European Union

1. INTRODUCTION 1

1.1. MISSIONS AND VISIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION 1

1.2. THE GENERAL VIEW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 1

1.3. THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT FOR EUROPEAN UNION 2

2. THE EUROPEAN UNION 4

2.1. HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 4

2.1.1. HOW THE EU WAS BUILT 4

2.1.2. MEMBER STATES OF EU 8

2.1.3. HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION 9

2.2. DEPARTMENTS AND POLICIES 11

2.2.1. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION 11

2.2.2. THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 11

2.2.3. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 12

2.2.4. THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE (ECOSOC) 12

2.2.5. THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE 12

2.2.6. THE EU CONSUMER COMMITTEE 13

2.2.7. THE EUROPEAN BUREAU OF CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONS 13

2.2.8. HOW EU LAWS ARE MADE 13

2.2.9. EU-SPEAK 14

2.2.10. THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY 14

2.2.11. FOOD SURPLUSES 15

2.3. THE CONSUMER PROGRAM 15

3. EUROPEAN SINGLE MARKET 19

3.1. WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN SINGLE MARKET? 19

3.2. BACKGROUND 19

3.3. CONTROVERSIES 20

BIBLIOGRAPHY 22

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. MISSIONS AND VISIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION

After fifty years of evolvement, European Union is not a simply an international organization anymore. The Union's functions are spreading from purely economic and monetary up to the social and security matters; it has become an integral part of government for almost each European country.

The missions and visions for the European Union we seek is really the big picture of the Union that we have in our mind for the future of this organization. Thus we need to come together and look out for what the picture is like and where does the overlapping occur.

1.2. THE GENERAL VIEW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Although an implicit agreement seems to have been reached that European Union is something much more than simply an international organization of a kind, there seems to be no distinct vision of what it is then. What is European Union? What should we call it? What should we compare it to? Or is it completely unique and incomparable?

The issue of the basic idea of the European Union is something that should be elaborated by especially a convention like this. It is important that the people of the Union make it clear for themselves what they see in it and what they would like to see. If the union is unique, can we define it somehow? I think this convention should try to seek out the innovative ideas that are not limited by the traditional nation-state concentrated vocabulary of federations and con-federations. People often get scared of the comparisons that are made with state institutions thinking the European Union will exchange them with its own ones. So what is the European Union and what are its power structures?

The basic function of the Union is also something that needs clearing up. There are very many tasks the Union is seen obliged to fill: ensure prosperity and equality, freedom and security, justice and better co-ordination etc. Many of these tasks are contradictory and their completion may have a counteractive effect on each other. Some general view of what we see the basic roles to be is also something in need of discussion by the convention. What do we expect from the union and where do we lay the emphases? Is the primary goal to ensure welfare for all the nations of Europe or should the Union only set up the co-operation networks that would lead to a self-inflicted evolution towards prosperity? Has the Union been successful in creating a competitive basis towards other strong economic areas? Is the primary goal to be able to compete with outsiders and thereby defending European economy or does the emphasis lie in a more co-operation based relations? The roles of the Union are many and the ideas are even more numerous. The major emphases and views are still something to work on.

1.3. THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT FOR EUROPEAN UNION

Most of the Europeans see the nation state as the primary authority for organizing the life of its people. European Union is often rendered the role of managing issues that cannot be well dealt with by a single country.

On the other hand, lately more and more claims have been maid for the Union to engage in tasks that require a more involvement and intervention into the functions of nation states. The whole social policy sphere and the task on ensuring equality cause the Union to take up a bigger role than has been accorded to it previously. Thus the issue of the level of the evolvement for the Union needs to be discussed.

People can also address the matter of fears about the extinction of the role of nation states more rationally. It is always easier to predict and comprehend the developments once the limits are determined. The role of the European Union is clearly increasing and the incremental evolution seems irresistible.

2. THE EUROPEAN UNION

2.1. HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

2.1.1. HOW THE EU WAS BUILT

1946

Winston Churchill calls for a "kind of United States of Europe" in a speech given at the Zurich University.

The European Federalists Union is established in Paris.

1948

The International Co-ordination of Movements for the Unification of Europe Committee, meets in the Hague. It is chaired by Winston Churchill and attended by 800 delegates. The meeting recommends the creation of a European Deliberative Assembly and a European Special Council, in charge of preparing political and economic integration of

...