Supranational Organizations andthe EU Specifically in More Detail
AGENDA
Student will be able toanalyze membership in theEU by completing the EUnotes, participating in a briefsimulation and discussingsovereignty issues.
1991 - The Maastricht Treaty –
created the modern organization, and gave it authority innew areas, including monetary policy, foreign affairs,national security, transportation, the environment, justice,and tourism.
An important goal was to coordinate economic policies,particularly through a common currency (Euro) - to replacethe national currencies of the member-states.
EU and the Euro?
European Union
They also wanted a common European Central Bank -with enormous supranational authority to influencethe economic policies of the members states.
It established three pillars or spheres ofauthority
1. Trade and other economic matters,including economic and monetary unioninto a single currency, and the creation ofthe European Central Bank
2. Justice and home affairs, includingpolicy governing asylum, border crossing,immigration, and judicial cooperation oncrime and terrorism.
3. Common foreign and security policy,including joint positions and actions, andcommon defense policy.
The EU has been accused of a “democratic deficit” –
the idea that institutions of the European Union lackdemocratic accountability and legitimacy comparedto the national governments of its member states.For example: most of the decision making in the EU isdone by nonelected officials.
Also known as “Euroskepticism”
“Democratic Deficit”
The European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, which enables three of thefour EFTA Member States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) toparticipate in the EU's Internal Market.
In order to be accepted, you must provide evidenceto meet three important criteria:
1. a stable and functioning democratic regime
2. a market-oriented economy
3. Willingness to accept all EU laws and regulations
Should Turkey join the EU?
Should Turkey join the EU?
There are four major bodies in the EU
Commission - each commissioner takesresponsibility to a particular area of policy,and heads a department called aDirectorate General. Main responsibility isto initiate and implement new programs.
Council of Ministers - May initiatelegislation, but its proposals don't becomelaw until they have been passed by theCouncil. Each country has been assigned anumber of votes in proportion to its shareof the population.
Very few European governments are in favour, arguingthat the cultural, geopolitical and economic differences aretoo significant. There are also serious concerns overPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan's growingauthoritarianism and crackdown on human rights.
Prime Minister David Cameron is one the nation's few alliesin the west. On a trip to Ankara in 2014, he encouragedother EU countries to allow it to join, saying Turkey was"vital for our economy, vital for our security and vital forour diplomacy".
Should Turkey be allowed to join?Pros and Cons exist!!!!
European Parliament - May propose amendmentsto legislation, and it may reject proposals from theCouncil outright, however, the council may overridea rejection by a unanimous vote.
European Court of Justice - Power of judicial review.Its decisions may limit national sovereignty. Assuch, it is more powerful than most national judicialsystems of its member states.
EU Structure
the EU has removed most of the oldtariffs and other barriers to tradeamong its members.
Trade
What are the advantages of free movement of peoplewithin the EU.
What are the advantages of free movement of productswithin the EU.
How does this apply to allowing illegal products (drugs,pest-infested agricultural products) into your country?
How does this apply to allowing illegal people (possibleterrorists?) into your country?
Which outweighs which? The benefits of this or thenegatives?
Truck simulation
Also, most licenses are accepted in all membersstates, the exception is a lawyers license.
EU makes monetary policy. It has created the euro,and has set basic interest rates and other fiscalpolicies. 2 exceptions are Britain and Sweden, whichstill refuse to give up their national currencies in favorof the common European currency.
They create common agricultural policy - one goal ismodernize inefficient farms so that they mightcompete in the common market. The EU hasestablished farm subsidies - guarantees of sellinggoods at high prices.
What are three ways that statesgive up their sovereignty by joiningthe EU?
In your group
EU and Sovereignty … UK’s referendum BREXIT(British Exit)
Complete the following:
1-Provide a brief summary.
2-How does this reflect a loss of sovereignty formember states?
3-In what circumstances do you think a loss ofsovereignty could be good?
4-In what circumstances do you think a loss ofsovereignty could be bad?
Which outweighs which? Is the EU bad or good?
Does this belief make you a Euroskeptic?