Politics of Europe Study Guide

📖 Core Concepts European Politics – Study of the ever‑changing political systems across Europe, shaped by history, geography, economy, and culture. European Union (EU) – A supranational organisation of 27 states (as of 31 Jan 2020) that runs a common single market, customs union, and a shared currency (the euro) among 20 members. Council of Europe – An older (1949) inter‑governmental body of 46 European nations (Russia & Belarus excluded) focused on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law; creator of the European Convention on Human Rights. Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE) – A 57‑nation security forum that includes the US, Canada, and Central Asian states; deals with politico‑military, economic, and human‑rights issues. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – Military alliance of primarily European states plus the US and Canada; founded for collective defence against Soviet aggression. Secessionist / Devolutionary Movements – Political campaigns for independence or greater autonomy in regions such as Catalonia, Scotland, Kosovo, Crimea, the North Caucasus, etc. --- 📌 Must Remember EU membership (2020): 27 states; Eurozone members: 20. EU GDP (2020): US $14.9 trillion – 2nd‑largest economy worldwide. Council of Europe: 46 members; excludes Russia (expelled 2022) and Belarus. Key EU policies: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) & Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). NATO collective‑defence clause (Article 5) invoked once – 12 Sept 2001 after 9/11 attacks. Key secession facts: Kosovo declared independence 17 Feb 2008 – still disputed by Serbia. Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014. Scottish independence referendum 2014: 55 % voted “remain”. UK voted to leave EU on 24 Jun 2016; withdrawal started 29 Mar 2019. --- 🔄 Key Processes EU Enlargement (post‑Cold War) Candidate country → accession negotiations → meeting Copenhagen criteria (democracy, market economy, rule of law) → ratification by all member states → accession. Policy Shift to EU Level Issue identified → proposal by European Commission → debate in European Parliament & Council → adoption as EU law → implementation by member states. NATO Article 5 Invocation Attack on a member → North Atlantic Council meets → unanimous vote → collective defence measures (military, political, economic). --- 🔍 Key Comparisons EU vs. Council of Europe Scope: EU → economic & limited political integration; Council → human‑rights & democratic standards. Members: EU – 27; Council – 46 (excludes Russia, Belarus). Eurozone vs. EU Currency: Eurozone = 20 EU states using €; EU includes non‑euro members (e.g., Poland, Sweden). NATO vs. EU Primary focus: NATO – collective defence; EU – single market & regulatory integration. Secessionist vs. Devolutionary Secessionist: seeks full independence (e.g., Catalonia, Kosovo). Devolutionary: seeks greater autonomy within the existing state (e.g., Scotland’s powers pre‑referendum). --- ⚠️ Common Misunderstandings “EU = NATO” – They are separate; NATO is a defence pact, EU is an economic‑political union. All EU members use the euro – Only 20 out of 27 do. Council of Europe = EU – Council is a human‑rights body, not an economic union. Russia is a Council of Europe member – Expelled in 2022. --- 🧠 Mental Models / Intuition EU as a “single market engine” – Imagine a giant shop where tariffs are gone and rules are the same; sovereignty is partially outsourced. Council of Europe as the “human‑rights watchdog” – Think of the Strasbourg Court as a police force for the European Convention on Human Rights. NATO as “the security umbrella” – When one member gets hit, the umbrella opens for all. --- 🚩 Exceptions & Edge Cases Eurozone exceptions: Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia – EU members that kept their own currencies. Council of Europe membership: Russia (expelled 2022), Belarus (never joined). NATO Article 5: Invoked only once (2001) despite many security crises. --- 📍 When to Use Which Discussing trade, competition law, or common market: Cite the EU. Analyzing human‑rights litigation or democratic standards: Reference the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights. Evaluating collective defence or military commitments: Use NATO (Article 5). Explaining regional independence drives: Mention secessionist/devolutionary movements and the specific region’s status (e.g., Catalonia, Scotland, Kosovo). --- 👀 Patterns to Recognize Post‑Cold War expansion → EU and NATO enlargement eastward. Autonomous regions with co‑official languages → Higher likelihood of independence movements (Catalonia, Basque Country, Galicia). Economic integration → Political integration – policy areas move from national to EU control over time. EU vs. Eurozone questions – look for clues about currency usage vs. overall membership. --- 🗂️ Exam Traps Choosing “EU” for a human‑rights question – the correct answer is often the Council of Europe. Assuming all NATO members are EU members – many (e.g., US, Canada, Turkey) are NATO‑only. Confusing the number of EU members – remember the 27‑state figure (post‑Brexit). Mixing up “Eurozone” with “EU” – watch for wording about the common currency. Attributing the 2001 Article 5 invocation to 9/11 – it was a response to 9/11, not a cause of the attacks. ---