EUROPEAN UNION

By:Ibrahim Mirza
HISTORICAL
EVOLUTION
■ A peaceful Europe – the beginnings of cooperation 1945 – 1959
After the end of the WWII European nations grew tired of their disagreements—religious wars, napoleon
war, Ukrainian war, WWI, WWII, cold war.
– They started finding ways to cooperate with each other
– 1952 European Coal and Steal Community (ECSC) was formed which started integrating major
players of Europe mainly Belgium, France ,Germany ,Italy ,Luxemburg and Netherlands.
– Coal was power source while steel was used for reconstruction.
– 1957 Treaty of Rome further deepens the integration by creating European Economic Community
(EEC) and establishing Common market
■ A period of economic growth 1960 - 1969
– Common market was growing and it brought prosperity to the European continents. Fee enables
enough prosperity for smaller countries too.
■ A growing Community – the first enlargement 1970 - 1979
– In 1970 England, Ireland and Denmark joined the EEC .Right wing government of Portugal fell
and military dictatorship of General Franco in Spain fell too.
– European Parliament started taking more interest in the investment in the poorer countries
– In 1979 people could elect their members directly.
■ The changing face of Europe - the fall of the Berlin Wall 1980 - 1989
– In 1981 Greece become the 10th member followed by Spain and Portugal in the period o five years
– In 1986 single European act was passed to sort out the problems in making Single market in
Europe in next six years.
– Fall of berlin reunified East and West Germany which paved the way for their inclusion
■ A Europe without frontiers 1990 - 1999
– With the end of communism from Europe, counties got even more concentrated.
– Maastricht Treaty of 1993 created single market across Europe which enables free movement of
Goods, services, people ad money and from EEC to EU
– In 1999 Eurozone was created which established common currency
– Schengen Agreement allowed European people to have European nationality.
– A common Security policy
– Cooperation in home affairs
■ Further expansion 2000 – 2009
– War on terror and absence of the threat of communism intensified the admission
into EU.
– 12 new Countries joined the organization
– Lisbon Treaty of 2009 gives more institutionalized powers to the president of EU
and to the Foreign minister of EU
 
STRUCTURE OF EU
■ The main institutions that administer the EU are listed in Article 13 as:
– The EU building in Brussels
– The European Parliament
– The European Council
– The Council
– The European Commission these four are important
– The Court of Justice of the European Union
– And the Court of Auditors.
■ There is a variety of committees stemming from these institutions and
also the European Investment Bank, which is a separate entity from the
European Central Bank
FUNCTIONS OF EU
■ European Parliament
– Directly elected representatives from across Europe. Total members 751 after Brexit 705
– Main legislative, Supervisory and budgetary body.
– Makes laws with Council of EU on the proposals of European Commission
– Passes the budget and supervises the treaties and all committees working under EU
■ The European Council (European commission sy different hay)
– Consists of Heads of State or Government of member states, plus its President, and (currently Poland’s
Donald Tusk) the President of the Commission.
– 27 (PM/Presidents)+1 (president of commission)=28
– It cannot pass or amend laws rather it gives general direction of the policy making to European
commission. Which sends proposal to European Parliament
■ The Council of European Union
– It is the law-making body, along with the European Parliament
– It discusses, amends, passes laws and coordinates for policies
– Not to be confused with Council of Europe
– Government ministers are its members and they have the authority to commit their govt. on agreed
issues.
– For example: if foreign affairs issue  countries foreign ministers comes and assist European
parliament.
■ European Commission
– An independent executive arm of EU
– It proposes new laws and amendment to the parliament and the council
– Sets up spending priorities and draws up budget
– It is the enforcer of the law of land along with Court of Justice
■ The Court of Justice of the European Union
– Consists of a number of different courts, some specialized, with judges appointed by
member states.  There is a detailed statute covering the court at Protocol 3.
■ The European Central Bank
– Together with national central banks, constitutes the European System of Central Banks,
which gets a bit complicated.  There is a detailed statute covering the banking system at
Protocol 4.
 Act of EU Institutions
There are two types of acts which are passed in European
parliament
■ Regulations: these are effectively a law in their own right and
are directly applicable to all member states. E.g.; (traffic law,
forestation laws, ban on import, vaccination, lock-downs)
■ Directives: Direct member country to change any law in the
country, relating to the single market.
■ Decisions: these are binding only on those to whom they are
addressed.
■ There are also Recommendations and Opinions, but these are
not binding.
 Europe Right now
■ One of the most successful political and economic alliance is in trouble
■ BREXIT is a reality now
■ Poland is in political crisis
■ Hungary is moving towards illiberal democracy
■ Italy has a populist government
BREXIT
 Why did Britain leave EU?

■ Historical aspect: UK in 1973 included in European economic community. Then did referendum
and lost. When shingan region was formulated UK did not completely integrated into it. Similiarly
EU denied to be part of euro zone. Thus ultimately it caused Brixit.
■ Political reason: they think it restrict us and interfere in our internal matters like refugees induction
and huge budget share is impacting of sovereignty.
■ Economic reason: they were pressurized to adopt euro as a currency.
■ Social reasons: European seeks UK for jobs. During Syrian war Syrians rushed to EU. EU promised
to accommodated them. EU asked Germany France UK for accommodation. UK had reservation
(Muslims coming, Islamophobia, terrorism, depletion of our resources).
■ Legal reason: in legal matter EU court is superior than courts of the countries. UK had reservation
that why not our countries’.
■ Referendum in June 2016 and left 1st January 2021 officially left. In between this period they were
negotiating on
 Three major negotiation points of Brexit

■ Divorce bill: UK was supposed to several bills like investment and fund raising before
Brexit. They came on a point finally that they will fulfill their commitments.
■ Citizens’ rights: till part of the EU, Europeans were spending lives in UK and UK citizens
spendings in EU. They cannot say abrupt oust. They agreed that they can live for ten years.
After that they will take UK nationality if donot wnt to leave.
■ Free trade issue: UK was the part of the free market and same goes for European countries.
After Brexit they could not leave trade because both are equally important for each other.
They agreed they will now do regulated trade.
■ Good Friday agreement: see YouTube
■ Current situation YouTube
■ What can happen in the future?
■ What are the economic and political implecations of Brexit on UK, EU and rest of the
world.
POLAND
 Was not taught
Poland (Another Bone of Contention)

■ PiS bringing back authoritarianism

■ Poland invaded by Germany first then by soviet
■ Stayed under control of Soviet
■ 1980s solidarity movement took momentum which finally led to topple
of communism
■ Article 7 initiated first time but there is a hurdle

Why Populism is on the rise in Europe?

NATO
 Was not taught
Structure and Function

■ 29 country alliance founded on 4th April 1949

■ NATO ensures security of the member countries through political and military
cooperation
■ It promotes democratic values by allowing members to consult and cooperate on
security related issues
■ It goes for diplomatic solution but if that fails Article 5 lies at the heart of its
cooperation

Article 5: Attack on one means attack on all

 NATO’s Historical Contribution

■ It played significant role to end crisis of Bosnia and Kosovo and it

spearheaded ISAF after 9/11
■ In Cold War: The purpose of the NATO was to counter the aggression of
WARSAW pact countries.
■ Post-Cold War:
– Foster dialogues with former adversaries
– Conflict management in Balkan states
 Trump and NATO

■ According to an agreement in 2006, every country has to pay 2% of their

GDP in the defense spending but most of the countries dot fulfil that
responsibilities
■ So Trump wants their allies to fulfill their responsibility if they want US
help
Idea of Credible Commitment

■ Russia has to believe that US will intervene if Russia attacks any of its
members
■ NATO is more relevant now because of Annexation of Crimea and INF
treaty Suspension