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| The European Union
The European Union
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
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.
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