1. What is meant by “widening” of the European Union?

a. Disbandment of the European Union

b. Further integration
c. Shrinking of the Union
d. Further expansion

2. What is meant by “deepening” of the European Union?

a. Disbandment of the European Union
b. Further integration
c. Shrinking of the Union
d. Further expansion

3. What were the motives for European integration? Why was the Union set up?

a. Reaction to the world wars, no regards to security, political unwillingness, economic development
b. Harmony between neighbors, to create the euro, to create the European continent “US”
c. Reaction to the world wars, security against rising Soviet threat, political willingness, economic development
d. To produce more coal and steel, to produce less waste, to encourage good relations between nations

4. The first direct impetus towards the establishment of the European Union was:

a. Proposed in May 1950 by French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, in conjunction with Jean Monnet, and accepted by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, open for other countries to join, for which
later the name “Schuman Plan” was coined
b. Proposed in May 1950 by French Interior Minister, Nobert Schuman, in conjunction with Jean Monnet, and accepted by Prime Minister Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, open for other countries to join,
for which later the name “Schuman Plan” was coined
c. Proposed in May 1960 by French Interior Minister, Ronald Schuman, in conjunction with Jean Momet, and accepted by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, open for other countries to join, for which later
the name “Schuman Plan” was coined
d. Proposed in May 1850 by French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, in conjunction with Jean Monnet, and accepted by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, not open for other countries to join, for which
later the name “Schuman Plan” was coined

5. What was the most important reason that got the EU to get awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012?

a. Opening accession negotiations with Ukraine

b. The reconciliation of France and Germany after the Second World War
c. Promotion of democracy and human rights in Southeast Asia
d. The end of the cold war

Intergovernmentalism ____Model answer: -decisions:unanimity required, rarely enforceable and enforceable only between signatories not citizen; normal way of functioning of
International Organizations; sovereignty is preserved_____
acquis communautaire ___the accumulated body of Community and Union law, treaties, secondary legislation and judicial developments___
Supranationalism ____decision-making takes place at a new and higher level than the members; decisions replace or override national/domestic rules____
Federalism ____political integration whereby constituent states transfer sovereign powers to the federation; federation exercises control to members from the center____
Normative acquis ___founding treaties, acts by institutions, EU international agreements___
Political acquis ____declarations, resolutions, guidelines, principles adopted by the European Council or the Council____
Judicial acquis ___case law of CJEU___
Screening ___first step in negotiations with purpose of identifying the areas in need of alignment in the legislation, institutions, or practices of a candidate country___
Accession Treaty ___the result of the completion of all the chapter negotiations___
Acceding State ____the candidate country that has signed the Accession Treaty and is granted provisional privileges until membership ____
Voluntary withdrawal (from the EU) ____the possibility of leaving the union under article 50 TEU_____
Suspension procedure (Article 7 TEU) ___suspension of EU membership rights, while obligations remain___
 1. Discuss the phases of expansion of the European Union from 1973 to present day.

The expansion of the European Union (EU) from 1973 to the present day reflects its evolution from a Western European economic community to a broader political and economic union
encompassing much of Europe. Each phase of enlargement was shaped by unique historical, political, and economic conditions.

The first major expansion occurred in 1973, when the UK, Ireland, and Denmark joined the European Economic Community (EEC). This followed the Paris Intergovernmental Conference in
1972, which resolved membership negotiations. The UK's entry was particularly notable, having been blocked twice in the 1960s by French President Charles de Gaulle, who vetoed British
membership over concerns about its alignment with US policies. Norway also negotiated to join but chose not to after a national referendum.

The next two expansions—Greece in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986—are often grouped together due to their political rather than economic motivations. These countries had recently
transitioned from authoritarian regimes to democracies, and their membership was seen as a way to stabilize their democratic institutions and reduce the influence of communism during the Cold
War. This was part of the EU’s broader effort to curb Soviet influence and promote peace, an achievement that later contributed to the EU winning the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. Notably,
Greenland withdrew from the EEC in 1985 after gaining home rule, reflecting concerns over control of its fishing policies.

The reunification of Germany in 1990 brought a small automatic expansion as East Germany was integrated into the EU. This event highlighted the potential for Eastern European countries to
join, prompting a re-evaluation of membership criteria. At the 1993 Copenhagen Summit, the Copenhagen Criteria were established, setting standards for democratic governance, human
rights, market economies, and adoption of EU laws for future applicants.

In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU, driven by the success of the Single European Act (SEA) and the post-Cold War geopolitical climate. Neutral countries were no longer
deterred by fears of Soviet retaliation, and the existence of the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement between the EU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) had smoothed the
transition. However, these countries sought full EU membership rather than remaining in the EEA. Once again, Norway opted not to join after a referendum.

The May 2004 enlargement was the largest in EU history, with 10 countries joining: eight former communist states (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and
Slovenia) alongside Cyprus and Malta. This expansion, fueled by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the aftermath of Yugoslavia's disintegration, reflected the EU’s commitment to stabilizing
the region and promoting democracy and prosperity. It was another achievement linked to the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.

In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania joined, despite concerns about their economic readiness. Their accession was politically justified to secure their democratic transitions and reduce the risk of
instability in the Balkans.

The most recent expansion was in 2013, with Croatia becoming the EU’s 28th member. Croatia’s accession was initially delayed due to its failure to cooperate with the UN Balkan War Crimes
Tribunal, but the threat of EU sanctions resolved the issue.

These phases of enlargement reflect the EU’s dual objectives of deepening integration and widening its membership, demonstrating its ability to adapt to changing geopolitical and economic
circumstances while promoting democracy, peace, and stability across Europe.

2. Discuss the crisis dubbed as “Eurosclerosis”.

The crisis dubbed as “Eurosclerosis” refers to a period of stagnation in the European Economic Community (EEC) from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s. This phase
was marked by an inability of member states to effectively reach decisions on legislation, widespread dissatisfaction with the integration process, and a general sense
of political and economic inertia.

A key turning point leading to this crisis was the Luxembourg Accords of 1966, which were adopted to resolve the French "empty chair" crisis. France had boycotted
EEC meetings in opposition to proposals for greater supranationalism, fearing a loss of sovereignty. The Luxembourg Accords introduced the principle of unanimity
when “vital national interests” were at stake, effectively enabling any member state to veto decisions. While intended as a compromise, this agreement significantly
hindered decision-making within the EEC as reaching consensus among member states became increasingly difficult.

The crisis was exacerbated by the doubling of EEC membership, from the original six founding members (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the
Netherlands) to 12 by the 1980s, following the accession of Denmark, Ireland, the UK, Greece, and later Spain and Portugal. With more diverse political, economic,
and cultural interests represented, the unanimity requirement made legislative progress nearly impossible.

Meanwhile, the Court of Justice of the European Communities (CoJ) adopted a more supranational tone during this period, developing doctrines such as the
supremacy of EU law and direct effect. While these rulings aimed to advance integration, they often clashed with the intergovernmental nature of the EEC’s decision-
making, creating tensions between member states and EU institutions. The combination of the French boycott, the Luxembourg Accords’ emphasis on unanimity, and
the challenges of an expanded membership left the EEC unable to address pressing economic and political issues effectively. This stagnation led to disillusionment
among citizens and skepticism about the viability of deeper European integration, ultimately defining the period of Eurosclerosis.
 3. How did the SEA come about?

The Single European Act (SEA) emerged as a response to the inefficiencies and stagnation that characterized the European Economic Community (EEC) during the period known as
Eurosclerosis. This period, spanning the 1960s to the early 1980s, was marked by slow decision-making, dissatisfaction with the integration process, and a lack of significant progress in
addressing economic and political challenges.

The roots of Eurosclerosis lay in the structural limitations of the EEC. The Council of Ministers struggled to reach decisions due to the unanimity requirement established by the 1966
Luxembourg Accords, which allowed any member state to veto decisions when vital national interests were at stake. The enlargement of the EEC from six to 12 member states further
exacerbated this challenge, as the growing diversity of national interests made consensus increasingly difficult. Additionally, there were delays in resolving cases before the Court of Justice of
the European Communities (CoJ), while the European Parliament (EP) had limited legislative powers, and the European Commission lacked sufficient executive authority.

To address these issues, an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) was convened in 1985. Its agenda focused on several critical reforms, including:

1. Reforming decision-making in the Council of Ministers by expanding qualified majority voting (QMV) to reduce the reliance on unanimity.
2. Enhancing the legislative powers of the European Parliament to strengthen democratic accountability.
3. Increasing the executive powers of the European Commission to improve policy implementation.
4. Expanding the scope of Community policy areas, particularly with a commitment to completing the Single Market by 1992.
5. Addressing delays in the judicial procedures of the Court of Justice.

The Single European Act (SEA), signed in 1986 and coming into force in May 1987, was the product of the 1985 IGC and marked the first significant amendment to the EEC’s founding
treaties. Its key provisions included the introduction of QMV in several policy areas, the establishment of the cooperation procedure to enhance the legislative role of the EP, and a commitment
to the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people as part of completing the Single Market. It also streamlined judicial processes to reduce delays in the CoJ.

4. Discuss the EU Constitutional Treaty in light of its discussions and later failure.

The EU Constitutional Treaty (CT) was a bold attempt to establish a new constitutional framework for the European Union (EU) to address its growing complexity and expand its legitimacy,
particularly in light of its enlargement. The process began with the 2001 Laeken Summit, where EU leaders launched the “Convention on the Future of Europe.” This initiative aimed to
streamline the EU’s institutional framework, enhance decision-making, and bring the Union closer to its citizens.

In June 2003, the Convention completed its work, producing a draft Constitutional Treaty that sought to replace the existing EU treaties with a single, cohesive document. This draft was
presented to the European Council and subsequently discussed at the 2003 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) by the Heads of State and Government. However, efforts to finalize the
Treaty stalled as member states failed to agree on key issues, such as the use of qualified majority voting (QMV) and the number of EU Commissioners.

Following the 2004 enlargement, which brought in 10 Eastern European countries, momentum to finalize the Constitutional Treaty resumed. The CT was signed in October 2004 by all member
states and then submitted for national ratification. The Treaty introduced significant proposals, including:

1. A legal personality for the EU to streamline its international representation.

2. A simplified and consolidated structure of treaties into a single document.
3. Introduction of a permanent president of the European Council.
4. Greater use of QMV in the Council of Ministers.
5. Strengthened role for the European Parliament (EP) in legislative processes.
6. Codification of the Charter of Fundamental Rights into EU law.

Despite these advancements, the CT faced significant public resistance. In 2005, the electorates in France and the Netherlands rejected the Treaty in national referenda, citing concerns over
loss of sovereignty, fears of rapid enlargement, and dissatisfaction with EU governance. With insufficient ratifications, the Constitutional Treaty was abandoned as a standalone project.

However, the Treaty’s ideas resurfaced after the 2007 expansion, which brought Romania and Bulgaria into the EU. Many of its proposals were later incorporated into the Lisbon Treaty, which
was signed in 2007 and came into force in 2009. Key features of the Lisbon Treaty drawn from the CT included:

 Establishment of a permanent president of the European Council.

 Expansion of QMV to more policy areas.
 Enhanced role of the EP through the ordinary legislative procedure.
 Incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, albeit with separate legal status.
 Creation of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

While the Constitutional Treaty ultimately failed, its legacy shaped the Lisbon Treaty, which addressed many of the institutional inefficiencies and prepared the EU for future challenges.