Week 1: ‘’The origins of the EU and the EU institutions’’
Learning objectives:
1. Have an understanding of the history of European integration and the main legal developments over
time;
2. Be able to explain and evaluate the main tasks, competences, and composition of the different EU
institutions;
3. Be able to explain and evaluate to whom the different EU institutions are accountable.
Chapter 1: ‘’Development of the EU’’
1.1) The origins of the EU
The rise of nationalism and two world wars led to the feeling of entering into dialogue instead of getting
into conflict
To replace the destructive forms of nationalism there was needed a supranational authority.
1.2) 1952: Treaty of Paris (European Coal and Steel Community)
Who signed Six member states: Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany,
Luxembourg and Italy
How it started 1950: initiative of Schuman (Schuman-declaration)
Agreements & aims (world) peace by transferring coal and steel, the key goods of a war,
to a common high authority, which makes a new war materially
impossible.
Institutions 1) The High Authority: main executive & decision-making power
(= Commission)
2) Council: consultative and limited decision-making power
3) Assembly: supervisory and advisory power (= European Parliament)
4) Court of Justice
Characteristics - Supranational authority
- Expired in 2002
1.3) 1950s: Setbacks towards European integration
The proposals that failed were:
The European Defence Community (EDC)
The European Political Community (EPC)
It took the member states until the Treaty of Maastricht to ratify a political union including defence
1.4) 1958: Treaty of Rome (The European Economic Community + Euratom)
Who signed Six member states: Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany,
Luxembourg and Italy
How it started The failure of the EDC and EPC led to a greater focus on economic
rather than political aspects
Agreements & aims Long-term focus was political, but the initial focus was economic: a
common market
1) the four freedoms (core of the economic constitution): free
movement of goods, workers, capital and services to ensure that they
were used most efficiently throughout the community as a whole
2) removal of trade barriers
3) a level playing field
4) harmonious development of economies
5) closer relationships between member states
6) stability and raising the standard of living
Institutions 1) Commission: legislative and executive power
Learning objectives:
1. Have an understanding of the history of European integration and the main legal developments over
time;
2. Be able to explain and evaluate the main tasks, competences, and composition of the different EU
institutions;
3. Be able to explain and evaluate to whom the different EU institutions are accountable.
Chapter 1: ‘’Development of the EU’’
1.1) The origins of the EU
The rise of nationalism and two world wars led to the feeling of entering into dialogue instead of getting
into conflict
To replace the destructive forms of nationalism there was needed a supranational authority.
1.2) 1952: Treaty of Paris (European Coal and Steel Community)
Who signed Six member states: Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany,
Luxembourg and Italy
How it started 1950: initiative of Schuman (Schuman-declaration)
Agreements & aims (world) peace by transferring coal and steel, the key goods of a war,
to a common high authority, which makes a new war materially
impossible.
Institutions 1) The High Authority: main executive & decision-making power
(= Commission)
2) Council: consultative and limited decision-making power
3) Assembly: supervisory and advisory power (= European Parliament)
4) Court of Justice
Characteristics - Supranational authority
- Expired in 2002
1.3) 1950s: Setbacks towards European integration
The proposals that failed were:
The European Defence Community (EDC)
The European Political Community (EPC)
It took the member states until the Treaty of Maastricht to ratify a political union including defence
1.4) 1958: Treaty of Rome (The European Economic Community + Euratom)
Who signed Six member states: Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany,
Luxembourg and Italy
How it started The failure of the EDC and EPC led to a greater focus on economic
rather than political aspects
Agreements & aims Long-term focus was political, but the initial focus was economic: a
common market
1) the four freedoms (core of the economic constitution): free
movement of goods, workers, capital and services to ensure that they
were used most efficiently throughout the community as a whole
2) removal of trade barriers
3) a level playing field
4) harmonious development of economies
5) closer relationships between member states
6) stability and raising the standard of living
Institutions 1) Commission: legislative and executive power
