2024-2025
EUROPEAN LAW
CHAPTER 1
,Contents
1.1. European Integration: objectives, principles an values ......................................... 3
1.1.1. an ever closer Union .................................................................................... 3
1.1.2. equality an sincere cooperation .................................................................... 3
1.1.3. founding values and mutual trust ................................................................. 4
1.2. a unique form of regional integration ................................................................... 5
1.2.1. an ambitious integration process .................................................................. 5
1.2.2. a regional project that interacts with others ................................................... 8
1.2.3. a powerful set of tools for integration ............................................................ 9
1.3. evolution ......................................................................................................... 10
1.3.1. introduction to treaty change ..................................................................... 11
1.3.2. from Zurich to Lisbon ................................................................................. 11
1.3.2.1. Towards the European Economic Community ....................................... 12
1.3.2.2. Towards the European community within the EU ................................... 16
1.3.2.3. Towards the European Union (only)....................................................... 26
1
Katrien Vandenplas
,Chapter 1: the foundations of EU law
TEU Treaty European Union
TFEU Treaty on the functioning of the European Union
CFEU Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
ECHR European Convention on Human Rights
EEAA European Economic Area Agreement
EFTA European Free Trade Association
EC European Community
Introducing you to EU law haikus!
➢ What is a Haiku?
o A short form poetry originating from Japan.
o Haikus are poems traditionally composed of 3 phrases with a kireji
(‘cutting word’). They have 17 phonetic units (similar to syllables)
organised in a 5, 7, 5 pattern.
➢ we will be discussing them in the lessons, and we will talk about why we agree
with them or why we do not agree with them.
2
Katrien Vandenplas
, 1.1. European Integration: objectives, principles and
values
1.1.1. an ever-closer Union
➢ Essential purpose of European Union (‘EU’) Art.1 §2 of the Treaty on European
Union (‘TEU’): ‘an ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe’
o This has always been there, from the beginning.
1.1.2. equality a sincere cooperation
The 2 founding principles:
➢ 1) Equality of the Member States
o => every single Member States that sings up those treaties, no matter the
size, economic or geopolitical power of that Stat, will be represented
equally.
o Nb. Respect for national identities
▪ Because it also applies to all the citizens of each member state
since the early 1990’s.
▪ The latter are understood to be ‘inherent in the fundamental
structures, political and constitutional, inclusive of regional and
local self-government’.
➢ 2) Sincere cooperation
➢ => why does these principles matter?
o The EU was created in the 1950’s in the aftermath of WOII.
▪ The continent was just destroyed, and they thought if we want a
peace full continent and never have a union, we have to overcome
the divisions we created.
• We need to assure that every state is equal.
3
Katrien Vandenplas
EUROPEAN LAW
CHAPTER 1
,Contents
1.1. European Integration: objectives, principles an values ......................................... 3
1.1.1. an ever closer Union .................................................................................... 3
1.1.2. equality an sincere cooperation .................................................................... 3
1.1.3. founding values and mutual trust ................................................................. 4
1.2. a unique form of regional integration ................................................................... 5
1.2.1. an ambitious integration process .................................................................. 5
1.2.2. a regional project that interacts with others ................................................... 8
1.2.3. a powerful set of tools for integration ............................................................ 9
1.3. evolution ......................................................................................................... 10
1.3.1. introduction to treaty change ..................................................................... 11
1.3.2. from Zurich to Lisbon ................................................................................. 11
1.3.2.1. Towards the European Economic Community ....................................... 12
1.3.2.2. Towards the European community within the EU ................................... 16
1.3.2.3. Towards the European Union (only)....................................................... 26
1
Katrien Vandenplas
,Chapter 1: the foundations of EU law
TEU Treaty European Union
TFEU Treaty on the functioning of the European Union
CFEU Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
ECHR European Convention on Human Rights
EEAA European Economic Area Agreement
EFTA European Free Trade Association
EC European Community
Introducing you to EU law haikus!
➢ What is a Haiku?
o A short form poetry originating from Japan.
o Haikus are poems traditionally composed of 3 phrases with a kireji
(‘cutting word’). They have 17 phonetic units (similar to syllables)
organised in a 5, 7, 5 pattern.
➢ we will be discussing them in the lessons, and we will talk about why we agree
with them or why we do not agree with them.
2
Katrien Vandenplas
, 1.1. European Integration: objectives, principles and
values
1.1.1. an ever-closer Union
➢ Essential purpose of European Union (‘EU’) Art.1 §2 of the Treaty on European
Union (‘TEU’): ‘an ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe’
o This has always been there, from the beginning.
1.1.2. equality a sincere cooperation
The 2 founding principles:
➢ 1) Equality of the Member States
o => every single Member States that sings up those treaties, no matter the
size, economic or geopolitical power of that Stat, will be represented
equally.
o Nb. Respect for national identities
▪ Because it also applies to all the citizens of each member state
since the early 1990’s.
▪ The latter are understood to be ‘inherent in the fundamental
structures, political and constitutional, inclusive of regional and
local self-government’.
➢ 2) Sincere cooperation
➢ => why does these principles matter?
o The EU was created in the 1950’s in the aftermath of WOII.
▪ The continent was just destroyed, and they thought if we want a
peace full continent and never have a union, we have to overcome
the divisions we created.
• We need to assure that every state is equal.
3
Katrien Vandenplas
