The European Union Explained, Second Edition: Institutions, Actors, Global Impact

232 Pages·2011·1.63 MB·English

by  Andreas Staab

International Affairs · Business S
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“Readers in America and Europe alike will benefit from A
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the very considerable expertise revealed in these pages.”
—Hugh Dykes, House of Lords Liberal Democrat Spokesperson
on the European Union THE
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“Covers all the essential topics related to the EU.” H EUROPEAN
—Choice review of the 1st edition E

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“A wonderful exposition of the European Union.” U UNION
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—Ambassador Donato Chiarini, European Commission
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“An informative, well-paced, and clearly articulated P
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narrative of the European Union’s development.”
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—Jennifer Yoder, Colby College
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this brief and accessible introduction to the European Union is ideal for
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scholars and professionals in government, business, the media, or the nonprofit
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sector who need a concise overview of the structure, history, and policies of the O
SECOND EDITION
EU. This new edition also provides useful background reading for advanced N
high school and college courses and for those planning overseas study, work, or
E ANDREAS STAAB
research. Andreas Staab offers basic terms and interpretive frameworks for under-
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standing the evolution of the EU; the overall structure, purpose, and mandate of
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its main constituent divisions; and key policy areas, such as market unification. L
Institutions · Actors · Global Impact
The entire text has been thoroughly updated to incorporate information about A
key actors, terms, and new developments, and a new chapter on environmental I
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policy has been added.
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andreas Staab is the founder and director of EPIC—the European Policy
Information Centre, a UK-based consultancy on the European Union. He teach- S
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es in the London programs of three North American universities and is author C
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of National Identity in Eastern Germany. N
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INDIANA $21.95
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University Press
Bloomington & Indianapolis
iupress.indiana.edu INDIANA
1-800-842-6796
EU Explained 2nd ED MECH.indd 1 4/21/11 11:13 AM
The
EuropEan
union
explained

The
EuropEan
union
explained
SEcond Edition
andreas Staab
institutions · actors · Global impact
indiana university press
Bloomington · indianapolis
This book is a publication of
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street
Bloomington, IN 47404-3797 USA
www.iupress.indiana.edu
Telephone orders 800-842-6796
Fax orders 812-855-7931
Orders by e-mail [email protected]
© 2011 by Andreas Staab
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publisher. The Association of American University Presses’ Resolution on
Permissions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Staab, Andreas, [date]
The European Union explained : institutions, actors, global impact / Andreas
Staab. — 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-253-22303-6 (pb : alk. paper) 1. European Union. I. Title.
JN30.S713 2011
341.242'2—dc22
2010050626
1 2 3 4 5 16 15 14 13 12 11
To Sophia and Luisa.
Europeans by birth and maybe even by choice.

contents
Preface · ix
Acknowledgments · xiii
List of Acronyms · xv
List of Tables · xix
Part One · t he evOluti On Of the eur OPean uni On
1 Parameters of European Integration · 3
2 Enlargement · 31
Part t w O · i ns titu ti Ons
3 The European Commission · 47
4 The European Council · 54
5 The Council of Ministers · 59
6 The European Parliament · 65
7 The European Court of Justice · 74
8 Checks and Balances · 82
Par t t hree · POli cies
9 The Single Market and Competition · 91
10 Regional Policy and Cohesion · 104
11 The Common Agricultural Policy · 114
12 Economic and Monetary Union · 126
13 Justice and Home Affairs · 141
14 Common Foreign and Security Policy · 151
15 Trade and the Common Commercial Policy · 161
16 Environment · 170
Conclusion · 177
Notes · 181
Bibliography · 199
Index · 203

preface
The European Union (EU) today differs considerably from the integration project
that began in the 1950s. Initially conceived as a way to safeguard peace and enable
economic recovery among six Western European countries, the EU has developed
into one of the world’s most formidable trading blocs spanning much of the Euro-
pean continent. Its future, however, is very much in flux. The controversies over the
ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and disagreements concerning policy reforms and
how to finance them have once again evoked fundamental disagreements over the
future direction of the EU. Given the prospect of enlargement to the western Balkans
and Turkey, some member states argue against further political integration whereas
others continue to push for ambitious policy and institutional reforms.
Regardless of the outcome of this debate, the European Union represents a
hugely influential vehicle for organizing Europe and constitutes a unique experiment
of “deep” international cooperation. Economically it has boosted prosperity levels.
Politically it has fostered the democratic transition of former fascist and communist
dictatorships. It has helped to overcome the artificial division of Europe caused by
the Iron Curtain and the Cold War, and has also assumed a global vanguard posi-
tion in the fight against climate change. On the other hand, the EU has often been
criticized for favoring big business over the economic and social needs of its citizens.
Others accuse the EU of lacking transparency and accountability in its institutional
processes, and some claim that European integration has led to the gradual erosion
of national and cultural differences and traditions.
For these reasons the EU remains a highly intriguing subject, as it offers clear ex-
amples of the impact of politics on societies. The EU is not the European equivalent