The State and the European Union: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on Sep 3, 2024 in History

Elements of a State

Elements that make up a state:

  • Citizens
  • Territory
  • Branches of government:
    • Legislative (makes the laws)
    • Judicial (ensures that laws are obeyed)
    • Executive (applies the laws)
  • Laws

Functions of a State

  • International functions
  • National security
  • Economic well-being
  • Social services

Welfare State

Guarantees the economic and social well-being of its citizens.

International Relations Between States

  • Based on cooperation:
    • Political
    • Economic
    • Military
    • Cultural
  • Conflicts:
    • Economic
    • Territorial
    • Ideological
    • Religious
    • Ethnic
    Sometimes degenerate into war.

State Institutions

State institutions are responsible for carrying out its functions.

Courts of Justice

Hold the judicial power. Different types of courts of law ensure that all the laws are obeyed.

Government

Executive power. Makes and manages policies to ensure the well-being of citizens. Prepares the national budget, that estimates the revenue needed to pay the expenses of the state.

Parliament

Holds the legislative power (Cortes Generales). Makes and passes the laws, controls the government, and approves the national budget.

Regional and Local Administrations

Organize and govern the territorial subdivisions contained within a state. Depending on the state, they can have greater autonomy (set up their own autonomous or local governments) or lesser autonomy (obey the central government).

Head of State

Represents the country and, in some states, ensures that basic principles of the Constitution are upheld.

Origins of the European Union

After the Second World War (1939-1945), some European countries created an organization to strengthen cooperation between countries of Europe. Aims were to:

  • Consolidate peace
  • Avoid new conflicts in Europe
  • Compete economically as a bloc with other world economies

Ideas from Robert Schuman, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a speech on May 9th, 1950. In 1951, Belgium, France, Italy, West Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). It was very successful, so they decided to expand. In 1957 (foundation), they signed the Treaties of Rome, established by the European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or EURATOM).

First EEC Measures

  • Common economic policies for member countries
  • Introduced free movement of goods, services, workers, and capital between member countries
  • Created new laws in common to help to strengthen political cooperation

From EEC to EU

In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty (Netherlands) came into force, and the EEC became the European Union. It led to:

  • At an economic level, a single common market was established. In 2002, the euro came into circulation in the eurozone.
  • At a political level, citizens of the EU were granted European citizenship.
  • At a social level, joint cultural, educational, and environmental policies were adopted.

European Union Today

  • There are 28 countries in the EU. Spain joined in 1986.
  • 7% of the world’s population live in the EU, an important economic world power.
  • In 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon came into force. It:
    • Validated the Charter of Fundamental Rights for all European citizens
    • Created a new, more democratic voting system
    • Improved the EU decision-making process
    • Strengthened EU foreign policies

Institutions of the European Union

European Parliament

Functions:

  • Represents all the citizens of the EU
  • Approves EU laws and budget with the Council of the European Union
  • Controls the European Commission

Members: Eurodeputies or Members of the European Parliament grouped by political parties. They organize commissions to study different proposals.

Council of the European Union

Functions:

  • Represents the governments of EU member states and coordinates their economic policies
  • Approves EU laws and budget together with the European Parliament
  • Signs international agreements and creates EU foreign policy

Members: Ministers from each EU state.

European Commission

Functions:

  • Holds the executive power and promotes the interests of the EU
  • Proposes new laws to the Parliament and Council of the EU
  • Manages EU policies, allocates EU funding, and enforces EU laws

Members: One commissioner from each EU country.

European Council

Functions:

  • Defines general political guidelines and priorities of the EU

Members: Heads of State or the governments of the EU countries, who meet four times a year.

Other Institutions

European Court of Auditors

Checks that EU funds are correctly raised and efficiently spent, both in the member states and in the EU institutions.

Court of Justice of the EU

Functions:

  • Holds the judicial power
  • Guarantees the interpretation of EU laws and ensures that European laws are enforced

Members: Judges, one from each state, and several Advocates General.

European Central Bank

Manages Europe’s single currency along with EU economic and monetary policy.

Members: President, Vice-President, and the governor of a national central bank from all EU countries.