The EU

Question 1

EU Definition?

Answer 1

The EU is a political and economic union of 27 States (28 before Brexit).

Question 2

When and how did the formation of the EU occur?

Answer 2

The EU developed with the Treaty of Masstricht in 1991, from its previous identity of the European Economic Community.

Question 3

Identify 3 aims of the EU:

Answer 3

• Establish economic integration
• Establish an economic and monetary union
• To enlarge/ expand

Question 4

Expand on the EU aim of establishing economic integration:

Answer 4

• Achieved through the free movement of goods, services, people, capital (the four freedoms established by The Single European Act 1985) as well as the abolishment of customs control at borders.
• Analysis: Although, some temporary restrictions have been put in place recently due to high numbers of refugees entering Europe.

Question 5

Expand on the EU aim of establishing an economic and monetary union:

Answer 5

• Achieved through the international adoption of the Euro, and the creation of a European Central Bank.
• Analysis: The 2008 Financial Crisis created problems for some member states (Greece & Ireland). These countries had to be bailed out and sign tighter budgetary controls (caused more harm than good).

Question 6

Expand on the EU aim of expanding/ enlarging:

Answer 6

• Achieved through acquiring new members e.g. 10 new members (mostly ex-soviet states) added in 2004.
• Analysis: Expansion is limited by the qualifications to join. States must demonstrate they are liberal democracies with functioning economies.

Question 7

Identify the 5 institutions of the EU:

Answer 7

• European Commission
• European Council
• Council of the EU
• European Parliament
• European Court of Justice

Question 8

Supranational definition?

Answer 8

A multinational union/ association in which member states share in decision making on matters which affect each country’s citizens.

Question 9

European Commission?

Answer 9

• Supranational
• Proposes and enforces EU laws
• Prepares EU budget
• Officials nominated by member states.

Question 10

European Council?

Answer 10

• Intergovernmental
• Takes strategic decisions e.g. whether or not to admit new members.
• Consists of heads of member states.

Question 11

Council of the EU?

Answer 11

• Supranational
• Consists of ministers from member states, elected through qualified majority voting (each state gets a number of votes proportional to their population).
• Discusses policy areas e.g. environment
• Works with the European Parliament to adapt legislation.

Question 12

European Court of Justice (ECJ)?

Answer 12

• Enforces EU laws
• Resolves disputes between states
• Supranational

Question 13

Intergovernmental definition?

Answer 13

Conducted between two or more governments.

Question 14

The impact of leaving the EU on Parliamentary Sovereignty - Arguments that PS has decreased:

Answer 14

• Significant sovereignty has been devolved to the Executive rather than Parliament.
• The UK has lost the aspect of ‘pooled sovereignty’ it had as part of the EU.

Question 15

The impact of leaving the EU on Parliamentary Sovereignty - Arguments that PS has increased:

Answer 15

• There is no longer a higher court which can strike down laws.
• Parliament can now legislate on issues the EU used to have control over.
• Key court cases in relation to Brexit strengthen PS.

Question 16

Example for the argument that there is no longer a higher court to strike down UK laws?

Answer 16

Previously, the Law Lords ruled that 1998 Merchant Shipping Act passed by UK Parliament breached EU law, resulting in the law having to be reversed.

Question 17

Key EU policy control areas?

Answer 17

• Trade
• Agriculture
• Fishing

Question 18

Evidence to support the argument that lawmaking in the UK was limited by the coverage of EU policy:

Answer 18

1993-2014: 231 Acts of Parliament passed which implemented EU obligations.

Question 19

What was the Article 50 Case and why did it reinforce Parliamentary Sovereignty?

Answer 19

Miller V Secretary of State for leaving the EU:
Ruled that the UK could not initiate a formal exit from the EU without a Parliamentary vote giving the government permission to do so.

Question 20

Example/ evidence for the argument that much of the sovereignty the EU had has actually been passed to the Executive rather than Parliament:

Answer 20

March 2023: UK-Asia trade deal was signed without Parliamentary consent.

Question 21

Further evidence of the UK’s ‘pooled sovereignty’ when a member of the EU?

Answer 21

The UK was able to maintain this ‘pooled sovereignty’ whilst also being able to ‘opt-out’ from policies with which it opposed e.g. the adoption of the Euro, and the Schengen Agreement.