Table Of ContentTHE EUROPEAN UNION SERIES
Gcncr.tl Editors: Ncdl Nugent, \\'illi.un F. P.l!crson, \'inccnt \\'right
The European Union series is designed to provide an authoritative library on
the European Union, ranging from general introductory texts to definitive
assessments of key institutions and actors, policies and policy processes, and
the role of member states.
Books in the series are written by leading scholars in their fields and reflect the
most up-to-date research and debate. Particular attention is paid to
accessibility and clear presentation for a wide audience of students,
practitioners and interested general readers.
The series consists of four major strands:
• general textbooks
• the major institutions and actors
• the main areas of policy
• the member states and the Union
Launch titles
Desmond Dinan
Ever Closer Union? An Introduction
to the European Community
Neill Nugent
The Government and Politics of the
European Union (Third Edition)
See overleaf for details of forthcoming titles
Forthcoming Other titles planned include
Simon Bulmer and Drew Scott European Union: A Brief
European Union: Economics, Policy Introduction
and Politics The History of the European Union
The European Union Source Book
John Peterson and Elizabeth
The European Union Reader
Bomberg
Decision-making in the European Theories of European Integration
Union The Political Economy of the
European Union
,, ,,
* * * *
* *
David Bell and Chris Lord
The European Court
Political Parties in the European
Union * * * *
Simon Bulmer and Wolfgang Wessels The European Union after
The European Council Maastricht
Enlarging the European Union
Stephen George and Neill Nugent
Competition Policy
The European Commission
Social Policy
Justin Greenwood and Andrew
Environmental Policy
McLoughlin.
High Technology Policy
Representing Interests in the
Foreign Policy
European Union
Defence Policy
Fiona Hayes-Renshaw and Helen External Economic Relations
Wallace The European Union and the Third
The Council of Ministers World
David Judge Monetary Union
The European Parliament Political Union
The USA and the European Union
Anne Stevens
The Administration of the European * * * *
Union The European Union and its Member
States
* * * * Reshaping the States of the Union
Wyn Grant Britain and the European Union
The Common Agricultural Policy Italy and the European Union
Brigid Laffan Spain and the European Union
The Finances of the European Union
James Mitchell and Paul McAleavey
Regionalism and Regional Policy in
the European Union
,,
* * *
Simon Bulmer and William E.
Paterson
Germany and the European Union
Alain Guyomarch, Howard Machin
and Ella Ritchie
France in the European Union
The Government
and Politics
of the European Union
Third Edition
Neill Nugent
M
MACMILLAN
© Neill Nugent 1989, 1991, 1994
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Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this
publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil
claims for damages.
First edition (The Government and Politics of the European Community) 1989
Reprinted 1990 (twice), 1991
Second edition 1991
Reprinted 1991, 1992 (with new postscript)
Third edition (The Government and Politics of the European Union) 1994
Published by
THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD
Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2XS
and London
Companies and representatives
throughout the world
ISBN 978-0-333-61445-7 ISBN 978-1-349-23531-5 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-23531-5
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library.
Copy-edited and typeset by Povey-Edmondson
Okehampton and Rochdale, England
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Summary of Contents
PART 1 THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
1 The Transformation of Western Europe 4
2 The Creation and Development of the European Community 38
3 From European Community to European Union 57
PART 2 THE INSTITUTIONS AND POLITICAL ACTORS
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
4 The Commission 85
5 The Council of Ministers 123
6 The European Council 153
7 The European Parliament 174
8 European Union Law and the Court of Justice 207
9 Other Institutions and Actors 235
PART 3 POLICIES AND POLICY PROCESSES OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION
10 Policies 269
11 Policy Processes 297
12 The Budget 339
13 Agricultural Policy and Policy Processes 361
14 External Relations 385
15 National Influences and Controls on European Union
Processes 411
16 Conclusion: Present Realities and Future Prospects 429
v
Contents
List of Tables, Figures, Exhibits and Documents XIV
Preface to the Third Edition XVI
List of Abbreviations XVll
Map of the Member States of the European Union XXI
PART 1: THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
1 The Transformation of Western Europe 4
Historical divisions 4
The post-war transformation 7
A half-century of peace 7
A transformed agenda 8
New channels and processes 9
Explanations of the transformation 12
The deep roots of integration? 12
The impact of the Second World War 15
Interdependence 20
National considerations 24
Concluding remarks: the ragged nature of the integration
process 35
2 The Creation and Development of the European Community 38
The European Coal and Steel Community 38
From the ECSC to the EEC 42
The EEC and Euratom Treaties 45
Supplements and amendments to the Treaties 48
Enlargement 51
Developments in policy processes 52
Development of policies 54
3 From European Community to European Union 57
The origins of the Treaty on European Union 57
The making of the Treaty on European Union 59
The convening of the Intergovernmental Conferences 60
The Intergovernmental Conferences and the Maastricht
Summit 61
Vll
vm Contents
The ratification of the Treaty 63
The contents of the Treaty 64
The European Communities 67
A common foreign and security policy 73
Cooperation in the spheres of justice and home affairs 74
The Treaty and the integration process 75
PART 2 THE INSTITUTIONS AND POLITICAL ACTORS
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
4 The Commission 85
Appointment and composition 85
The College of Commissioners 85
The Commission bureaucracy 89
Organisation 91
The Directorates General 91
The hierarchical structure 93
Decision-making mechanisms 94
Responsibilities and powers 98
Proposer and developer of policies and of legislation 98
Executive functions 103
The guardian of the legal framework 112
External representative and negotiator 118
Mediator and conciliator 119
The conscience of the Union 120
Concluding remarks 121
5 The Council of Ministers 123
Responsibilities and functions 123
Composition 125
The ministers 125
The Committee of Permanent Representatives 129
Committees and working parties 131
The Council Secretariat 133
The operation of the Council 134
The hierarchical structure 134
Decision-making procedures 142
Concluding comments 151
6 The European Council 153
Origins and development 153
Membership 156
Organisation 157
Contentss IX
Preparing European Council meetings 157
Setting the agenda 158
Location and timing of meetings 159
The conduct of business 160
Role and activities 166
The evolution of the European Union 166
Constitutional and institutional matters 167
The economy and economies of the European Union 167
External relations 168
Specific internal policy issues 169
The European Council and the European Union system 171
Concluding comments 173
7 The European Parliament 174
Powers and influence 174
Parliament and EU legislation 174
Parliament and the EU budget 180
Control and supervision of the executive 182
Elections 186
Political parties and the European Parliament 189
The transnational federations 189
The political groups in the European Parliament 190
National parties 195
Composition 196
The dual mandate 196
Continuity 197
Competence and experience 197
Organisation and operation 198
The multi-site problem 198
Arranging parliamentary business 199
The committees of Parliament 200
Plenary meetings 204
Concluding remarks: is the EP becoming a 'proper'
parliament? 205
8 European Union Law and the Court of Justice 207
The need for European Union law 207
The sources of European Union law 208
The Treaties 208
European Union legislation 210
International law 215
The general principles of law 216
Judicial interpretation 216
x Contents
The content of European Union law 217
The status of European Union law 218
Direct applicability 218
Direct effect 219
Primacy 219
Powers and responsibilities of the Court of Justice 220
Failure to fulfil an obligation 222
Application for annulment 223
The imposition of a penalty 225
Failure to act 226
Action to establish liability 226
Reference for a preliminary ruling 227
The seeking of an opinion 228
Membership and organisation of the Court 229
The procedure of the Court 230
The Court of First Instance 232
Concluding comments 234
9 Other Institutions and Actors 235
The Economic and Social Committee 235
Origins 235
Membership 235
Organisation 236
Functions 238
Influence 239
The Committee of the Regions 242
Origins 242
Membership, organisation, functions and powers 243
The European Investment Bank 244
Responsibilities and functions 245
Organisation 247
Concluding comments 248
The Court of Auditors 249
Membership and organisation 249
Activities of the Court 250
The effectiveness of financial controls 251
Interests 253
Different types 253
Access to decision-makers 258
Influence 262
Concluding comments 264
