BG Steyr
THE EUROPEAN UNION
What is the EU?
The EU is a union of different European countries to realize their common goals.The
members are Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Great
Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Finland.The
EU represents a desire for peace and cooperation among European states. With
increased growth the EU may become a major economic rival to North America and
Asia.
History
World War II (1939-1945) destroyed the economy of Europe. Many Europeans
hoped that the reconstruction of Europe would result in an agreement to create a
unified European state. In May 1950 Schuman proposed the creation of an
organisation to regulate the coal and steel industry in West Germany and France;
Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and West Germany joined the
organisation. The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was established in
August 1952. In June 1955 the foreign ministers of the six nations in the ECSC
agreed to examine the possibilities for further economic integration. This new effort
resulted in the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic
Energy Community (Euratom).The aims of the EEC were the elimination of trade
barriers among member nations and the creation of a common policy for managing
and supporting agriculture.In response to the EEC, Great Britain and six other non-
EEC countries formed the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1960.The
three communities (the EEC, the ECSC, and Euratom) merged in July 1967 under
one set of institutions, the European Community.In January 1972, after nearly two
years of negotiations Great Britain, Ireland, and Denmark joined the EC. Greece
entered the EC in 1981 and, after eight years of negotiations, Spain and Portugal
joined in 1986. In March 1989 the European Monetary System (EMS) was
established as a first step toward achieving an economic and monetary union, called
EMU. The EMS helped lower inflation rates in the EC.The most significant
development in the EC during the 1980s was the progress toward implementing a
single European market.West Germany and France proposed to pursue closer
European unity. They began work on a series of agreements that became the Treaty
on European Union.Representatives from each of the EC countries negotiated the
Treaty on European Union in 1991, and in December the European Council met at
Maastricht, the Netherlands, to consider a draft version. The final treaty was signed
by the European Council on February 7, 1992. The European Union was established
on November 1, when the treaty went into effect.
In 1995 Austria, Sweden and Finland joined the EU
BG Steyr
Organization
Decision-making is divided between supranational European institutions and the
governments of the member states.
European Commission
The executive branch of the EU. Consists of 20 members ,a president, all elected by
the member States. It watches over the correct usage of the Treaty rules and the
decisions of the community bodies, makes policy proposals, represents the EU in
economic relations with other countries or international organizations.
Council of Ministers
Is the main law-making body of the EU, composed of ministers from the member
governments. It is aided by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, consists
of ambassadors of each member state.
European Council
Once every six months the president of the Council of Ministers calls the top leaders
of the member states together to a summit meeting. The summits were instituted on
a regular basis in 1975, became an official part of the EC structure.
European Parliament
Members are directly elected by the citizens of its member states. The main body
meets in Strasbourg (Palais de I`Europe), though most of its work is done in
Brussels. The secretariat is based in Luxembourg. It is open to the public and its
resolutions are published in 11 European languages. It consists of 626 seats,
distributed on the population of each member state. 1994 Germany largest
representation with 99 seats.
Committees
The Economic and Social Committee: very important. Its 189 members, appointed to
four-year terms by the Council of Members. It has an advisory role. Committee of the
Regions: should bring the EU closer to its citizens and give regional and local
authorities a voice in government. It has 189 members allocated based on the
population of each country. No legislative power.
Court of Justice
The final arbiter in all matters of EU law is the Court of Justice. Composed of 15
judges who are appointed to six-year terms, one judge from each member country.
The court deals with disputes between member governments and EU institutions and
among EU institutions, and with appeals against EC rulings or decisions.