EU Institutions, Madrid Politics, and Globalization Impact

Posted on Dec 13, 2024 in Social sciences

Institutions of the European Union

The European Union (EU) is comprised of political bodies and institutions to which member states delegate some of their powers and sovereignty. They are:

  • The European Parliament (EP), elected every five years by EU citizens in the European elections, is the only multinational parliamentary assembly elected by universal suffrage in the world. Although founded only as a consultative assembly, the legislative powers of the EP increased significantly from the Maastricht Treaty (1992). Today, it boasts, alongside the Council, the legislature of the Union.
  • The Council of the European Union (CUE), commonly known as the Council of Ministers, represents the governments of the Member States, whose interests are defended in the search for a common agreement. Alongside the European Parliament, it exercises legislative power. It retains significant executive powers whose exercise is automatically delegated to the Commission. In recent times, it seems to be confirmed as the gravitational center of community power at the expense mainly of the Commission, although increasingly blinded by its alter ego in the highest, the European Council. Upon the entry into force of the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon, its name will be simplified and reduced to Council.
  • The European Commission (EC) represents the executive power within the EU, but is also involved in legislation. It is a politically independent institution that represents and defends the interests of the Union as a whole, proposes legislation, policies, and action programs, and is responsible for implementing the decisions of Parliament and the CUE. The Commission has the exclusive right of initiative in the legislative process, i.e., it proposes new EU laws, but it is the Legislative Chambers, Parliament, and the Council that adopt them.
  • The European Council is the highest political body of the European Union. It is composed of the heads of government of member countries of the European Union. The presidency rotates every six months. It is responsible for determining the objectives and overall priorities of the European Union and calls European Summits.
  • The Court of Justice consists of one judge from each country plus one rotating judge appointed for 6 years. It resolves disputes concerning EU law and ensures that the law is applied equally in all states.
  • The Court of Auditors is composed of one representative from each member country. It ensures that the Union’s budget is properly managed.

Regional Political Organization and the Community of Madrid

The autonomous status of the Community of Madrid was adopted on March 1, 1983. The territorial authority and administrative organization of the community are defined in their basic institutions:

  • The Assembly, located in the municipality of Madrid, consists of deputies elected by universal suffrage every 4 years. Its tasks are:
  1. Enact laws of the community
  2. Approve autonomic budgets
  3. Set some taxes
  4. Monitor the government council
  5. Appoint its chairman
  • The Governing Council plays the executive role. It comprises the President as the highest authority of the community and various advisers who deal with government, transport, public works, education, and so on. The president appoints and coordinates counselors.
  • The Superior Court is based in Madrid and is the highest judiciary in the community.

Concept of Globalization

Globalization is an international phenomenon. Its action mainly focuses on achieving global penetration of capital (financial, commercial, and industrial). It has allowed the world economy (mechanisms that compose it: trade and finance) to open spaces. The integration of activities strengthens the global economy and arises as a result of the ever-increasing internationalization process of economic, social conflicts, and cultural-political phenomena.

The Process of Globalization

From an economic standpoint, globalization is a process of market integration on a global scale. It has therefore been necessary to form economic blocs targeted under the logic of free trade, in order to reproduce capital. This process has involved the increasing interconnectedness of markets around the world. Thus, events and crises of the system have an increasing economic impact, more speed, and strength in all countries in the world.

Consequences of Globalization

  • Encourages economic specialization of each area in the activities for which it is better endowed. However, this fact underscores the imbalances between rich and poor.
  • Policies can only add to the spread of democracy but also limit the autonomy of the countries.
  • Social globalization promotes employment but also its flexibility and lower wages.
  • Cultural globalization facilitates the dissemination of science and technology culture but can cause loss of cultural identity.
  • Promotes environmental awareness and collective agreements on environmental issues but also produces a large ecological impact.

Migration in Spain

External migration also has 2 very different stages:

  1. Throughout the nineteenth century until 1975, Spain was a country of emigrants. The emigrants were mostly the peasant population who went first to Latin America and then, from 1960, to Western Europe in search of work.
  2. Since 1995, Spain has been receiving an increasing number of immigrants. In early 2006, they were supposed to be 9.3% of the Spanish population.