Background to the EEC
Background to the European communities The nation-state had blossomed in the 19th century. Many new nations were formed in Europe with the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the ...
Category Archives: The European Union
Sub-categories
Development and History (6)
EU Institutions (21)
EU Law (22)
Finance & Budget (18)
Security & Foreign Policy (14)
The EEC 1957 to 1985
The European Economic Community In Western Europe, the experience of the depression the Second World War, the development of post-war cooperation and institutions and the efforts of notable individuals including ...
Treaty Reform 1985 to 2004
The Single European Act The European Communities were revitalised in the 1980s. With the support of the UK French and German governments under Margaret Thatcher, Francois Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl and dynamic ...
The Lisbon Treaty
Failed European Constitution The Nice declaration on the future of the European Union called for a deeper and wider debate about the future of the European Union and established a process for further constitutional ...
A Unique Supranational Body
The Composition of the European Union The European Union consists of 27 member states, with nearly 500 million inhabitants. Its member states account for nearly 30 per cent of global output. The European Union has ...
Parallel International Cooperation
Economic sphere The Atlantic Charter of 1941 by the United States and the United Kingdom as a rallying cry for nations opposing Germany Italy and Japan called for the renunciation of territorial expansionism ...
Cohesion Funds
EU Cohesion Policies A significant amount of EU expenditure is on Cohesion Policies. Cohesion policies have been integral to the EU since the outset. Ireland, in particular, benefited significantly from cohesion ...
Common Foreign & Security Policy
Background From the time it was founded in the 1950s, the EU has regarded itself as a civilian power. NATO was the forum where many of the original EU members could focus on questions of Cold War defense and ...
Conflict Prevention Communication
Background Many factors contribute to conflict – poverty, economic stagnation, uneven distribution of resources, weak social structures, lack of good governance, systematic discrimination, oppression of ...
Co-operation with NATO
Strategic Partnership The “European Union-NATO Declaration on the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)” and the “Berlin Plus” arrangements are the basic documents for the EU-NATO ...
Military Crisis Management
Military Staff of the European Union (EUMS) The Military Staff of the European Union is the source of the EU’s military expertise. It performs early warning, situation assessment and strategic planning for ...
EU Security
The European Union Institute for Security Studies The European Union Institute for Security Studies provides research and analysis on international issues to help the EU develop its foreign and security policy. The ...
European Defence Agency
Operation of the European Defence Agency The EDA was established in 2004. Since then, a number of amendments have been made regarding its statute, seat and operational rules. These changes have been consolidated in ...
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
Support for Rural Development This regulation: sets out how the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) aims to develop the agricultural sector over the 2014-2020 period to be more geographically and ...
Direct EU Payments to farmers
CAP Direct Payments It sets out the rules for direct payments made to support farmers under the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP). These payments are made on the condition that farmers meet strict rules on the ...
European Development Fund (EDF)
The EDF The European Development Fund supports actions in developing countries and territories to promote economic, social and human development, as well as regional cooperation. The European Development Fund (EDF) ...
Development Cooperation
Background Through its Development Cooperation Instrument, the European Union aims to reduce poverty in developing countries, as well as to promote sustainable economic, social and environmental development, ...
Structural Funds Breakdown 2014-2020
Structural Funds Implementation Implementing Decision 2014/190/EU on annual distribution of structural funds among EU countries defines how much funding each country will get under the EU’s main structural funds, the ...
Cohesion Fund (2014-20)
Regulation on Cohesion An EU Regulation sets out the objectives for the EU’s Cohesion Fund for the funding period 2014-20. The Fund is one of the EU’s financial instruments that aim to narrow the disparities in ...
European Social Fund
Regulation on the European Social Fund It sets down principles, rules and standards for the implementation of the European Social Fund (ESF). In 2014-2020, the ESF covers 4 main areas of investment: employment and in ...
Common rules on Funds (2014-2020)
European Structural and Investment Funds It sets out the common principles, rules and standards for the operation of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI funds) for the period 2014-2020. The ESI funds ...
European Regional Development Fund (2014-2020)
ERDF Regulation An EU regulation sets down principles, rules and standards for the implementation of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the scope of its investment for growth and jobs and territorial ...
Adoption of the Budget
EU institutions and bodies forward their budget estimates for the following year no later than 1 July to the European CommissionIn practice, the Commission seeks to have its draft budget ready in spring (April/May). ...
Multiannual EU budget (2014-2020)
Key Points The EU adopted the 7-year plan for the 2014-2020 period in December 2013. The multiannual financial framework (MFF) amounts to €960 billion in commitments (legal promise to provide finance, assuming ...
Enforcing EU Law Against States
Damages and legal action A member state is liable in damages to individuals who suffer loss as a consequence of its infringement of European Community laws. It must pay compensation in accordance with its domestic ...
EU Sanctions
Article 29 Treaty on European Union Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) allows the Council of the EU to adopt sanctions against governments of non-EU countries, non-state entities and individuals (such ...
EU Basics
EU Mechanics Basics The EU is an international organisation comprised of 28 countries or member states with a population of over 500 million. It is an international institution conferred with powers by its member ...
Principles of EU Law
General Principles of EU Law General principles of European law are unwritten rules used and applied in the interpretation of European Union law. They involve principles of justice and principles designed to protect ...
EU Laws
Treaties The European Union treatises are the constitution of the European Union and set out its powers and functions. They are the primary source of law. The Union must only act in accordance with the competences ...
Legal Action Against EU
Challenging Legality The EU treaty provides that the parties may claim in proceedings before the European courts that measures are invalid under the treaty for the reasons set out. The grounds for invalidity are as ...