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European Union Politics
Based on European Union Politics by John McCormick
94
Political Studies
Post-Graduate
08/15/2012

Additional Political Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Sovereignty
Definition
The authority to rule, control and/or make laws, usually associated with states and incorporating territorial integrity and political independence.
Term
Nation
Definition
A community whose members identify with each other on the basis of a shared history, language and culture.
Term
Nationalism
Definition
A belief in the primary interest of nations and in the promotion of nation-states founded on national self-determination.
Term
International Organization
Definition

A body that functions in two or more states, or that is set up to promote cooperation among states, based on the principles of voluntary cooperation, communal management and shared interest.

  1. voluntary cooperation
  2. communal management
  3. shared interest
  4. minimal autonomy (depends on MS)
Term
Regional Integration Association
Definition
An organization within which independent states work to encourage cooperation and the pooling of authority and resources for the mutual benefit of its members.
Term
International Relations
Definition
The study of relations among states, focusing on alliances, diplomacy and the dynamics of decisions reached by states working together or in competition with each other.
Term
Realism
Definition
A theory of international relations which argues that we live in an anarchic global system (one without rules or an authority above the level of the state), and that states relate to- and compete - with each other according to their self interest.
Term
Federalism
Definition
Promotion of, or support for, the idea of federation. For European federalists this means belief in the merits of replacing the European state system with a new European federation, or a United States of Europe.
Term
Functionalism
Definition
The idea that if states cooperate and create new functionally specific interstate institutions and agenncies, regional integration will develop its own internal dynamic and peace can be achieved through the creation of a web of interstate ties without the need for grand intergovernmental agreements.
Term
Neofunctionalism
Definition
The theory that integration in one area of activity will lead to pressures and political support for integration in other related areas.
Term
Integrative potential
Definition
A measure of the extent to which states will be able to integrate successfully, based on a combination of economic and political factors.
Term
Intergovernmentalism
Definition
A political dynamic in which key decisions are made as a result of negotiations among representatives of the member states of an IGO
Term
Supranationalism
Definition
A political dynamic by which IGOs become the forum for the promotion of the joint interests of state members, which inviolves the transfer of authority to joint institutions functioning above the states.
Term
Liberal inergovernmentalism
Definition

A theory combining elements of neofunctionalism and intergovernmentalism, arguing that intergovernmental bargains are driven by pressure coming from the domestic level.

 

associated with Andrew Moravcsik

Term
Polity
Definition
An organized structured system for the government and administration of a political unit, such as a state or a city.
Term
Comparative Politics
Definition
The study of different political systems, usually based on cases, and aimed at drawing up general rules about how those systems functions.
Term
Comparative method
Definition
One of the core methods for all research (the other being the experimental, the statistical and the case study methods), based on drawing conclusions from the study of a small number of samples.
Term
Regime
Definition
The rules and norms that lie at the basis of a system of government. Can also be used to describe (sometimes with negative implications) the holders of office within a government.
Term
Government
Definition
The institutions and officials that make up the formal structure by which states or other administrative units (counties, region, provinces, cities, towns and even universities) are managed and directed.
Term
Governance
Definition
An arrangement by which decisions, laws and policies are made without the existence of formal institutions of government.
Term
Multilevel governance
Definition
An administrative system in which power is distributed and shared horizontally and vertically among many different levels of government, from the supranational to the local, with considerable interaction among the parts.
Term
Quasi-federation
Definition
An arrangement by which powers are divided between central and regional government resulting in some features of federalism without the creation of a formal federal structure.
Term
European Citizenship
Definition
A concept developed by the EU in order to provide its citizens with more of a transnational sense of belonging, but falling short of conventional ideas of citizenship.
Term
Marshall Plan
Definition
A programme under which the United States offered financial assistance to encourage postwar recovery in Europe. Often credited with providing the investments needed to pave the way to regional integration.
Term
Organization for European Econonomic Co-Operation
Definition
An international body set up to coordinate and manage Marshall aid, and that some see as the first significant step in the process of postwar European integration.
Term
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Definition
A defensive alliance created in 1949 between the United States, Canada and most major western European states and designed to send a security warning to the Soviet Union.
Term
Key treaties
Definition
  • 1951 Treaty of Paris (founding of ECSC)
  • 1957 Treaty of Rome (core goal single european market)
  • 1992 Treaty of Maastricht (Treaty on EU)
Term
Qualities of a state
Definition
  1. territory: fixed and populated territory
  2. sovereignty: monopoly of legal and political power
  3. independence: not under jurisdiction, control of other state
  4. legitimacy: authority recognized by inhabitants and other governments
Term
Key questions regarding state after WWII
Definition
  • is the state dying?
  • are markets stronger than states?
  • does a relative decline of the state happen?

international state system principally connected to the Westphalinan system (1648), emergence of the state 

Term
Is the state dying?
Definition

Yes

  • states create avoidable tensions and divisions
  • global marketplace has increased power for multinational companies, states nowadays have less power
  • to achieve something, states have place shared interests above state interests, independence of action diminishes
  • states are threatened by national minorities

No

  • reach and power of wealthy states have increased, control more public programmes and information about citizens
  • IO complement states rather than replacing them
  • challenges to state sovereignty today are not stronger than earlier
  • militaries remain of defining quality
  • citizens mainly identify with states
Term
conflict state vs. nation
Definition
Nation is a cultural entity, which not necesarrily coincides with state 
Term
Steps of integration
Definition
  1. free trade area (removing internal barriers to trade, maintaining external barriers)
  2. single market (removal of barriers to the free movement of people, money, goods and services)
  3. monetary union (tying smaller currencies to a larger one (south africa) or single currency (Eur)
  4. political union (so far theory, as too controversial)

 

reasons for integration vary (usually starting with economic), but today most countries are part of a RIA 

Term
Integrative potential (Nye)
Definition
  1. economic equality and compatibility
  2. complementation among elites
  3. presence of interest groups
  4. capacity to respond to political decisions

EU ranks high in all 4

Term
Possible viewpoints on the structure of EU
Definition
  1. international organization (beyond that scope)
  2. regional integration association (IR approcach)
  3. sui generis (generally not unique enough)
  4. political system in its own right
  5. combination of 1-4

1986 SEA: EU more powerful than any other IO

 

1-2 represent intergovernmentalism

Term
Federalism
Definition
  1. system with two or more levels of government
  2. autonomous power and responsibilities

>contrary to unitary system

>US as benchmark

>UK lacks regional assembly

>EU could be described as very weak federalism

Term
Confederation
Definition
  1. system of states with joint institutions
  2. states reserve powers for themselves

>looser than federation, "union of states"

>does not exist today

>EU could be confederation, Council and European Council confederate in nature 

Term
Europe until WWI
Definition
  • 16th - 17th century: almost constant warfare
  • 1648: Peace of Westphalia (Emergence of modern state system, mismatch between state and nation)
  • 1803-1805 Napoleonic Wars
  • 1815 Congress of Vienna 
  • Afterwards peace, but rising nationalism
  • 1919 Great War, Treaty of Versailles 

After WWI first attempts at cooperation, french-german rivalry as threat to peace

 

French + UK win but loose int'l power

Term
Europe after WWII - priorities and aspects
Definition
  1. new world order with USSR and USA
  2. economic reconstruction of Europe
  3. Europe possible nuclear battlefield
  4. nationalism needed to be channeled
Term
Europe after WWII key events
Definition
  • 1944 Bretton Woods System (convertibility of currencies, free trade, non discrimmination, stable exchange rates)
  • Creation of IMF and GATT
  • 1947 Truman Doctrine
  • 1948 Brussels Treaty (military support through Western Union, result Berlin-Blockade)
  • 1948 creation of Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) on initiative of USA (first permanent organization for cooperation in Europe, rearranged 1960 into OECD) 
  • 1948 Congress of Europe in The Hague (European Movement, set up of Council of Europe, which draftes European Convention on Human Rights)
  • 1951 Marshall Plan (actual influence contested, but huge political sign)
  • 1949 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), mutual protection, first ever peacetime integrated military command)
Term
Schumann Plan
Definition

9th May 1950

  • to a certain extent to exert control over GER
  • France gace up some authority / sovereignty, Italy and Benelux joined
  • first time european gov'ts transferred authority to a supranational institution
  • break down of coal and steel cartels
  • 18 April 1951 Treaty of Paris, European Coal and Steel Community
    • common market for coal and steel
    • no import or export duties
    • no discrimminatory measures

merged with EEC and Euratom in 1965, also instrumental because some institutions date back to ECSC

Term
ECSC - Structure
Definition
  1. High Authority (nine members from MS - remove barriers to the free movement of coal and steel)
  2. Special Council of Ministers (relevant gov't minister - make decisions on proposals from high authority)
  3. Common Assembly (78 members chosen by national legilsature - advisory role)
  4. Court of Justice (seven judges - settle conflicts between states and ruled on legality of High Authority)
Term
European Defence Community (EDC)
Definition
proposed 1949 by Adenauer, with the aim of building a european military. Initially signed, but due to lack of british support, lacking west-german re-militarisation and french surrender at Dien Bien Phu (1954) not ratified
Term
Western European Union (WEU)
Definition
defensive alliance created in 1948 on a british proposal, intergovernmental in structure but always overshadowed by NATO. Countered by Warsaw Pact
Term
European Political Community
Definition

Attempt to create a politial community to oversee ECSC and the European Defence Community, but which collapsed with the demise of the EDC, proposed 1952

 

>as result Jean Monnet resigned from the presidency of High Authority

 

do not mix up with European Political Cooperation (1970-1993) which was precursor of CFSP

Term
Suez crisis
Definition

Especially turning point for Britain. Britain, France and Israel created a pretext to invade Egypt to reverse the nationalisation of th Suez Canal. Due to crackdown if USSR in Hungary, USA was not able to criticize USSR without criticizing Britain, France and Israel. USA demanded removal of Britain, France and Israel. 

 

Britain realised that it could not play independent role on the world stage.

Term
Treaties of Rome
Definition

25 March 1957

creation of

  1. European Economic Community (EEC) - single market, free flow of
    1. money
    2. goods
    3. people (restrictions on workers still in place)
    4. services
  2. European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom - peaceful use of nuclear energy)
Term
Goals of EEC
Definition
  1. Creating single market within 12 years
  2. elimination of custom duties between members and creating a common external tariff
  3. common policy on agriculture, trade, transport and competition
  4. creation of European Social Fund and European Investment Bank

same institutional framework as ECSC

Term
Beginnings of EEC
Definition

initially little authority of institutions, governments take most decisions

  • quotas brought down
  • 1968 agreement on common external tariff and customs union > surge in trade follows
  • non-tariff barriers remain (mainly product standards)
  • little progress on common transport policy
Term
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Definition

agreed in 1958

  • reflecting french interest to manage overproduction
  • single market with guaranteed prices
  • encouraging overproduction and benefitting large scale farmers

 

Term
Common Commercial Policy
Definition

Six MS workes as one in international tade negotiations

  • 1963 Yaoundé convention
  • 1967 Kennedy round of GATT talks
Term
Empty chair crisis
Definition

dispute in 1965 over the relative powers of the commission, spurred by

  • attempts by Walter Hallstein to strengthen COM + propose own resources for EEC
  • scheduled introduction of qualified majority vote (meaning one country could be overruled)
  • disagreement on CAP between FR + 5 other MS

de Gaulle did not appear to council meetings, so no vote could be taken. Resolved January 1966 with Luxembourg compromise according to which essentially each MS could veto a decision > slowing down of integration followed, strengthened national governments

Term
Structure of EEC
Definition
  1. Commission (nine members from MS, charged with initiating policy and implementation, less power than HA)
  2. Council of Ministers (gov't ministers, sharing 17 votes, some unanimous, other simple majority, others qulified majority - make decisions on proposal by COM)
  3. Parliamentary Assembly (142 appointed members, elected since 1979 - question or censure commission but little legislative authority)
  4. Court of Justice (seven judges - interpreting treaties and ensuring that institutions and MS fulfill their obligations)
Term
Political developments in the 1960s
Definition

growing criticism of US security policy

 

1969 Ostpolitik by Willy Brandt

 

Enlargement considered vital to ensure:

  1. regional peace
  2. economic prosperity

Eastern Europe and Scandinavia remain excluded, Britain most notable exclusion (de Gaulle vetoes inclusion in 1963 and again 1967)

 

 

Term
First wave of enlargement
Definition
  • January 1973 Britain, Denmark and Ireland join (after two vetoes on british entry by de Gaulle due to CAP) > 9 members
  • 1981 Greece joins
  • 1986 Spain and Portugal join > 12 members

latter three because inclusion into NATO sought by EEC

Term
results of first enlargement
Definition
  • integration of poorer countries
  • more weight on worldwide scale
  • more complicated decision making
  • redistribution of EEC spending

deepening of integration followed, rather than widening

Term
Way to the European Union
Definition
  • 1979 European Monetary System (exchange rate stability)
  • 1986 Single European Act
  • 1992 Maastricht Treaty 

General diminished confidence in US and the $ (Vietnam War, termination of Bretton Woods)

Term
"Snake in the tunnel"
Definition
predecessor of European Monetary System, MS agree to keep their currency within 2.5% fluctuation of US$ (1973)
Term
European Monetary System
Definition
  • based on European Currency Unit (Exchange Rate Mechanism ECM)
  • basked of national currencies, weighted according to respective importance
  • keeping currency fluctuations within a limit of 2.5% of ECU, 6% for Italy
  • serious difficulty to attain goals, britain withdrew 1992 (black wednesday)
Term
Factors for SEA
Definition
  1. MS increasingly dependent on intra EC trade
  2. reduced growth and worsening of unemployment
  3. EMS already started
  4. European business favoured single market
  5. citizens not particularly aware
  6. principally relaunch of already set policies

> Lord Cockfield COM report with ca. 300 proposals to create a truly open market

 

> approved by referendums in DK + IRL

Term
Single European Act (SEA)
Definition

growing concerns over diminished competitiveness (eurosclerosis)

 

Feb. 1986 SEA (mainly economic goals), came into force 1987, first major amendment of treaties, key: establish single market until 31.12.1992 ("relaunch")

  1. cooperation procedure introduced for EP(first real power for EP)
  2. QMV for more policy fields (departure from unanimity, which made actions difficult)
  3. legal status for HOG meetings within European Council and Community Foreign Policy Coordination
  4. New power for Court of Justice, Court of First instance created
  5. More powers for European Parliament relative to Council of Ministers
  6. Many internal and passport controls lifted
  7. COM received more responsibility in environmental policy, R&D and regional policy
  8. Banks and companies were allowed to offer products throughout the community
  9. introduction of cohesion policy (European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund)
Term
Schengen Agreement
Definition

Fast track agreement to set-up a border-free Europe signed in 1985 by five MS, expanded to 28

 

France, West-Germany and Benelux considered SEA insufficient. Incorporated into treaty of Amsterdam 1997.

 

Example of Europe a la carte

Term
The end of the cold war
Definition

May 1989: rigged elections in eastern germany, east-germans fled via hungary to austria, mass protests in Berlin, 3 October 1990 reunification

 

November 1989 velvet revoulution in czechoslovakia, tensions between forced living together of the two nations, separation in velvet divorce 1993

 

1989 Ceaucescu was overthrown in Romania (culmination of years of suppresion)

 

Democracy also came to Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine

Term
End of the cold war II
Definition

Gulf war (August 1990) showed that community did not have any capacity to act

 

June 1991 break-up of Yugoslavia after death of Josep Broz Tito in 1981 and declarations of independence of Slovenia, Croatia and Macedonia 

 

both events showed that Community lacked international political presence

Term
European Political Cooperation
Definition

process by which Community foreign ministers met on a regular basis with the goal of agreeing common foreign policy positions, while it offered important lessons it did not bring policies into convergence.

 

European Council, formalized in 1974 was more substantial

Term
Three stage plan for single currency
Definition
  1. as of July 1990 free use of ECU, increased cooperation between central banks
  2. new independence for national central banks and increased coordination of monetary policies, establishment of a European Monetary Institute (EMI as precursor of ECB)
  3. as of January 1997 single monetary policy under the control of the European System of Central Banks, introducing of single currency and fixing of exchange rates
Term
Treaty on the European Union (Maastricht)
Definition

1992, introduced three pillar structure, consisting of

  1. renamed European Community
  2. Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
  3. Justice and home affairs

established

  1. new powers to the EP (codecision introduced), formation of Committee of Regions, QMV extended again
  2. new responibilities for consumer protection, industrial policy, education, social policy, more cooperation on immigration
  3. most regional funds set aside for poorer MS
  4. new rights for citizens and ambiguous "citizenship"
Term
Core messages of Maastricht
Definition
  • creating European Union
  • commitment to single currency (monetary union)
  • commitment to common foreign policy

more political in nature, changed course of EU beyond economic integration

 

first treaty to be rejected in national referendum (by Denmark)

Term
New policy areas from Maastricht
Definition

The Treaty establishes Community policies in six new areas:

  • trans-European networks;
  • industrial policy;
  • consumer protection;
  • education and vocational training;
  • youth;
  • culture.
Term
2nd wave of enlargement, European Economic Area
Definition

Turkey (1987), Austria (1989), Malta, Cyprus (both 1990), Sweden (1991), Finland, Norway and Switzerland (all 1992) applied

 

creation of European Economic Area (EEA), terms of SEA would be extended to EFTA members, which in turn accepted its rules, yet without full formal membership

 

talks for full membership opened during Copenhagen European Council 

> wealthier member needed to take over burden of new accession by eastern european members

Term
Copenhagen criteria
Definition

Drawn up fo accession of new MS, prospective MS should 

  1. be democratic
  2. have functioning free markets
  3. be able to adopt the acquis communitaire
Term
acquis communitaire
Definition

body of treaties, laws and regulations adopted by the EU, most commonly used for indicating the obligations a prospective MS has to fulfill.

 

is divided into specific chapters, temporary derrogation allowed, permanent derrogation not.

Term
new MS in the 1990s
Definition
  • 1990 application of Cyprus and Malta
  • 1994 application of Poland and Hungary
  • 1995 application of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia
  • January 1995 Austria, Finland and Sweden join
Term
Backlash of the 1990s
Definition
  • euroscepticism: doubts about direction being taken
  • democratic deficit: ability of EU citizens to influence work in institutions

>low turnout in EP elections

>shift from gov't, elite driven integration

Term
Treaty of Amsterdam
Definition

1997 (no major changes)

  • confirmation of CFSP
  • responsibilities extended to health and consumer protection
  • Schengen integrated into treaties
  • enhanced cooperation established
  • EP powers expanded, power of approval over COM members
Term
Treaty of Nice
Definition

2001 (minor changes)

  • structural changes in COM
  • changes in QMV 

surprisingly rejected in Ireland but approved in 2nd vote

Term
Arrival of euro
Definition

some countries experienced difficulties meeting the convergence criteria, euro introduction postponed from 1997 > 1999

 

introduction of additional loopholes to soften criteria

 

joining of Greece controversial 

 

1998 European Monetary Institute is replaced by European Central Bank

Term
Convergence criteria
Definition

Standards that EU MS have to flulfill before entering the Euro:

  1. budget deficit: less than 3% of GDP
  2. public debt: less than 60% of GDP
  3. inflation: within 1.5% of the average of the three countries with the lowest inflation
  4. interest rate: within 2% of the average of the three countries with the lowes interest rate
  5. exchange rate: kept within ERM margin for two years
Term
Launch of Euro
Definition

1999 as electronic currency

2002 with coins and banknotes

 

first common currency since the roman empire

Term
Eastern enlargement
Definition

2004: 8 new MS gained membership:

  1. Estonia
  2. Latvia
  3. Lithuania
  4. Poland
  5. Czech Republic
  6. Slovakia
  7. Hungary
  8. Slovenia
2007 Bulgaria and Romania follow, resulting in EU 25, politically significant sign that cold war has passed
Term
Candidate countries
Definition
  1. Croatia (approved will join 1.07.2013)
  2. Iceland
  3. Macedonia
  4. Montenegro
  5. Turkey
Term
Potential candidate countries
Definition
  1. Albania
  2. Serbia
  3. Bosnia
  4. Kosovo

 

Term
European Convention
Definition

2002-2003

series of meeting held to draft a constitutution for the EU ("Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe)

  • sought to combine all treaties
  • end process of treaty amendments

received negative vote in France and Netherlands without any opportunity for renegotiation

Term
Lisbon Treaty
Definition

2007 (under german presidency, almost same content as constitutional treaty)

  • new president of European Council
  • High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, backed by EEAS
  • Abolition of pillar system and EC
  • Equal powers to EP and council
  • Recognition of charter of fundamental rights
  • more powers for EU in energy policy, public health, climate change, crime and terror
  • new formula for QMV from 2014
    • 55% of MS
    • representing 65% of population
    • 4 MS blocking minority
  • expansion of QMV
  • single legal personality for EU
  • recognition of freedom of MS to leave EU

rejected in Ireland but accepted after renegotiation and 2nd vote

Term
characteristics of a constitution
Definition
  1. listing of general goals and values of a state
  2. outline of power and responsibilities of governing bodies
  3. outline of procedures of electing or appointing government and th limits of their power
  4. listing of rights of citizens
  5. steps needed to change or amend the constitution
Term
"thin" constitution
Definition
establishes and regulates main bodies of government and the general principles of state government
Term
"thick" constitution
Definition
  1. stable, intended to be durable
  2. one or a small number of documents
  3. superios, invalidates conflicting law
  4. justiciable, superiority can be enforced
  5. entrenchend, amendment more difficult than regular law
  6. relies on common ideological principles
Term
Sources of constitutional norm in EU
Definition
  1. Treaty articles
  2. EU law
  3. Judgements of CJ
  4. Charter of Fundamental Rights
  5. European Convention of Human Rights (EU not signatory)
Term
Charter of Fundamental Rights
Definition
Adopted through treaty of Nice, compiled already existing rights in other EU agreements in one single document
Term
European Convention on Human Rights
Definition

drawn up 1950 by Council of Europe, applies to all member states of the Council of Europe

 

citizens can invoke European Court of Human Rights

Term
Areas of exclusive EU competence
Definition

Art. 3 TFEU

  1. competition
  2. customs
  3. fisheries convention
  4. trade, common commercial policy
  5. monetary policy (for euro members)
Term
Limits of Union competence
Definition

Art. 5 TEU

  • conferral: EU can only act if MS give authority to achieve certain goals in treaties, if issue is not specifically liste = MS
  • subsidiarity: if no exclusive competence is given, EU can only act if measure cannot be better taken by MS
  • proportionality: EU should not go beyond action needed to achieve an objective in the treaties
Term
shared competence
Definition

Art. 3-6, but not coherently listed, important:

  1. agriculture
  2. external relation
  3. competition
  4. institutional and staff matters
  5. internal market

authority in most areas is divided

Term
community method
Definition
transferral of powers from MS to EU
Term
Treaty overview
Definition
  1. 1951 Treaty of Paris creating ECSC, expired 2002
  2. 1957 Treaty of Rome, created EEC and Euratom
  3. 1967 Treaty of Brussels (merger treaty) created single institutional structure for all three communities)
  4. 1970 First Budget Treaty
  5. 1975 Second Budget Treaty
  6. 1985 and 1990 Schengen Agreement 
  7. 1986 Single European Act, completing of internal market, expansion of Community powers
  8. 1992 Treaty on European Union (Maastricht), economic and monetary union, expanded policy responsibilities, introduced three pillar structure
  9. 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam, expanded policy, organizational changes
  10. 2001 Treaty of Nice, resolved institutional problem that were not solved by Amsterdam
  11. 2004 Treaty on European Constitution (failed), would have repealed, replaced and consolidated all existing treaties
  12. 2007 Treaty of Lisbon, essentially introduced all of constitutional treaties issues without being a constitution
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