Geography, Planning And The European Union (GEGPLEU)
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Complete summary Geography, Planning and the European Union
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Course
Geography, Planning And The European Union (GEGPLEU)
Institution
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RuG)
The document is a complete summary of the whole course. Including all lectures given by Boisen, van Lanen and guest lectures. Summaries of other materials that were given in the course are also included.
Sociale Geografie En Planologie / Human Geography And Planning
Geography, Planning And The European Union (GEGPLEU)
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Summary: Geography, Planning
and the European Union
Lecture 1: Introduction
Thing to remember: Even though the opposition can yell louder and critique is often made
more visible. There are still a lot of people that are very happy with the European Union.
Political parties can weaponize the EU politics to influence peoples view on the EU. Easy to
blame EU for something that is happening in a country.
The publics opinion is influenced by the fact that the EU is more or less a choice. Brexit is
proof of this. ‘We don’t have to be in the EU, so why would we tolerate this’. People are
under the impression that the EU is sovereign as they make certain decision. However the
fact that the EU is a choice, a country has the option to leave, makes for that the country
itself is still sovereign.
In very basic terms the EU is just a collection of treaties.
The EU cannot directly prevent or forbid something immediately. They can however nudge
and push one in a certain direction.
Member state: ‘You need to do more on this subject!’
European Union: ‘Okey, then we need you to give us the/more power to do that’
Member state: ‘Hmmmm… but are we then still sovereign?’
The main critique towards the EU are the topics that the EU has the least influence on.
Something to consider: Positionality. What is your positionality towards the EU?
- Being aware of one self’s or someone else’s positionality and considering it is crucial
to understand one’s view on the EU and their politics/actions.
Lecture 2: Introduction to the Union
According to Greek mythology the European population originates from the island of Crete.
Today it is becoming arbitrary where Europe and Asia divide. At the Euro-mountains in
Russia? Is there a cultural boarder? Is Russia then Europe? Geographical boarder?
Between/around Turkiye?
Territorial integrity, where are the boarders of certain countries?
Why is Morocco definitely not Europe but Belarus maybe? Due to population development
through time? The Germania Population? What other sense of belonging does the region of
Europe have?
Europe throughout history
,Coping with ‘The German Problem’, clustering of territories to the point that they are
powerful enough to control the others. Introduction of non-interference policy. Leaving each
other to it and not invading. Became crucial to uphold once countries started to rely on each
other economically.
1815 - Napoleonic Empire
- End of the Napoleonic war. Conflict axis crossing todays Germany
Leading to the Vienna accords.
German empire – World War 1
1919 – Treaty of Versailles
- French: Keep Germany under control
Weimar Republic
1933-1945 - The third Empire
End World War 2, Division of Germany
1951 – The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
The Schuman plan. The ECSC came into action through the treaty of Paris Community for
sharing of resources, related to resources needed for war, solving a problem of potential lack
of industrial resources.
Core attributes:
o High Assembly
o Common assembly
o Special council
o Court of justice
The core attributes that were introduced in the ECSC lead to the ideas of the European
Union. Served as the blueprint for the EU: ‘We are already sharing resources, why don’t we
share more?’ Member states later became the founding members of the EU.
1957 – The European Economic Community (EEC)
Established by the treaty of Rome. ECSC and the EURATOM agreements expanded and
became the EEC – a single unit to create a single market. Scaling up from only sharing certain
resources to sharing more. The EEC expanded with new membership states until 1990, there
was a trend of countries abolishing their dictatorship and then joining the EEC. The member
states were still considered to be sovereign as they possessed the ability to leave.
Side note: France blocked the UK’s application to join twice, in 1963 and 1966. They did
however join at a later point.
A regional development institution was introduced for the EEC in 1975. Distributing the
economies to boost development in less developed areas of the community.
1987 – The Single European Act. One legal basis for the court of the EEC.
Establishing the single market.
1991/1993 – The European Union was established
,The EU is established with the Maastricht Treaty signed in 1991, came into action 1993 –
Introducing new treaties that in some countries were reliant on new referendums. The EEC
becomes the EU, with some EEC members opting in, and some opting out. The treaty was
meant to enhance European political and economic integration The founding of the EU was
based on six central elements:
1. From economic to political economic organisation
2. Developed co-decision procedure
3. Initiating a monetary union
4. Providing social dimension to EU
5. Creating European citizenship
6. Enshrined principle of subsidiarity
From this point on not only sharing resources but also politics.
1999 – The Euro €
Introduction of a monetary union. All current member states introduced the Euro, except for
the UK and Denmark (however they got a fixed exchange rate). Members not introducing
the euro were supposed to do so over time.
Enlarging the European Union
Post Maastricht reform treaties:
- 1999 Amsterdam Treaty – amending Maastricht treaty, more power to EU
- 2002 Copenhagen Criteria – criteria for new countries to join
- 2003 Nice - effort for constitution
- 2009 Lisbon (result of Nice effort) EU constitution
Countries that join can only call back to the treaties that that were signed while they were
members. When a state becomes a member at a later time, they have less treaties to call
back on. One can only sign what is present at the current time.
Treaties have a tendency to lack behind of the issues they address. The problem is presented
then the treaties come afterwards.
EU Institutions
Initial side note: The Council of Europe is NOT an EU institution, but an institution for
European countries. It is a council entity to discuss human rights (with Putin).
The European Council
, Members: Heads of Government of member states (Elected, by own state)
Other members: Head of EU central bank, President of the EU commission
Location: Brussels
President: Charles Michel
The masters of the treaties. Sets the agenda for the integration of economic and politics in
the EU. Defining the main political direction of the European Union. Meet twice a year. The
overall umbrella of the EU, can change anything and define the rules of the game. If
someone want to change treaties or make new ones, the European Council decides. ‘We
pretend that these people don’t decide everything, that is when we get the other institutions’
The Council of the EU (previously: Council of Ministers)
Members: Ministers of the member states (elected, by own state)
Location: Brussels
The heads of ministries within the member states. E.g. agriculture, finance, foreign affairs or
climate. It changes composition frequently as different ministers are sent to represent their
member state, there are 10 configurations based on political topic. They are the main
decision-making institution. All EU legislation needs approval from The Council of the EU.
The government heads act through their ministers.
The European Commission
Members: Appointed by government of member state, one for each member state.
Location: Brussels
President: Ursula von der Leyen
Executive Vice-President: Frans Timmermans (Responsible for the Green deal)
Members are appointed by member state and appointed a portfolio witch they represent.
Meaning that they do not represent their state nor the EU as a whole. First the President is
appointed by the European council (heads of gov.), then the rest of the members are
appointed to get political/gender/professional balance. The European commission is the
Guardian of the treaties. Their main function is to formulate community policies, to monitor
compliance with community decisions, and to oversee the execution of community law.
Makes the EU laws, but also investigates if countries follow the laws. They can launch
investigations to guide countries in a certain direction. Most often the member state applies
own court judgement based on the investigation to prevent European Court of Justice.
European Parliament
Members: Elected members representing their member states (5-year terms)
Location: Strasbourg (FR) and Brussels (BE)
President: Roberta Metsola
The voice of the people. Number of seats divided on behalf of the size of the member state
(was re-distributed after Brexit). The members represent trans-national political parties
based on political viewing point. They have joint decision-making power over EU
expenditures together with the Council of the EU. They are needed to agree on new EU
legislation, but cannot propose. Use their role as ‘voice of the people’ to gain power and
influence decisions.
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