Europees recht – notities
Literatuur suggesties
- Alles uit de les kennen -< boek is aanvulling
- Document analysis is zeer belangrijk -< bekijken voor de les
o Model dat wordt gebruikt in de examens voor de vragen -< de
wet wordt gegeven, dan een tekst en tot slot de vragen
o Belangrijk om deze te doen
CHAPTER 1: THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EU LAW
1 - EUROPEAN INTEGRATION -< objective, principles and values
- Essential purpose of EU -< in art 1 TEU -< “ an ever closer union” -<
it was the objective from the beginning
- 2 founding principles
o Equality of the member states -< EU was created after WW2
so equality was necessary
o Sincere cooperation -< idea: good faith towards the European
Union -< act in good faith =< difficult to act into practice
- Both looking at the level of the EU and the member states
- EU does also support common market,… -< these are objectives, no
values
- In fact the values are not always closely followed by other member
states -< for example Hungary -< the values in art 2 matter a lot, so
we have to fight to protect this values
- =< conclusion -< the values in art 2 are the core values of the EU
- Complementary source -< foundations of the fundamental rights in
art 6 + democracy values are found in art 10
- Mutual trust is necessary -< renewed attention in Poland and
Hungary
2 – A unique form of regional integration
- Forms of economic integration (integration starts mostly with
economics)
- Not only a free trade area -< custom union -< applying the same
customs tariffs + common approach of goods outside the area
o Import a car in Europe from China -< same tariffs will apply for
every country in Europe
- Common market -< free movement of workers
- Internal market -< most integrated model -< is a common market
and area without internal frontiers -< difference is very important
, here you have the right to move without internal border control
instead of only the right to move
=< Organization without internal borders needs a common migration
policy, mobility of judgements, because crime can easily move -< shaping
policy area’s that go much further than economics
Now EU has much broader political objectives
- Now it is an area for freedom, security and justice
- EU citizens have additional rights -< example that EU is much more
than economic integrated organization
- A common foreign and security policy -< development of common
monetary and economic policy
=< much more ambitious project
Key objectives in the current TEU
- Art 3 TEU -< an area of freedom, social market, economy, … -< long
article 3
=< EU much more than economic integration
EU is unique in the world
- Very close to a form of a federal state
- EFTA -< Iceland, Norway, switserland, Liechtenstein -< created a
free trade area
- 3 EFTA states are connected by the EU -< European economic area -
< allows these 3 EFTA states to be part of the EU internal market -<
trade goods with Norway in the same way as to Germany -< free
movement of goods, workers, …
o Switserland is not part -< but in a way but not as advanced as
these three others
- EU and Norway -< No passport control
=< EU is not the only form of regional integration in EU + EU
interacts with other states (what has decided in EU can have
consequences outside the EU: Norway)
Tools
- Intergovernmental method -< governments come together an
international agreement, decision makers are representatives from
different states
- Supranational method -< method that characterizes EU -<
organization created above the states can make decisions
, autonomously from the states apart -< special layer created to make
decisions above state level
Parliament
- Role: to co-decide on the EU-budget, legislation + role of political
control on other institutions
European Council
- Composed of heads of states -< political leaders (not a king)
- President: Charles Michel
- Role: give political impetus
o Vb. Crisis in Ukraine -< leaders will meet how tot approach the
crisis
Council
- Composed of representatives at ministerial level -< bv. minister of
home affairs
- Co-decides with the parliament
Commission
- One member per state -< Hadja Lahbib
- Role: propose legislation + guardian of the treaties
Court of Justice
- Independent members
- Last interpreter of the EU treaties
=< EU: Supranational institution -< ensure to make decisions, even if
one state is against
3 – Evolution
- TEEC -< created EEC and was signed in Rome in 1957 by 6 member
states
- Process of EU integration -< to make the more effective and to make
it more competent
o Enlargement -< each accession itself requires an adaption of
the treaties
- Treaty of Rome -< establishing the EEC
o In 1946 in Zurich -< reference of a kind of united states of
Europe -< need to bring the states together
, o Aftermaths -< several initiatives to stimulate cooperation
Council of Europe was created in 1949 -< international
organization distinct of the European union
Convention for the protection of the human rights -<
ECHR in Strasbourg is interpreting human rights cases -<
bv. Prisons in Belgium are overcrowded
Court of Justice is interpreting EU law
o In 1950 in Paris -< Schuman declaration -< if we want that the
former enemies (France and Germany) to work together -< we
have to work step by step
o In 1951 ECSC treaty -< one aspect of the economy (coal and
steel) bringing together and reconstruct this economy -< start
of mutual trust -< contains most ingredients of the EU now
(parliament, council, court and a high authority) =< set a sort
of template for the EU later + they were not ready for more
political integration
- A European common market in 1957 -< court, assembly, parliament
-< free movement of workers, goods, …
- 1957 A community for atomic energy – EURATOM
=< Late 1950’s -< 3 treaties -< 3 communities =< wanted to
merge them
Treaty of Rome -< develop common market,… -< found in art 2
- Focus on the economic aspect -< underlying very ambitious political
objective -< improve living standards in Europe
Long period -< very limited changes to the treaty in the 60’s and 70’s -<
system is slowly evolving
- Empty chair crisis in 1965 -< in the council there was a
disagreement among the representatives of the member states -<
French representatives left -< created a big crisis -< one player left
the table but in this situation you can’t created an ever closer union
- =< Luxembourg compromise -< council could decide even if a
member state have concerns -< decision making will be suspended
o Special majority voting will be possible -< for 20 years
decision-making was slowed down, because when one state
has concerns, they need to negotiate again
- 1970’s
o Creation of a system of own resources for the EU -< instead of
being dependent on contributions of member states -< this
increases there independence -< a share of the TAV will go