The Construction and Operation of the European Union: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on Nov 9, 2024 in Geography

The Construction of the European Union

The EU is a supranational organization composed of sovereign European states that delegate sovereignty to common institutions to make decisions in their joint interest.

The Integration Process: Treaties

The first steps began after World War II. In 1946, Churchill declared his support for creating a United States of Europe to end rivalries between countries.

The Founding Treaties

The founding treaties paved the way for economic integration:

  • Treaty of Paris (1951): Created the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community). It established a common market for these two products and consisted of France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
  • Treaty of Rome (1957): States signed two treaties:
    • The EEC (European Economic Community) established the single market with the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital between member states. It integrated a common agricultural policy and transport.
    • The Euratom (European Atomic Energy Community) aimed to develop research and the nuclear industry for peaceful purposes.

The EEC, ECSC, and Euratom formed the European Communities.

Amendments to the Founding Treaties

With the passage of time, European integration has advanced, leading to changes in the treaties:

  • Single European Act (1986): The first foundational reform. It increased the power of the parliament, approved their participation in Community law, increased funding for regions, and established a fully functioning single market by 1993.
  • Treaty of the European Union (TEU) (1992): Created the EU and established three basic pillars that exceeded purely economic objectives.
  • Treaty of Amsterdam (1997): Proposed creating a more democratic European parliament to strengthen its powers and the rights of citizenship. It addressed the increasing number of EU members and allowed for closer cooperation.
  • Treaty of Nice (2001): Institutional reform of the decision-making system to ensure the effective functioning of the union before further enlargement.
  • Treaty of Lisbon (2007): Reformed the EU Treaty (TEU), which remains the main EU treaty, replacing the constitutive treaty of the European Community. It provided a single legal personality for the EU, clarified the competencies of the EU and the member states, improved efficiency by reforming some EU institutions, increased the legislative power of the European Parliament, increased the integrated structure by removing the three pillars, improved the EU’s presence abroad, strengthened rights and freedoms, and considered the possibility of a member state leaving the union.

The Expansion Process

Successive Enlargements

The number of members of the united Europe has expanded from 6 to 27. The requirements for entry (Copenhagen criteria) are having a democratic system, a market economy, and the ability to meet its obligations.

  • 1951 & 1957: The 6 founding countries were France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
  • 1973: The community extended north with Denmark, Ireland, and the UK.
  • 1981-1986: Extended with Greece, Portugal, and Spain.
  • 1995: Sweden, Finland, and Austria joined.
  • 2004: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia joined.
  • 2007: Romania and Bulgaria joined.

Consequences of Enlargement

The consequences of enlargement have been significant:

a) Political Consequences:

  • Positive effects on peace, the end of Cold War blocs, and the promotion of democracy.
  • Challenges for the operation of the union, incorporating territorial conflicts and foreign policy differences.

b) Socioeconomic Consequences:

  • Demographic: The two latest additions provided 104 million people.
  • Economic:
    • Widened the single market.
    • Diversified economic activities.
    • Increased internal inequalities.

c) Cultural and Environmental Consequences:

Cultural enrichment, but linguistic diversity increased spending on translation and interpretation.

The European Physical Environment and Contrasts

Relief

  • Baltic and Fennoscandian Shield: A heavily eroded surface occupying most of Finland, Sweden, and Scotland.
  • Baseboards, Solid Interior, and Old Sedimentary Basins:
    • Sockets are fractured surfaces.
    • Old massifs are low altitude with soft shapes (Caledonian and Hercynian).
    • Sedimentary basins are filled with sediments and are now plains situated between the old massifs.
    • The North European Plain is a large sedimentary basin.
  • Alpine Ridges and Depressions: Formed in the Tertiary Era.
    • Alpine ridges are located south.
    • Pre-Alpine depressions are on both sides of the Alpine ranges.
  • Volcanic Islands: Such as the Canaries, Azores, and Madeira, formed in the Tertiary Era.

The Bioclimatic Landscape

The EU has a great diversity of bioclimatic landscapes:

a) Oceanic Landscape: British Isles and the west coast of Europe. Oceanic climate, deciduous forest, long rivers.

b) Mediterranean Landscape: Southern EU. Mediterranean climate, evergreen forest and scrub, short rivers.

c) Continental and Sub-Arctic Landscape: Sweden, Finland, Scandinavian mountains, and Baltic republics. Low rainfall, coniferous forest, long rivers.

d) Other Minor Landscapes: Arctic (far north Sweden and Finland), mountain, and subtropical (Canary Islands, Azores, and Madeira).

Environmental Situation in the EU

Key environmental issues include air pollution, deforestation, soil erosion, river pollution, overexploitation of aquifers, seawater pollution, increased municipal solid waste, and biodiversity loss. The EU’s environmental policy seeks to resolve these problems through coordinated policies, sustainable development, and international agreements.

The Operation of the European Union

EU Institutions

Key institutions have been amended by the Treaties of Nice and Lisbon.

  • European Council: Highest political body, sets general objectives and priorities.
  • Council of the European Union: Composed of ministers from each state, passes laws and defines economic policies.
  • European Parliament: Represents citizens, elected every five years, shares legislative power.
  • European Commission: Proposes laws, monitors compliance with legislation, and manages the budget.
  • Court of Justice of the European Union: Interprets and applies EU law.
  • European Court of Auditors: Checks how the union invests money.
  • European Central Bank: Manages monetary policy for the eurozone.

The EU also has several agencies and offices, such as the European Investment Bank, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, and the European Ombudsman.

Economic Policy

  • Single Market: Free movement of people, goods, capital, and services.
  • Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): Economic convergence, adoption of the euro.
  • Sectoral Economic Policies: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), science and technology, transport, and tourism.

Justice and Home Affairs Policy (JHA)

  • Free Space: Full freedom of movement of people.
  • Security Space: Measures to prevent crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.
  • Justice Space: Promotes judicial cooperation.

Foreign Policy (CFSP)

  • Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP): Defends EU values, security, and independence.
  • High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Leads the EU’s diplomatic service.
  • Crisis Prevention: Policy planning and early warning.
  • Common Strategies: For each region worldwide.
  • European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP): Addresses threats like terrorism and international crime.