EU Formation, Institutions, and Spain’s Accession

Posted on Nov 2, 2024 in Social sciences

EU Training

1. The Formation of the EU

The Treaty of Rome (1957)

The experience of the ECSC led to extending the experience to all sectors of the economy. In 1957, the six ECSC countries signed the Treaty of Rome, creating the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) and the European Economic Community (EEC) or Common Market.

The EEC:

  1. Facilitated trade between member states by establishing the free movement of persons, goods, and services throughout the states and the removal of tariffs.
  2. Aimed to avoid the risk of new wars.
  3. Led to the possibility of a European consciousness.

The Maastricht Treaty (1992)

The EU Treaty, or Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1992 and effective in 1993:

  1. Renamed the European Economic Community to the EU.
  2. Strengthened economic integration and progressed towards political and social integration, creating a single currency (the euro) and the European Central Bank. It also established European citizenship, allowing citizens of member states to vote in municipal and European elections.
  3. Established a common foreign and security policy.

The Treaty of Lisbon (2007-2009)

The Treaty of Lisbon established rules for the 27-member EU:

  • Set the number of Parliament members at 785 MEPs plus the president.
  • Established a permanent president for the European Council, serving a two-and-a-half-year term, renewable once.
  • Required Council decisions to be approved by a qualified majority (55% of member states representing 65% of the total population).
  • Reduced the number of European Commissioners to two-thirds the number of states and established an election system.
  • Reinforced the importance of regions and extended the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The Accession Treaty and the Enlargement of the EU

States joining the EU must meet accession criteria:

  1. Political Criterion: Guarantee democracy, human rights, and recognition of minorities.
  2. Economic Criterion: Have a market economy capable of adapting to the EU’s level of competitiveness.
  3. Community Acquis: Accept existing EU laws and objectives.

2. The EU Institutions

The European Council

The European Council is the main decision-making body, comprised of heads of state and government from the 27 EU states and the President of the European Commission. Its main function is to define EU policy guidelines and priorities.

The European Parliament

The European Parliament is the parliamentary assembly of the EU, comprising 785 MEPs elected by direct universal suffrage every five years. MEPs are divided into groups according to political trends. Representation is proportional to the population of each state. Parliament, along with the Council, holds legislative power, controls other institutions, and approves budgets.

The Council of the EU (formerly Council of Ministers)

The Council of the EU is composed of ministers from each member state, depending on the issue being discussed. The presidency rotates every six months. Along with Parliament, its main functions are to approve budgets and legislate.

The European Commission

The European Commission is an independent institution representing and defending the interests of the EU. It is formed by Commissioners with specific responsibilities (e.g., agriculture, education) representing all states. Its main function is executive, ensuring the execution of laws and budgets. It is the government of the EU.

The Court of Justice

The Court of Justice, composed of a judge from each member state (changing every five years), performs the judicial function.

The Court of Auditors

The Court of Auditors controls financial management.

Other EU bodies include:

  • The Economic and Social Committee: Represents workers (unions), employers, and consumers.
  • The Committee of the Regions: Represents regional and local authorities.
  • The European Central Bank: Issues and manages the euro and monitors the economic situation in the eurozone.
  • The European Ombudsman: Ensures compliance with the rights and duties of citizens and institutions.

3. Spain’s Accession Process

The restoration of democracy in Spain in 1978 made it possible to negotiate Spain’s entry into the EEC. Negotiations lasted almost 10 years due to the need for the Spanish economy to adapt to the EEC economy, particularly in agriculture. Spain became a full member of the EEC on January 1, 1986.

4. The Euro and Convergence Criteria

One goal of the EU was the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). To achieve this, the European Central Bank was created, and the euro was established as a single currency. Three stages of economic convergence were determined for states to adopt the euro. States needed to control inflation, deficits, public debt, and maintain a specific interest rate. On January 1, 2002, twelve EU countries, including Spain, adopted the euro. Four more countries later adopted the euro. Replacing the peseta led to higher prices and increased inflation in Spain, although the euro simplified trade and reduced currency exchange costs for most countries.