Tag Archives: The European Union

Responsibility

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After WW2, the entirety of Europe had suffered a great loss. The Maastricht Treaty created in 1992 discusses the purpose of the EU. The intention of this document is to outline the purpose of the EU and explain its goals. The main purpose of creating the EU, as outlined in the beginning of the document is to: “create an even closer union among the people’s of Europe” as well as “organize… relations between the member states and their people’s”. ((“TITLE I COMMON PROVISIONS.” Maastricht Treaty Title I. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.)) By creating a common currency, people are able to trade more efficiently. This promotes political and economic relations between the countries allowing their relationships to strengthen after falling apart during WW2. The document also mentions the creation of a union citizenship that re-enforces the idea of unity among the countries in Europe. Ethnic tension was a huge problem leading up to WW2, therefore by creating a union citizenship, it allows people to see themselves as part of a whole rather than separate countries. An interesting aspect of the treaty was the self-check component. It is stated that the different sections of the EU must abide by the “acquis communautaire” aka EU law. This checking system allows for each department to regulate each other and make sure one party does not have more power than the others, in theory. Lastly, the most interesting statement in the treaty in my opinion was the inclusion of the “eventual framing of a common defense policy, which might in time lead to a common defense”. I am wondering why the EU would need a defense department. What do you think?

 

Is it smart to allow each country to handle their own finance policies? What happens then when their economies crash like Greece? How much of a responsibility should the EU have?

Cameron on European Union

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3 Points

Cameron makes a point to emphasize that Europe’s transition from warfare to tranquility did not happen overnight and took serious determination and willpower of its people over a span of time.

He also contends that millions of people now live in freedom, from the Baltic to the Adriatic, which was the main purpose of the European Union when it was initially formed. Now, almost a half-century later, the goal of the European Union is to sustain and promote peace and prosperity.

Cameron directs our attention to what he describes as the “urgency and frankness about the European Union and how it must change.” He states that it needs to redirect itself to the goal of delivering prosperity and maintaining the support of its people.

 2 Questions

Why do you think Cameron acknowledges the United Kingdom’s reputation for being argumentative and strong-minded? What past experiences may have contributed to the formation of this kind of reputation for the UK?

Why does he say that Britain has come to the EU with a “frame of mind that is more practical than emotional”?

 1 Interesting Point

I thought it was interesting that Cameron addressed the European competitiveness.

The Treaty on the European Union

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3 Points:

1.The European Union brings together the member states under one single common law, while still allowing the nations to keep their own sovereignty.

2.The nations are bound together to “promote economic and social progress which is balanced and sustainable, in particular through the creation of an area without internal frontiers.”  ( It combines the nations economically and socially)

3. It will establish a new council and commission that all the member nations are subject to.

2 Questions:

1. How powerful is the ‘governing body’ of the EU?

2.  Why are some European Nations not a part of the EU?  Do some choose not to join, and others are not permitted?

1 Interesting aspect:

I found it interesting that the European Union allows the power is possesses to be equally distributed among its members, as each nation is eventually able to be ‘head’ of the EU.