Fundamental Principles and Institutions of the European Union

Fundamental Principles of the European Union

The European Union (EU) promotes peace and affirms its values, which first appeared in an explicit provision of the Treaty. Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) sets the values underlying the Union and the relationships between Member States. Although it contains redundant wording, Article 2 is mandatory. Under this provision, the principles that can be extracted are common to all Member States' own principles of law.

Democratic Equality and Representative Democracy

Key principles highlighted within the framework include:

• Principle of Democratic Equality: As stated in Article 9, all Union citizens are to be served with equality by the Union.
• Principle of Representative Democracy: This is provided for in Articles 10 and 11 of the TEU. In this democratic system, it should be stressed that the citizens of the Union elect Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to represent them.

Pluralism, Tolerance, and National Identity

Pluralism and tolerance are consequences of the provisions in both Article 10.4 and Article 4.2. In Article 10.4, reference is made for the first time to political parties as a means to form a European political awareness. As for Article 4.2, it states that the Union must respect the equality of Member States and their specific national identity, including their political, constitutional, local, and regional autonomy.

Human Rights and Cultural Identity

1. Respecting Cultural Identity: The Union respects the cultural identity of each Member State, provided that the state is democratic and respects human rights.
2. Affirmation of Human Rights: The Union calls for respect for human rights as a higher value, such as respect for human dignity, with special reference to the rights of persons belonging to minorities.

The Single Institutional Framework of the EU

The TEU is committed to a single institutional framework. From 1992 to 2009, there were five institutions: the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Communities, and the Court of Accounts. These institutions were aided by many other organs, but only these were granted the status of an institution.

With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the number of institutions has risen to seven. Article 13 of the TEU provides an institutional framework that aims to promote its values, advance its objectives, and serve its interests, those of its citizens, and the Member States. It also ensures the consistency, effectiveness, and continuity of its policies and actions. Therefore, from the Lisbon Treaty onward, Article 13 of the EU Treaty identifies the institutions responsible for implementing EU objectives, whether economic or political.