EU Decision-Making System Overview

Europe in 12 Lessons

• The European Union aims to maintain peace, foster cooperation, ensure citizen security, promote economic and social solidarity, and preserve European identity in a globalized world.
• The EU's goal is to create a peaceful, cooperative, and secure community of European citizens.
• Twelve historic steps led to the formation of the European Union.
  • 1951: establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community.
  • 1957: signing of the Treaty of Rome, forming the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).
  • 1973: expansion to include three new members.
  • 1979: first direct elections to the European Parliament.
  • 1981 and 1986: expansion to include southern European countries.
  • 1992: The Treaty of Maastricht established the European Union (EU).
  • 1993: establishment of the European single market.
  • 2002: the euro comes into circulation.
  • Ongoing enlargement: continued expansion of the EU.

Why the European Union?

• Driven by the desire for lasting peace after World War II.
• Key figures like Schuman, Monnet, Adenauer, and De Gasperi were instrumental in fostering cooperation.
• The EU aimed at pooling resources (coal and steel) to prevent war and to foster economic unity.
• The EU promotes human rights, progressive values, and a society that benefits from human rights.

Enlarging the EU and getting on with the neighbours

• The EU is open to any European country that fulfills democratic, political, and economic criteria for membership.
• The EU has experienced successive enlargements, increasing membership from six to twenty-eight member states.
• Current negotiation processes involve candidate Balkan countries and Turkey.
• Neighbourhood policy acknowledges the challenge of geopolitical tensions and humanitarian crisis

How does the EU work?

• The EU's decision-making power is shared between the European Parliament, the European Council, and the European Commission.
• The Parliament represents EU citizens. The Council represents Member States. The Commission represents EU interests.
• EU laws and policies result from decisions of these institutions, often involving negotiations on specific issues.

What does the EU do?

• The EU deals with a broad range of policies and issues.
• Innovation policies facilitate new solutions in fields like climate protection, research, and energy.
• Solidarity policies, also called cohesion policies, are implemented to aid underdeveloped regions and sectors experiencing difficulties.

The single market

• The EU single market promotes the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people across member states.
• Removing trade restrictions and harmonizing regulations across the EU is how the single market functions.
• Challenges still exist, such as differences in national laws, especially in the services sector.

The euro

• The euro is the single currency of 19 EU member states.
• The euro provides advantages like easier foreign travel and cross-border shopping.
• The euro is also affected by economic challenges on a global level.

Creating investment and growth in the digital economy

• The EU’s economic policy aims to respond to global markets and the global economic crisis.
• Actions include promoting new technologies and creating a digital society.
• The EU is working to provide digital infrastructure that is more efficient & greener.

What does it mean to be a European citizen?

• EU citizens can travel, live, and work anywhere within the EU.
• The EU promotes common symbols of European identity and organizes programs in education and culture to build a stronger sense of shared identity.
• The EU gives citizens political rights, including voting in European elections and having access to the European Ombudsman and the right to petition.

A Europe of freedom, security, and justice

• The EU has opened its internal borders to allow for the free movement of people.
• This free movement is balanced by increased security measures at external EU borders.
• The EU works to counter international crime and terrorism, including measures to combat illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and financial crime.

The EU on the world stage.

• The EU has considerable influence in international affairs.
• The EU operates a unified diplomatic service composed of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European External Action Service (EEAS).

What future for Europe?

• The European Union faces ongoing challenges, requiring cooperation and compromise from all participating countries to evolve together.

Key dates in the history of European Integration

• Key dates in the formation and development of the EU.

Explore the various aspects of the EU's decision-making system, its evolution over time, and the expectations for Turkey regarding political reforms and fundamental rights. This quiz also covers the role of the European Economic and Social Committee in the decision-making process. Test your knowledge on these important topics!