Achim-Hurrelmann - EU-History-and-Institutions

The European Union:
History and Institutions

Professor Achim Hurrelmann
Department of Political Science
European Union (EU) -- Member states
and candidates for accession
Member States
(Potential)
Candidate States
Croatia became an EU member

state on July 1, 2013
History of the EU
 European integration: Initiated in Western Europe in

aftermath of World War II; context marked by political
and economic reconstruction, beginning of Cold War
 Three Communities created in 1950s: European Coal
and Steel Community (ECSC), European Atomic Energy
Community (Euratom) and European Economic
Community (EEC), with six member states
 Two trajectories of development: (1) Accession of more
member states (“widening”), and (2) transfer of further
powers to European institutions, coupled with shift to
supranational decision making (“deepening”)
“Widening” integration
Original members: 1973: 1981: 1986:
Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Greece Portugal,
Italy, Benelux Denmark Spain
1990: 1995: 2004: 2007: 2013:

East Austria, Sweden, CEE countries, Bulgaria, Croatia
Germany Finland Cyprus, Malta Romania
“Deepening” integration
 1963/64: Court of Justice strengthens Community law

against member states
 1985: Single European Act abolishes member-state veto
in many policy areas, strengthens European Parliament
 1991: Maastricht Treaty lays groundwork for the Euro;
European Union established in addition to Communities
 1997/2000: Amsterdam and Nice Treaties reform EU
institutions prior to enlargement
 2007: Lisbon Treaty simplifies institutional structure,
gives EU unified legal personality  in force since 2009
 Since 2010: Euro crisis leads to greater coordination of
member state fiscal policies
EU institutions
Institution Governance role Composition

European Council Defines legislative, Member state leaders
(Brussels) executive objectives (intergovernmental)
European Commission Executive, some EU bureaucrats
(Brussels) legislative functions (supranational)
Council of Ministers Legislative, some Member state ministers
(Brussels) executive functions (intergovernmental)
European Parliament Legislative Elected MEPs
(Strasbourg, Brussels) (supranational)
Court of Justice Judiciary EU judges
(Luxembourg) (supranational)
European Central Bank Regulatory Central bankers
(Frankfurt) (monetary policy) (supranational)
Institution Governance role Character
European Council Defines legislative and Intergovernmental

(Brussels) executive objectives
European Commission Executive, legislative, Supranational
European Council
(Brussels) regulatory
Council of Ministers Legislative, some Intergovernmental

(Brussels) executive functions
European Parliament Legislative Supranational

(Strasbourg, Brussels)
Court of Justice Judiciary Supranational

(Luxembourg)
European Central Bank Regulatory Supranational

(Frankfurt)
 Summits of heads of
state or government
from all member states,
permanent president
(Herman Van Rompuy)
 Discusses pressing
issues; defines policy
objectives; decides on
institutional reform and
key personnel
 Decisions usually
consensual

European Commission



(Luxembourg)

(Frankfurt)
 One Commissioner per

member state, responsible
for specific portfolio,
headed by president
(José Manuel Barroso)
 Initiates EU legislation;
manages EU programs
and finances; monitors
implementation of EU law;
some regulatory functons
 Most decisions consensual

Council of Ministers



(Luxembourg)

(Frankfurt)
 One minister per member

state; composition varies by
policy field; presidency
rotates between member
states every six months
 Must pass all binding EU
laws; monitors Commission;
some executive powers
 Decides unanimously or per
qualified majority (QMV)

European Parliament



(Luxembourg)

(Frankfurt)
 766 elected members,

organized in trans-
national party groups,
chaired by president
(Martin Schulz)
 Must pass EU laws in
most policy areas
(together with Council);
scrutiny of Commission
 Usually decides by
simple majority

Court of Justice



(Luxembourg)

(Frankfurt)
 27 judges, appointed by
member states, chaired
by president (Vassilios
Skouris)
 Makes decisions on
interpretation of EU law;
cases often brought by
national courts
 Most decisions made in
chambers of 3 or 5
judges

European Central Bank




(Luxembourg)
European Central Bank Regulatory (monetary Supranational

(Frankfurt) policy)
 Executive Board composed of

President (Mario Draghi) and
five other members; Governing
Council composed of central
bank governors of Euro states
 Governing Council makes
decisions on monetary policy
for all Euro states
 ECB will be tasked with bank
supervision from 2014
 Most decisions consensual
EU governance -- Key characteristics
 Legislation: EU is an active producer of legislation, which

is binding on the member states and trumps national law
 Implementation: EU laws are generally implemented by
the member states, under the supervision of Commission
 Adjudication: Court of Justice is an activist court, often
pushing integration further
 Democracy: European Parliament is directly elected, but
most citizens have little knowledge of – or interest in –
EU politics

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The European Union:

History and Institutions

Croatia became an EU member

 European integration: Initiated in Western Europe in

1990: 1995: 2004: 2007: 2013:

 1963/64: Court of Justice strengthens Community law

Institution Governance role Composition

European Council Defines legislative and Intergovernmental

European Commission Executive, legislative, Supranational

Council of Ministers Legislative, some Intergovernmental

European Parliament Legislative Supranational

Court of Justice Judiciary Supranational

European Central Bank Regulatory Supranational

European Council Defines legislative and Intergovernmental

European Commission Executive, legislative, Supranational

Council of Ministers Legislative, some Intergovernmental

European Parliament Legislative Supranational

Court of Justice Judiciary Supranational

European Central Bank Regulatory Supranational

 One Commissioner per

European Council Defines legislative and Intergovernmental

European Commission Executive, legislative, Supranational

Council of Ministers Legislative, some Intergovernmental

European Parliament Legislative Supranational

Court of Justice Judiciary Supranational

European Central Bank Regulatory Supranational

 One minister per member

European Council Defines legislative and Intergovernmental

European Commission Executive, legislative, Supranational

Council of Ministers Legislative, some Intergovernmental

European Parliament Legislative Supranational

Court of Justice Judiciary Supranational

European Central Bank Regulatory Supranational

 766 elected members,

European Council Defines legislative and Intergovernmental

European Commission Executive, legislative, Supranational

Council of Ministers Legislative, some Intergovernmental

European Parliament Legislative Supranational

Court of Justice Judiciary Supranational

European Central Bank Regulatory Supranational

European Council Defines legislative and Intergovernmental

European Commission Executive, legislative, Supranational

European Central Bank

Council of Ministers Legislative, some Intergovernmental

European Parliament Legislative Supranational

Court of Justice Judiciary Supranational

European Central Bank Regulatory (monetary Supranational

 Executive Board composed of

 Legislation: EU is an active producer of legislation, which

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