criteria before adopting the Euro), conducts foreign exchange operations, issues notes in the Euro zone and promotes the smooth operation of payment systems. The ECB’s main objective is to maintain price stability, defined as inflation of less than 2%.

You can access these institutions, along with all of the EU’s other bodies at: www.europa.eu.int

 
 

 

The Legislative Process

As mentioned earlier, legislation is proposed by the European Commission. Legislative proposals are then sent to the European Parliament and to the Council, who share the power of decision, for consideration according to one of four procedures, depending on the policy area concerned by the proposal.

1) Consultation: in this situation, the EP’s “opinion” is required before a proposal can be adopted. The opinion is intended to influence the Council, but it is not binding. Consultation is used, for example, in the review of agricultural prices or taxation policy.

 2) Co-operation procedure:  In this case, the EP delivers an opinion, and if its views have not been sufficiently taken into account in the Council’s text (known as its “common position”), the EP may reject the proposal at second reading. In order to overturn the EP’s rejection, the Council needs a unanimous decision. Co-operation was the standard before the codecision procedure was introduced. 

3) Co-decision procedure: Codecision puts the EP and the Council on equal footing. The EP’s final approval is required for a proposal to be passed. After the Commission presents a proposal, the EP submits its opinion – in the form of a report containing amendments to the proposal – to the Council, which must consider the EP’s views when preparing its common position. This is the first reading, if the Council accepts all of the EP’s amendments, then the proposal is adopted. Usually, however, a second reading is required, because the Council will modify some of the EP’s amendments in its common position. The EP then considers the common position on the proposal in a second reading – amending, rejecting or approving the Council’s position through an absolute majority of the EP (314 votes). If the Council and the EP still disagree after this second reading, representatives from the EP and the Council come together in a “Conciliation meeting,” in order to reach a compromise – joint text – so that the proposal may be adopted by the EP as a whole, confirmed in a third and final reading vote. 

 4) Assent procedure: the EP’s “assent” or agreement is needed for certain decisions, such as the accession of new Member States, association agreements with third countries or the conclusion of international agreements.
 
 
 

 

Enlargement

Where does Europe end? This is one of the most hotly debated questions in Europe at the moment as more and more countries express an interest in becoming members of the European Union. Some have even speculated that a European heritage/history would suffice for countries such as Russia or even Israel to be able to join.

Ten countries Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia) joined in May 2004. Romania and Bulgaria completed negotiations for accession and are provisionally set to join in 2007. Croatia has already applied to start negotiations. Turkey, which first applied for membership in 1987, must first satisfy the EU’s human rights obligations before the EU will consider opening accession negotiations. Others, including the West Balkan states, are being considered as potential candidates. To learn more visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/index.htm

 
 

 

Delivering for Britain: British Conservatives at the European Parliament

 

In 2004, the Conservatives scored a resounding victory at the European elections. With 27 MEPs, we are the most represented UK party and the third largest national delegation in the European Parliament itself.  Our motto: In Europe, not run by Europe, sums up our main aim: to promote an alternative, better vision of a decentralised, free-market Europe close to the people. We strive to minimise red tape and cumbersome, intrusive and superfluous legislation. Along with our allies, the European People’s Party and European Democrats (EPP-ED), we seek to use the European Parliament’s substantial and evolving legislative powers to make a difference.

 

Ultimately, we Conservatives want an EU that is flexible, open, less bureaucratic and more accountable.  We defend British interests and campaign for a Conservative vision of Europe. In practical terms, and following our desire for a United Kingdom In Europe, not run by Europe, we work to deliver several pledges, including:

  • For Europe to do less, and do it better, resisting moves towards the creation of a single European state and any further erosion of the British veto;
  • To vote for the completion of the single market but against Euro-Socialist efforts to impose new burdens on business, European taxes, and new trade-union rights;
  • To fight fraud and mal-administration in the EU institutions and for the size of the EU budget to be reduced, with spending priorities reformed;
  • To promote competition and wider consumer choice at lower prices as well as effective action to make it easier for British citizens to trade, travel, study, work and live in Europe;
  • For greater openness in EU decision-making and improved ministerial accountability at Westminster;
  • To learn more about us visit: www.conservatives.com/meps/