Finnish Constitution and European Union

Finnish Constitution

• Finland is a parliamentary democracy
• Parliament has supreme legislative power, overseeing government decisions
• The Prime Minister leads the government's work
• The President leads foreign policy alongside the government, and is Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces

First Steps of European Union

• The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was formed in 1951 (France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)
• This organization's structure and decision-making process influenced later EU initiatives
• In 1957, the same group of countries signed the Treaties of Rome. These treaties led to the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)

Enlargement of EU

• 1952: Founding members of the EU include: France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg
• 1971: Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark joined
• 1981: Greece joined
• 1986: Spain and Portugal joined
• 1995: Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined
• 2004: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, and Malta joined
• 2007: Bulgaria and Romania joined
• 2013: Croatia joined

First Country to Exit EU

• The Treaty of Lisbon (2009) introduced Article 50, a process for countries leaving the EU.
• The UK held a referendum on June 23, 2016 (Brexit)
• The UK left the EU on January 1, 2021

Current Situation: EU Internal Market

• The EU's internal market facilitates free movement of goods, services, capital, and persons.
• The European Economic Area (EEA) includes the 27 EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
• Switzerland has strong cooperation with the EU and EEA through bilateral treaties.
• The EU institutions have regulations that apply to all members.
• In 2016, a UK referendum resulted in Brexit, with the UK leaving the EU on January 1, 2021.

Creating an Internal Market

• An internal market can be established by removing impediments like customs duties, quantitative restrictions, measures with equivalent effect, and physical/technical barriers.
• Mutual recognition and standardization promote the internal market.

Legislation in EU

• Regulations are directly applicable in all member states (e.g., General Data Protection Regulation)
• Directives require member states to incorporate them into their national laws (e.g., Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights)
• Detailed directives can have direct effect
• Decisions are binding on the parties to whom they are addressed (member states or individuals).

EU Institutions: European Council

• Establishes the overall direction of EU policy
• Does not pass laws
• Meets at least twice yearly under the presidency of Charles Michel or equivalent
• Composed of Heads of State or Government from member states and the President of the EU Commission

EU Institutions: Council of the European Union

• Represents member state governments and is part of EU's legislative process
• Composition varies based on the topic (e.g., environment, economy, employment)
• The Council has a rotating six-month presidency (currently held by Germany, Portugal, or Slovenia)

EU Institutions: European Commission

• Exercises executive power in the EU
• Members are elected, serving five-year terms by the European Parliament
• Enforces EU law and can sanction member states that fail to comply with EU law
• Currently headed by Ursula von der Leyen

EU Institutions: European Parliament

• Represents EU citizens and is directly elected every 5 years
• Shares legislative power with the Council of the EU
• The Court of Justice of the European Union controls the application and interpretation of EU law.

This quiz covers the essential aspects of the Finnish Constitution and the historical development of the European Union. Learn about Finland's parliamentary democracy, the role of the Prime Minister and President, as well as key milestones in EU enlargement and its foundational treaties. Test your knowledge on these important political frameworks.