Analysis of the European Union budget review 2008-2009 The budget of the European Union is an important tool of the European Union and its institutions to implement its policies. It has often been criticised for various reasons. Popular complaints and criticisms include: The budget is not transparent; The budget is not democratically controlled; The budget […]
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Consultation response: the EU budget review 2008/9
In 2006 European decision-makers decided to undertake a ‘full, wide ranging review covering all aspects of EU spending, including the CAP, and of resources, including the UK rebate, to report in 2008/9’. In September 2007 the Commission launched a public consultation to prepare for the review, in which all interested parties are invited to contribute. […]
Briefing paper: the European Union Constitutional Treaty
Briefing Paper 1 The European Union has developed over a number of decades. This development has been characterised by the agreement of a series of Treaties concluded between the Member States. At the point at which a new Member State joined that Member State had to accede to the existing Treaties. Read “The European Union […]
Briefing paper: the EU and international trade
How is EU Trade Policy Decided? External trade has been an exclusive EU competence since 1958. As the Union’s common customs area has been harmonised and the measures to create a common market (internal to the EU) have been completed, their impact upon third countries has become increasingly apparent. The regulation of products through health […]