Decision-making in the European Union
Week 1
Eu: Going Green
The European Union is a joint system considering the single market. For years now, the EU
lobbied for open borders however, since the rise of pollution and climate change the question
is whether to also have a joint responsibility in that sector. Many argue that pollution is not
limited to borders and that the EU therefore has a shared responsibility. Thus, the Green
deal has been on the table in the EU. The Green deal has been adopted in October 2020.
History
- Coal and Steel community > peace project
- Common Agricultural Policy > single market
- Environment not on the agenda
Casus: in 1967, the Torrey Canyon Oil ship wrecked close to the UK’s coast. Oil was spilled
in the North Sea. The entire sea turned black and was noticeable from Spain till Belgium.
The EU’s focus was on the single market but they ignored the environmental problems. What
is the international responsibility in a case such as this? This casus was the first turning
point.
1972: Club of Rome: tried to limit growth. Their conclusion was: world population is growing
extremely, industrialization, pollution, food production and resources are considered to grow
immensely, however the ability of technology to increase resources is only linear which is a
problem.
1990: Awareness of CO2 emissions
1992: United Nations Framework: Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
1997: Kyoto Protocol
Conclusion: there is a correlation to climate change and gas emissions
Side note: the EU reacted late!
The Treaty of Maastricht in 1993, resulted in the European Environment Agency
(eea.europa.eu)
From the Lisbon treaty to the Paris Agreements
- Lisbon treaty: integrating the EU 2007-2009
- More EU countries to get on track including East Central countries
- Banking crisis, Greek debt crisis, rise of populism
- 2015: Paris agreement: UN agreement, first ever legally binding global climate
change agreement of the United Nations
Worrying developments:
- Rising sea temperatures
- Rising general temperatures
- Air pollution
- Climate change
Week 1
Eu: Going Green
The European Union is a joint system considering the single market. For years now, the EU
lobbied for open borders however, since the rise of pollution and climate change the question
is whether to also have a joint responsibility in that sector. Many argue that pollution is not
limited to borders and that the EU therefore has a shared responsibility. Thus, the Green
deal has been on the table in the EU. The Green deal has been adopted in October 2020.
History
- Coal and Steel community > peace project
- Common Agricultural Policy > single market
- Environment not on the agenda
Casus: in 1967, the Torrey Canyon Oil ship wrecked close to the UK’s coast. Oil was spilled
in the North Sea. The entire sea turned black and was noticeable from Spain till Belgium.
The EU’s focus was on the single market but they ignored the environmental problems. What
is the international responsibility in a case such as this? This casus was the first turning
point.
1972: Club of Rome: tried to limit growth. Their conclusion was: world population is growing
extremely, industrialization, pollution, food production and resources are considered to grow
immensely, however the ability of technology to increase resources is only linear which is a
problem.
1990: Awareness of CO2 emissions
1992: United Nations Framework: Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
1997: Kyoto Protocol
Conclusion: there is a correlation to climate change and gas emissions
Side note: the EU reacted late!
The Treaty of Maastricht in 1993, resulted in the European Environment Agency
(eea.europa.eu)
From the Lisbon treaty to the Paris Agreements
- Lisbon treaty: integrating the EU 2007-2009
- More EU countries to get on track including East Central countries
- Banking crisis, Greek debt crisis, rise of populism
- 2015: Paris agreement: UN agreement, first ever legally binding global climate
change agreement of the United Nations
Worrying developments:
- Rising sea temperatures
- Rising general temperatures
- Air pollution
- Climate change
