The European Union: A Unique Supranational Entity

The European Union (EU) stands as a distinctive political and economic union comprising 27 member states. Each of these nations, by signing the foundational treaties of the Union, voluntarily enters into a comprehensive framework of shared privileges and obligations. Far from a conventional intergovernmental organization, the EU represents a profound integration project where member states agree to pool certain aspects of their national sovereignty through a sophisticated system of common institutions. This cooperative framework fosters peace, stability, and prosperity across the continent, allowing for collective action on challenges that transcend national borders.

Shared Sovereignty and Decision-Making in the EU

Member states, through the guiding principles embedded in the EU treaties, have agreed to exercise their sovereignty jointly in specific policy areas, while retaining full national control over others. This delicate balance ensures that decisions are made collectively where it is most effective, yet national particularities are respected. The process involves various EU institutions, each playing a crucial role:

• The European Commission: Often referred to as the EU's executive arm, it proposes legislation, manages the EU budget, and enforces EU law. Notably, the Commissioners, one from each member state, are bound to act independently in the overarching interest of the EU as a whole, rather than representing their national government's specific agenda. This commitment to impartiality is a cornerstone of the Commission's effectiveness.
• The Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers): This body brings together ministers from each EU country, depending on the policy area being discussed (e.g., finance ministers for economic matters, environment ministers for climate policy). It is here that national governments directly influence EU legislation.
• The European Parliament: Directly elected by EU citizens, the Parliament shares legislative power with the Council, ensuring democratic oversight and representation of the populace.
• The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): This judicial body ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly across all member states.

Decision-making within the Council of the European Union can occur through different mechanisms. For highly sensitive areas, such as taxation or common foreign and security policy, unanimity is required, meaning all member state governments must agree. Conversely, for a vast majority of legislative proposals, decisions are made by Qualified Majority Voting (QMV). Under QMV, a decision typically requires the support of at least 55% of member states, representing at least 65% of the total EU population. This system balances the interests of larger and smaller states, facilitating efficient policy adoption.

What makes the EU unique among international organizations?

The distinctive character of the EU stems from its established "supranational" nature. Unlike traditional international organizations where states typically retain full sovereignty and are only bound by agreements they explicitly ratify, the EU operates a unique legal order. This means that, within its defined areas of competence, EU law is directly applicable and supreme over national laws. This principle of the supremacy of EU law was famously affirmed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ, now CJEU) in its landmark 1964 ruling in the case of Costa v ENEL. This ruling established that obligations undertaken by member states through the Treaties are an integral part of their national legal order, taking precedence over conflicting national legislation. Consequently, national courts are obligated to uphold and apply EU law directly.

A fundamental guiding principle underpinning the EU's decision-making and legislative process is the principle of subsidiarity. This principle dictates that collective action at the EU level should only be undertaken if, and only if, the objectives of a proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states individually, either at central, regional, or local levels, but can rather, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved at Union level. This ensures that decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen, empowering national, regional, and local authorities where appropriate, while allowing for EU-level action on issues requiring a unified approach, such as cross-border environmental protection or the functioning of the single market.

Evolution of the European Union: From Communities to Union

The origins of the EU trace back to the aftermath of World War II, driven by a vision of economic interdependence to prevent future conflicts and foster lasting peace. In the 1950s, six core states – Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany – founded the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951, aimed at pooling control over vital war resources. This was followed by the establishment of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in 1957 through the Treaties of Rome. These early European Communities laid the groundwork for the modern EU, evolving through successive treaties, notably the Maastricht Treaty (1992), which formally established the European Union, and the Lisbon Treaty (2009), which streamlined its institutions and decision-making processes.

Enlargement: Expanding the European Family

From its initial six members, the EU has undergone numerous enlargements, welcoming new democracies and strengthening its economic and political influence. To accede to the Union, a candidate state must rigorously fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, established in 1993. These comprehensive requirements ensure that aspiring members are prepared for the responsibilities of EU membership:

Political Criteria:

Stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and respect for and protection of minorities.

Economic Criteria:

A functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union.

Administrative and Legal Criteria (Acquis Communautaire):

The ability to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic, and monetary union. This involves adopting and implementing the existing body of EU law.

The process of enlargement is also contingent upon the unanimous consent of all existing member states, ensuring that each current member agrees to the admission of a new one. Furthermore, a candidate nation must fully adopt and transpose the acquis communautaire. This is the accumulated body of common rights and obligations that bind all member states together, encompassing all EU treaties, laws (directives, regulations, decisions), court judgments, and international agreements. It's a comprehensive framework that new members must integrate into their national legal systems.

Withdrawal from the EU: The Case of Brexit

While the EU has seen continuous enlargement, the United Kingdom, which joined the European Communities in 1973, made the unprecedented decision to withdraw from the Union. Following a referendum in 2016, the UK formally ceased to be an EU member state on 31 January 2020. This withdrawal, commonly known as Brexit, was the first instance of a full member state exercising its right to leave the Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, which provides the legal framework for a member state to exit the EU. To date, no other member state has ever withdrawn from the EU, nor has any been suspended. While some dependent territories or semi-autonomous areas associated with member states have previously left (such as Greenland, which withdrew from the EEC in 1985), Brexit remains a singular event in the EU's history, highlighting the flexibility embedded within its foundational treaties to accommodate such a decision.

FAQs about the European Union

What is the primary purpose of the European Union?

The EU's primary purpose is to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity among its member states through deeper political and economic integration, fostering a single market and common policies.

How many countries are currently in the European Union?

As of now, the European Union is composed of 27 member states.

What is the significance of the principle of subsidiarity in the EU?

The principle of subsidiarity ensures that decisions are taken at the most appropriate level of governance, ideally as close to the citizen as possible, unless collective action at the EU level would be more effective.

What are the Copenhagen criteria?

The Copenhagen criteria are a set of political, economic, and administrative requirements that a candidate country must fulfill to be eligible for membership in the European Union, ensuring it meets the EU's standards for democracy, human rights, market economy, and legal compliance.

Has any other country left the EU besides the United Kingdom?

No, the United Kingdom is the only full member state that has officially withdrawn from the European Union. Some dependent territories associated with member states have left in the past, but not sovereign member states themselves.