The European Union

I. Introduction ( Cường )
The European Union is a group of 27 countries in Europe. These
countries have come together to make things better, easier and safer for
everyone. They have agreed to work together and help each other.
The idea of ​forming the European Union came after two major wars in
Europe. The countries in Europe saw that it was better to work together than to
fight each other. At first, only 6 countries in Europe started working together:
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Soon more and more European countries joined and the European Union
was born. Today, 27 countries are members of the European Union known as
the world's most powerful region because it is made up of countries with the
most developed economies in the world.
In addition to economic integration, the EU plays an important role in
global diplomacy, development aid and humanitarian efforts. The core
principles of the EU include democracy, human rights, the rule of law and
environmental sustainability. Through its cooperation framework, the EU
continues to influence global politics, economics and trade.
II. Key institutions of the EU ( Đăng )
1. European Commission
The European Commission is the EU's politically independent executive
arm. It is alone responsible for drawing up proposals for new European
legislation, and it implements the decisions of the European Parliament and the
Council of the EU.

Proposes new laws

The Commission is the sole EU institution tabling laws for adoption by the
Parliament and the Council that:

■ protect the interests of the EU and its citizens on issues that can't be dealt
with effectively at national level
■ get technical details right by consulting experts and the public

Manages EU policies & allocates EU funding

■ sets EU spending priorities, together with the Council and Parliament
■ draws up annual budgets for approval by the Parliament and Council
 ■ supervises how the money is spent, under scrutiny by the Court of
Auditors

Enforces EU law
■ together with the Court of Justice, ensures that EU law is properly applied
in all the member countries

Represents the EU internationally

■ speaks on behalf of all EU countries in international bodies, in particular
in areas of trade policy and humanitarian aid
■ negotiates international agreements for the EU
2. European Council
The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general
political direction and priorities of the European Union.

What does the European Council do?

■ decides on the EU's overall direction and political priorities – but does not
pass laws
■ deals with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at lower
levels of intergovernmental cooperation
■ sets the EU's common foreign & security policy, taking into account EU
strategic interests and defence implications
■ nominates and appoints candidates to certain high profile EU level roles,
such as the ECB and the Commission

On each issue, the European Council can:

■ ask the European Commission to make a proposal to address it

■ pass it on to the Council of the EU to deal with
3. European Parliament ( Sơn )
The European Parliament is the EU’s law-making body that is directly
elected by EU voters every 5 years.

The Parliament has 3 main roles:

Legislative
■ Passing EU laws, together with the Council of the EU, based on European
Commission proposals
 ■ Deciding on international agreements
■ Deciding on enlargements
■ Reviewing the Commission's work programme and asking it to propose
legislation

Supervisory
■ Democratic scrutiny of all EU institutions
■ Electing the Commission President and approving the Commission as a
body. Possibility of voting a motion of censure, obliging the Commission
to resign
■ Granting discharge, i.e. approving the way EU budgets have been spent
■ Examining citizens' petitions and setting up inquiries
■ Discussing monetary policy with the European Central Bank
■ Questioning Commission and Council
■ Election observations

Budgetary
■ Establishing the EU budget, together with the Council
■ Approving the EU's long-term budget, the "Multiannual Financial
Framework"
4. Council of the European Union
The Council of the EU is where national ministers from each EU country
meet to negotiate and adopt EU laws.
What the Council does
The Council of the EU represents the member states' governments. It is where
national ministers and experts from each EU country meet to:
● negotiate and adopt EU laws
● conclude international agreements on behalf of the EU
● adopt the EU budget
● develop the EU's foreign and security policy
● coordinate member states' policies in specific fields
 5. Court of Justice of the European Union ( Vũ )
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) interprets EU law to
make sure it is applied in the same way in all EU countries, and settles legal
disputes between national governments and EU institutions.

The CJEU gives rulings on cases brought before it. The most common types of
case are:

■ interpreting the law (preliminary rulings) – national courts of EU

countries are required to ensure EU law is properly applied, but courts in
different countries might interpret it differently. If a national court is in
doubt about the interpretation or validity of an EU law, it can ask the
Court for clarification. The same mechanism can be used to determine
whether a national law or practice is compatible with EU law.
■ enforcing the law (infringement proceedings) – this type of case is taken
against a national government for failing to comply with EU law. Can be
started by the European Commission or another EU country. If the
country is found to be at fault, it must put things right at once, or risk a
second case being brought, which may result in a fine.
■ annulling EU legal acts (actions for annulment) – if an EU act is believed
to violate EU treaties or fundamental rights, the Court can be asked to
annul it – by an EU government, the Council of the EU, the European
 Commission or (in some cases) the European Parliament.
Private individuals can also ask the Court to annul an EU act that directly
concerns them.
■ ensuring the EU takes action (actions for failure to act) – the Parliament,
Council and Commission must make certain decisions under certain
circumstances. If they don't, EU governments, other EU institutions or
(under certain conditions) individuals or companies can complain to the
Court.
■ sanctioning EU institutions (actions for damages) – any person or
company who has had their interests harmed as a result of the action or
inaction of the EU or its staff can take action against them through the
Court.

III. The four freedoms of the EU ( Vũ )

The EU is based on the principle of the free movement of:

1. Goods: No tariffs or quotas on goods traded within the EU.

2. Services: Freedom to provide services across borders.
3. Capital: Free movement of capital, investments, and payments.
4. People: EU citizens have the right to live, work, and study in any EU
country.

The Euro

● The official currency of 19 EU member states.

● Introduced to simplify trade and economic transactions within the
Eurozone.
● Managed by the European Central Bank (ECB).

IV. Challenges and future perspectives ( Thọ )

Challenges:

1.Economic Disparities:

Inequalities persist across the EU, ranging from gender and employment
pay gaps, intergenerational disparities and rural­­–urban differences. While
EU-wide income inequality levels declined significantly between 2006 and
2021, the share of people below the poverty threshold increased across most EU
Member States. The gap between the rich and poor continues to grow in some
countries. These realities highlight the urgent need for concentrated efforts and
targeted policies to mitigate such deep-rooted inequalities and create a fairer
future for the EU.

2.Migration Crisis:
With wars raging, refugees from many parts of the world are looking to
Europe as a place to rebuild. This has led to mounting pressure on local
communities – particularly on Europe’s overcrowded housing stock – and the
simultaneous surge of asylum seekers from other regions is a major reason why
political tensions over migration seem to be peaking across the continent at the
same time.
3.Geopolitical Tensions:
In Europe, there is more and more chaos such as the Russia-Ukraine war,
the conflict in Hamas or the increasing influence of China. Due to many
conflicts, spending on weapons has increased. The EU is also currently facing
an energy crisis because Russia stopped supplying gas to all of Europe due to
the war. Although it has sought alternative energy sources, the amount is not
enough for many countries. The influence of China throughout Europe is also
causing many concerns due to the increasing dependence on the Chinese
market.
Future perspectives:
1.Democratic Renewal:
Transparency, integrity and accountability are the key characteristics of a
democracy based on the rule of law. They promote good governance and build
trust in the policymaking process. They are also extremely important political
tools in preventing corruption. Following allegations of corruption and the
subsequent arrest of a Member of the European Parliament at the end of the
previous year, in 2023 the Parliament implemented a set of reforms- open a new
tab. aimed at strengthening its integrity, independence and accountability as a
way of preventing further interference in its work.

2.Focus on Strategic Autonomy:

To remain relevant in a changing world order, the EU must embrace
strategic autonomy. This means reducing its dependence on traditional allies
such as the United States and asserting itself as an independent geopolitical
force. Strengthening defence capabilities, promoting innovation and addressing
internal inefficiencies are essential steps towards this goal.
V. Conclusion

The European Union is a complex and dynamic entity. Its history,

institutions, and policies have shaped the modern world. As the EU continues to
evolve, it will face new challenges and opportunities.