Institutions & Constitutions of The EU.

University Degree Social studies

Suzanne Menzies

Assessment 1.

Contents.

Introduction........................................................................................ 3

The History of The European Union...................................................... 4

The Significant Events Leading Up To The formation of The Treaties Of Rome............ 5 / 6 / 7

Treaties Of Rome & its Signatories - The EEC & EURATOM..................... 8

The EEC & Its Aims.............................................................................. 9

Britain’s Involvement............................................................................ 10

Current Membership............................................................................. 11/12/13

Political, Social & Economic Progress...................................................... 14

The Institutions..................................................................................... 15

- The Commission................................................................................. 16/17

- The Parliament................................................................................... 18/19

- Council Of Ministers............................................................................ 20

The Three Councils............................................................................... 21

The Institution Of My Choice................................................................. 22/23/ 24/25/26

The Future Of Europe........................................................................... 27/28/29

Conclusion........................................................................................... 30

Appendix 1.......................................................................................... 31

Bibliography........................................................................................ 32

Introduction.

The aims of this assessment are to describe the constitutions and functions of the institutions of the European Union.

To do this I will look at the development of the European Union, the main bodies of this Union, the decision makers of this Union and some aspects which may contribute to the development of the European Union further into the future.

The History of the European Union.

After six years of war, 1945 brought a devastated Europe into view. Europeans wanted to do anything possible to prevent a Third World War. This was obviously something that everyone was in agreement with as the Second World War had taken many lives, divided Europe into East and West, and shattered this Community’s economy for the worse. As a result, countries did not have the resources left to begin to rebuild both their lives and their countries.

Both the First and the Second World Wars had followed an almost similar pattern as Germany had tried to invade France twice, through Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The harsh winter of 1946/ 47 also brought more problems to the recovery process.

The end of the Second World war also brought an outbreak of what is known as the ‘Cold War’. This was the cause of the division between the East West of Europe. The East side was under influence and domination from the Soviet Union, (until the ‘80s), and the West side which was dominated by the USA. The ‘Cold War’ encouraged the European countries to co-operate together.

Politicians realised that the best means of preventing another war was to combine all European countries together on a political, economical and if need be, military basis.

Europeans literally had to ‘get back on their feet’.

Therefore it was economic necessity that drove the developments that are explained on the next few pages.

The Significant Events

-Leading to the Formations of The Treaties Of Rome.

The first steps towards a European Union.

Benelux Union.

The ‘Benelux Countries’ are:

Belgium, (the underlined letters show where

Netherlands the name, Benelux, came from).

& Luxembourg.

These three countries joined together and established the Benelux Customs Union, 1948. The main significant outcome of this particular Union was that in the field of trading goods, they removed all intra-tariffs, (internal charges) and established a common external tariff to outsiders of this ‘trading block’. They also made attempts to harmonise economic policies.

The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, (OEEC), (which was later, in 1961, to be known as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD), was structured to administer Marshall Aid.

With the West Europe already heavily under the influence of the USA, it was the States themselves who provided aid on a massive scale.

Marshall Aid, 1948 - 1952.

This was the name given to the aid that the USA gave. It was termed this after the US Secretary of State, General George Marshall. In order to encourage a speedy recovery to the economic Europe, this aid was that of financial. Over a period of four years, $13 Billion was distributed to the needy nations. Germany had suffered the war the worst and therefore was one of the most extensive recipients of this aid.

This aid was given as what was thought as an outright gift. However, there is wonder to the basis for the USA’s generosity, was it purely given for the benefits of themselves?

With the division of Europe still ongoing, the West was offered Marshall Aid, but declined as they were suspicious of American dominance, The USSR/ Soviet Union set up the ‘Molotov Plan’, 1947, in order to gain a series of trade agreements with Eastern Europe.

Council of Europe.

This council was set up in 1949 in the aim to bring all the governments of the European countries together, in order to gain co-operation and negotiation. The Council of Europe is still in force today.

Schuman Plan, 1950.

The Marshall Aid had lifted the spirits of people and given major help to the reconstruction of these torn grounds. Nevertheless, it was widely felt in Europe that more had to be done to remedy the political and economic problems which still distinctly existed in Europe.

Together with the Benelux countries, Germany, France and Italy wanted a drastic approach to solve these outstanding political and economical problems.

It was the initiative of a French Civil Servant, Jean Monnet, who in 1950, drafted a proposal aimed at pulling together both the coal and steal industries of France and Germany, (Germany was also divided into East & West after W.W.II, therefore it was West Germany this proposal referred to). This proposal was but forward by Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Secretary.

By placing the key war making industries; coal and steal, under joint authority, they felt this would promote economic recovery and hopefully make war between France and Germany impossible again. The belief was that countries trading together would not provoke war between one another.

The result of the Schuman Plan was that it led to the formation of the

European Coal & Steel Community, (ECSC).

The aim of this Formation was to “Establish a common market for coal and steal, to ensure supplies, to promote expansion and modernisation of production and to provide better employment conditions”.

This was the first European organisation to have powers above those of any nation’s government’s. This is what is called a Supranational Structure, which ultimately became the ‘blue print’ for the structure of the EEC.

The political dimension had not yet been present. However, By the time the ECSC was set up, disagreements had already arisen concerning any future developments of Europe.

It was the British Government who voiced their concerns, suspicious of supranational organisations. They instead, favoured intergovernmental organisations where each country, (each Member State), has the right to authoritatively reject; veto, any measure in order to protect its national interests.

The Treaty Of Paris, 1951.

This Treaty, which brought the ECSC into existence in 1952, was signed by six countries: France, West Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries. This began the process towards European Unity.

The objective of the Treaty was to create a ‘Common Market’, enabled by the ECSC, in the raw material and essential energy resources at that time: steel & coal.

The Treaty provided a vital step towards the integration of countries as it saw the transfer of administrative and legislative powers to the institutions of the Treaty. These institutions included: the Assembly, the Council Of Ministers and the Court Of Justice.

This Treaty was also gave the first step towards a political dimension as both war making industries of France and Germany were integrated. The conflict between France and Germany had been about the ownership of Alsace and Lorraine of which had been one of the principal reasons behind Hitler’s rise to power and to the Second World War.

The Treaty Of Paris also provided much needed hope for the other four countries who had signed.

The Benelux countries had been destroyed by Hitler's armies, so their main concern was to tie up Germany into a structure, whereby, it could not solely dominate their political independence or their economies again.

Italy, however, was interested in a much needed market for its goods, therefore could not economically afford to be excluded from the markets of France and Germany.

The United Kingdom had been invited but, declined the offer and sent observers.

The ECSC was both perceived ...