european union1
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"European Union"TRANSCRIPT
An Introduction to European Union Legal Research:
ALR: International Law
January 28, 2004
Background on the Organization of the European Union:
• EU as an official body = Maastricht Treaty (Nov. 1993).
• Original Members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany.
• EU – 15 member political entity with a population of 378 million.
5 Major Institutions of the EU:
(1) European Commission (20 members);
(2) Council;
(3) European Parliament;
(4) Court of Justice;
(5) Court of Auditors.
Other Important Institutions and Documents:
• The Economic and Social Committee – http://www.esc.eu.int/pages/en/home.asp .
• The Committee of Regions - http://www.cor.eu.int/en/index.html .
• Treaty of the European Union - “Three Pillars” or Spheres of Operation.
Treaty goal to establish a more cohesive “intergovernmental entity” supporting:
• (1) EC Law as well as economic institutions and activities;
• (2) Common Foreign and Security Policy;
• (3) Justice and Home Affairs.
European Commission:
• http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm .
• Permanent executive body responsible for implementing treaties.
• Develops policy and initiates legislation.
• Transmits proposals to the Council of the European Union.
• Major decision-making body of the EU.
Council of the European Union:
• http://ue.eu.int/en/summ.htm .
• Power to adopt rules and important community policies.
• Official acts include regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations and opinions.
• Coordinates economic policies of Member States.
Court of Justice (ECJ) & Court of First Instance (CFI):
• ECJ (http://curia.eu.int/en/index.htm ) supervises uniform interpretation and application of EU law (treaties and secondary legislation).
• CFI (http://curia.eu.int/en/index.htm ) was established under the Single European Act of 1988 to lessen the ECJ’s load (only hears certain types of cases listed in Act).
European Parliament:
• http://www.europarl.eu.int/home/default_en.htm .
• Originally, had more advisory, rather than decision-making, powers.
• The Maastricht Treaty has increased the powers of the Parliament and enlarged its legislative role.
Treaties Establishing the European Union:
• Treaty on European Union, found at http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/treaties/dat/eu_cons_treaty_en.pdf .
• Signed in Maastricht in Feb. 1992 and came into force on Nov. 1, 1993 (main document of the EU / political arrangement of “the new Europe”).
• Treaties are the primary legislation of the European Union, much like a constitution or civil code might be for national law.
Marquette EU Treaty Resources:
• Treaty of Rome Consolidated and the Treaty of Maastricht (KJE4442.3.T73 1992).
• The Treaty of Maastricht: from Conception to Ratification: A Comprehensive Reference Guide (KJE4443.1992.C67.1993).
Founding Treaties:
• The Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (the ECSC Treaty or the Treaty of Paris) (261 U.N.T.S. 140) (1951).
• The Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community (EEC Treaty or Treaty of Rome) (298 U.N.T.S. 11) (1957) created the EEC (European Economic Community).
• The Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) (also referred to as the “Treaty of Rome”) (298 U.N.T.S. 167)(1957).
Other Important EU Treaties:
• The Treaty Establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities (also known as the “Merger Treaty of 1965”) (4 ILM 776).
• The Single European Act (25 ILM 506) (1987).• The Treaty on European Union (or the Maastricht
Treaty) (31 ILM 247; 1992 O.J. (C191) 1) (1993).• The Treaty of Amsterdam (1997 O.J. (C 340) 1)
(1999).
Rome, Maastricht, Amsterdam, and Nice:
• The four cities where EU founding treaties were created in the past decade; the documents imparted changes to the EU “common market”.
• Developed/altered different parts of the entities that used to be known as the “European Communities” and are now known as the “European Union”.
• Treaties found at: http://www.europa.eu.int/abc/treaties_en.htm .
Official Citation of Treaties:
• As a general rule, the basic treaties are published in the Official Journal, C Series.
• European Court of Justice on Citation: http://curia.eu.int/en/instit/txtdocfr/index.htm .
• More citation guides: EU - http://europa.eu.int/comm/translation/writing/style_guides/english/frame_index_en.htm and Oxford - http://www.law.ox.ac.uk/oscola/index.shtml.
• Ex. #1: ESCS or Paris Treaty: Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, Apr. 18, 1951, 261 U.N.T.S. 140.
• Ex. #2: EEC or Treaty of Rome: Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community, Mar. 25, 1957, 298 U.N.T.S. 3.
Consolidated Versions of Treaties:
• Unofficial publications.
• Intent is to show the earlier EU treaties as amended by later treaties.
• Consolidated versions of EU treaties are available through EUR-Lex – http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/index.html .
EU Treaties at Marquette Law:
• Volume 4, European Union Law Reporter (CCH), London: Sweet & Maxwell, 2000-. (KJE949.C655).
• European Union Law Guide, ed. Philip Raworth. New York: Oceana Publications. (KJE949.E97).
• Westlaw Database ID: EU-TREATIES (1951- ).• Lexis ID: Treaties & International Agreements /
CELEX EU Law Database (1951- ).
Accession Treaties and External Treaties:
• Accession Treaties between the EU and non-EU nations are published with related documents in the Official Journal.
• External Treaties between EU and non-EU nations are published in the Official Journal L Series. For a list, see http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/lif/ind/en_analytical_index_11.html .
Constitutional Reform:
• The European Convention – http://european-convention.eu.int/bienvenue.asp?lang=EN .
• Parliament website on the Convention – http://www.europarl.eu.int/comparl/conv/default.htm.
Intergovernmental Conferences (IGCs):
• Summit meetings held to negotiate and propose important changes to the European co-operative framework.
• Overview of conferences found at: http://europa.eu.int/en/agenda/igc-home/general/overview.html .
• Retrospective database of conferences: http://europa.eu.int/en/agenda/igc-home/index.html .
Locating Information about the EU:
• Carpenter, Liz. Legal Research and the Law of the European Communities (KJE928.J44 1997).
• European Union in the U.S.: Research Tools – http://www.eurunion.org/infores/home.htm .
• European Union Law: An Integrated Guide to Electronic and Print Research – http://www.llrx.com/features/eulaw.htm .
Locating Information About the EU:
• Harvard Law School, Guide to European Union Legal Research – http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/ref/ils_ref/eu_guide/eu_legal_research.htm.
• Raisch, Marylin. “European Union: Basic Legal Sources,” in Accidental Tourist on the New Frontier: An Introductory Guide to Global Legal Research (K85.A27 1998).
• Reynolds, Thomas H. & Flores, Arturo A. Foreign Law: Current Sources of Codes and Basic Legislation in Jurisdictions of the World (K7073.R49).
Journal Research:
• Articles in EU law reviews and English language journals that focus on the EU.
• The Yearbook of European Law contains annual surveys of legal developments, as well as articles and book reviews. European Journal of International Law (http://www.ejil.org ).
• The Jean Monnet Center (http://www.jeanmonnetprogram.org ) contains European Integration Current Contents and provides the tables of contents to journals that are relevant for European legal research. Has a link to “ERPA” (European Research Papers Archive).
Westlaw / Lexis Demonstrations:
• http://lawschool.westlaw.com (EUTREATIES; 1951-present).
• http://www.lexis.com (CELEX EU Law Database: Treaties; 1951-present).
Next Class:
• EU Legislation.
• EU Tribunals & Case Law.