 Since the process of integration that started half

century ago, Europe has enjoyed the longest

period of peace in its history.
 European political integration is unprecedented
in history.
 EU enlargement has helped overcome the
division of Europe – contributing to peace,
prosperity, and stability across the continent.
 A single market and a common currency
conditions for companies and consumers.
 EU has united the citizens of Europe – while
preserving Europe’s diversity.
 Shared values: liberty, democracy, respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.
 Largest economic body in the world.
 World’s most successful model for advancing peace and
democracy.
 A unique institution – Member States voluntarily cede national
sovereignty in many areas to carry out common policies and
governance.
 Not a super-state to replace existing states, nor just an
organization for international cooperation.
 Hybrid system based on the principles of inter-
governmentalism and supra-nationalism.
 World’s most open market for goods and commodities from
developing countries.
 European political integration is unprecedented in history.
 EU enlargement has helped overcome the division of Europe –
contributing to peace, prosperity, and stability across the
continent.
 A single market and a common currency conditions for companies
and consumers.
 EU has united the citizens of Europe – while preserving Europe’s
diversity.
 ECSC – Treaty of Paris,1951
 The European Atomic Energy Community
(Euratom) 1957
 EEC, 1957 – (Updated as TEFU under Lisbon
Treaty)
 The Merger Treaty, 1965
 The Single European Act, 1986
 The Treaty on European Union (Maastricht
Treaty),1992 (TEU)
 The treaty of Amsterdam,1997
 Treaty of Nice. 2000
 Lisbon Treaty,
 EU Parliament
The European Parliament is the only
parliamentary institution of the European Union
that is directly elected by EU citizens

 Passes laws, monitors budget, monitors EU

institutions

 751 MEP, 23 Committees and 8 Political Groups


The Parliament acts as a co-legislator,
sharing with the Council the power to adopt
and amend legislative proposals and to
decide on the EU budget. It also supervises
the work of the Commission and other EU
bodies and cooperates with national
parliaments of EU countries to get their input
 EU Council – Ministerial representations from
each member state
 In the Council, government ministers from each
EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt
laws, and coordinate policies. The ministers have
the authority to commit their governments to
the actions agreed on in the meetings.

 Passes laws, approves EU budget, co-ordination

of economic policies, develops foreign policy,
co-ordinates anti-crime strategies
 EU Commission – 28 Commissioners appointed
by each member state every 5 years
 responsible for proposing legislation,
implementing decisions, upholding the EU
treaties and managing the day-to-day business of
the EU, implements EU policies,
law enforcement, international co-ordination
 The College of Commissioners meets as a
general rule at least once per week. This
weekly decision-making procedure is called
the oral procedure.
 Court of Justice – one judge
from each member state
 Interprets and applies EU legislation
 European Central Bank – inflation target
of less than 2% per year, sets short term interest
rates for the whole euro zone area,
 Implements and monitors Euro zone monetary policy
 European Investment Bank –
‘owned’ by member states.
Raise finance through financial markets,
 Invest in projects to promote aims of EU –
large scale projects
 Court of Auditors – monitors legality
and efficiency of EU income and expenditure
 EU integration is federalist in character
striking a balance between Inter-
governmentalism and Supra-nationalism

 Pillar I: Supra-nationalism

 Pillar II: Inter-governmentalism

 Pillar III: Inter-governmentalism

 Regulations
Directives

Secondary

Decisions
Recomenndations,opinions
Sources of European & soft laws
Law(Community Law)

Treaties leading to the

Primary
creation of EU
 Treaty establishing ECSC
 First treaty of Rome-Euratom Treaty
 Treaty of Rome- now known as EC Treaty
 Merger treaty 1965
 SEA 1986
 TEU 1992
 TOA1997
 TON2000
 European Council is pivotal in the initiation of new
traeties.It is not to be confused with Council of
European Union or Council of Europe. European
Council is composed of HoG / HoS and President of
EU Commission. Its institutional status is uncertain,
still it plays a crucial role in creation of primary EC
Law
 European Parliament acting jointly with the
Council, the Council & the Commission shall
make regulations, issue directives, take
decisions, make recommendations & deliver
opinions.

 Secondary law making power: vested with 3

institutions of EU as per the article mentioned
above

 ECJ also has the secondary law making power as

to ensure that in the interpretation &
application of this treaty the law is observed.
 Regulations
 Directives
 Decisions
 Recommendations
 Opinions
 CaseLaws
 General Principles of EC Laws developed by
ECJ
 Consultation Procedure
 Cooperation Procedure
 Co-decision Procedure
 Assent Procedure