Simon Hix 's The European Union

The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political partnership between 28 different countries. It consists of about half a billion citizens, and its combined economy represents about 20 percent of the world’s total economy (Briney, 2015). Today The European Union works as a single market, with free movement of people, goods and services from one country to another. There is a standard system of laws to be followed, and since 1999 many countries share a single currency called the Euro (Europa.eu, 2015). This essay will explore the background history of the European Union and the benefits and drawbacks of the European Union.

With regards to the claim that the European Parliament is too weak (the second of Weiler's standard version claims), Moravcsik (2002; 2003) emphasises the fact that during the last twenty years, the European Parliament is the institution which have experienced the most reforms, regarding its increase of powers, compare to the Council and the Commission. The latter argument is in fact accurate because ever since the Single European Act (1986), the European Parliament gains more and more power by reforms in every signed Treaty (Moravcsik, 2003, p. 7). Despite that, however, the Parliament is still considered to be weak compared to the other institutions, as it will be analysed later in the essay.

From a macro scope it is evident the EU is strong promoter democracy and has deeply embedded democratic features, however, as Peterson and Shackleton point out that “understanding politics always begins with understanding institutions not at least the EU”. Taking this advice the essay will seek to examine the two main legislative bodies within the EU,

The European Union (EU), since the initial foundation in 1952 as the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and throughout periods of development, has been considered one of the most advanced forms of regional integration. It, based on numerous treaties and resolutions, has strived to promote values such as peace, cooperation or democracy, and in 2012 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for having “contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe” (Nobel Media AB, 2012). Despite its struggle for promoting democracy, the EU itself has long experienced scholarly criticisms that it suffers the democratic deficit, from which its democratic legitimacy is undermined by observable problems in

This essay will summarize the Lisbon Treaty and the governmental and democratic consequences it will have on the EU decision making. It intends to state that Europe has the wish to change and actively tries to do so and partly succeeding, but failing to do so entirely. The treaty has been a victory for Europe over the euro skeptics, but unfortunately will not be able to push Europe much further to the place it

Discourse regarding the European Union and democracy, is often paradoxical. EU is, on one hand, often accused of being undemocratic. On the other hand, others praise EU for reinforcing democracy. Many argue that the EU is undemocratic, as national parliaments lose some power after joining the union (Zielonka, 2007). EU membership also complicates the structure of democratic decision-making. However, simplifying the process requires centralization of power, which is opposed by all members. A counterargument to this, however, is that all members voluntarily and enthusiastically joined, and the majority of citizens supported EU membership (Zimmermann et al. 2012).

Such an understanding of the position in this regard is evidenced by the fact that the law of the EU in the form of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 2008 (henceforth, the

This essay will focus on the institutions in European Union. In the first, second and third section ,It provides details about the roles and compositions of the Council of Ministers , the European Commission , the European Court of Justice (ECJ).In the fourth section, it will illustrate the impacts on the national law of EU member states by the decisions from European Court of Justice.

European Union is remains one of unique and controversial organisation in nowadays which symbolise the association of European countries with shared sovereignty over socialism and imperial ambitions. President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy once sad that: “The age of the nation state is over and the idea that countries can stand alone is an ‘illusion’ and a ‘lie’” (Martin D., 2010). Nigel Farage, the leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party claims the opposite:”We must break up the eurozone. We must set those Mediterranean countries free”(BrainyQuate, 2014). Opinion about European Union are very divided, part of society who are support the monetary and security policy and other growing part which Eurosceptical and who believes that this kind of policies not just undermining the sovereignty of the state but also destroying the national entity. In this work will be analysed the influence of European Membership of the sovereignty of Great Britain and to what extend it has influence on the state.

It is difficult to ascertain whether or not the European Union is democratically legitimate on the basis that the concept of democracy appears to be evolving over time. The fact that the European Union is a unique entity, a ‘supernatural union of sovereign states’ also makes it difficult to establish whether it is in fact truly democratic as there is no other entity to compare it to. The common conception is that there are two primary types of democracy. Direct democracy, where by the citizens of the state have the law making power and representative democracy, in which the power of the people is delegated to elected representatives. Article 2 of the TEU provides that the European Union is “founded on the values of respect for human

The various political and cultural differences that the European Union nations have are the main qualities of why this system is not efficient. In the article: One Europe, Two Citizens by Pavel Kelly-Tychtl, the author argues that the European Union will have many difficulties to succeed because of the multiple differences that these nations possess. Published in the year 2003, the article appeals to the values of people and their feelings towards loosing their identity and nationalism towards their country. The main ideas of this article are trying to prove that the European Union is not the best system to unite nations in the world.

Bibliography:Books:•Craig, Paul P.; De Búrca, Gráinne: EU law: text, cases, and materials, Oxford Univ. Press , 2007•Hartley, Trevor C.: European Union law in a global context: text, cases and materials, Cambridge Univ. Press, 2005•Patrizia De Pasquale, Il principio di sussidiarietà nella Comunità Europea, 2000, Editoriale Scientifica, Napoli, 2000•Centre for Economic Policy Research, La distribuzione dei poteri nell'Unione Europea, Società Editrice il Mulino, Bologna, 1995•George A. Bermann, Su

The European Union (EU) was established in order to prevent the horrors of modern warfare, experienced by most of Europe during the World Wars of the 20th century, from ever ensuing again, by aiming to create an environment of trust with the countries of Europe cooperating in areas such as commerce, research and trade (Adams, 2001). The EU has evolved into an economic, trade, political and monetary alliance between twenty-eight European Member States. While not all Member States are in monetary union (i.e. share the currency of the euro), those that are form the ‘Euro-zone’ (Dinan, 2006). The EU can pass a number of types of legislation, with a regulation, act, or law, being the most powerful. Its ‘tricameral’ (European Union, 2007)

Established in 1887, the European Union (EU) was initially created as a means to protect and defend peace and facilitate economic recovery after the end of World War Two throughout the six original members states; France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Since its conception, the EU has become a significant player in the global arena, economically, politically and also in the form of humanitarian and environmental aid and assistance around the world, currently providing 60% of the worlds development assistance ( Michel, 2007, pg. 23). The question of whether the European union is a significant global actor however, needs firstly to take into consideration the very definition of the European Union as a global entity, and also the definition of the area of ‘actorness’. Once clarified, this essay will argue that the EU’s global presence, capability as an institution in international politics and its future opportunity all demonstrate the EU’s capabilities as a significant global actor in the global political arena.

European Union was formed with a lot of expectations. Despite closeness and similarities, the various nations of the European continent fought bitter wars for thousands of years within themselves. After the devastating World War II, finally everyone saw the light and decided to give a chance to peaceful coexistence. However, EU’s path hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses. Especially of late, too many critical problems have emerged, making some to question its very existence.