History and Institutions of the European Union

European Union: A Historical Timeline

May 9, 1950: The Schuman Declaration, establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), was born. The founding members are Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. EU promoters.

March 25, 1957: These six countries signed the Treaty of Rome, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).

1968: Customs duties were abolished.

1960s: The Common Agricultural Policy and commercial policies are implemented.

1973: Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Denmark joined, along with ongoing social and environmental policies.

1979: First European Parliament elections.

1981: Greece joined.

1986: Spain and Portugal joined.

1985/1993: The White Paper was released, creating a calendar for the European single market.

1989: The Berlin Wall fell, leading to the unification of Germany.

1991: The Maastricht Treaty was signed, creating the European Union.

1995: Austria, Sweden, and Finland joined.

1999: The Euro was introduced for financial transactions.

2001: The 12 countries that made up the EU issued Euro notes and coins.

Mid-1990s to 2004: Cyprus, Malta, Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joined.

2007: Bulgaria joined.

Key Institutions of the European Union

European Parliament

The European Parliament is the legislative body, based in Strasbourg. Members are elected for five-year terms by universal suffrage. Its functions include:

• Appointing the European Ombudsman
• Creating commissions of investigation
• Cooperating with the Council
• Approving the Union's budget

The President serves for 2.5 years. As of the last update, Jose Manuel Barroso was the president, with 785 deputies elected from 27 countries for five-year terms. Spain elects 54 deputies who receive the same salary as national deputies. There are seven international policy groups, with each group needing at least 20 deputies representing at least five countries. There are 20 committees that prepare the work of parliamentary sessions.

European Commission

Based in Brussels, the Commission advocates for community interests. It is the executive body that manages the budget, prepares draft rules and regulations, approves directives, and makes decisions by majority. The chairman is appointed by the board for a five-year term, and members are elected by states and approved by Parliament.

Council of the European Union

The Council is the legislative body composed of representatives from each state and the chairman of the Commission (who has no vote). The chair rotates every six months and is responsible for the policy development function of the treaties governing the Union. They propose to Parliament the candidate for President of the European Council and offer the High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Court of Justice

Located in Luxembourg, the Court consists of one judge from each state, updated every six years. Its function is to ensure respect for the law of the Union.

Court of Auditors

Headquartered in Luxembourg, the Court consists of one member from each country for six years. It examines financial management functions and assists Parliament.

Other Institutions

• Economic Committee
• Committee of the Regions
• European Central Bank

Community Law

Features

• Autonomy (independent)
• Supremacy (overrides state law)
• Direct applicability (publication in the Official Journal of the European Union)

Sources

• Primary legislation: Treaties (supremacy, consensual)
• Secondary legislation: Approved by the institutions
• Regulations: Generally obligatory, direct
• Directives: Set the goal but not the method
• Decisions: Concrete recipients

Content of the Union

Single Market: Free movement of goods (customs), people, capital, and freedom of production factors (workers' freedom of movement, freedom of establishment, freedom to provide services, lifting restrictions on capital movement).