So, post Lisbon Treaty ratification, what power DOES the EU have?

The EU is meant to: define and implement a common foreign and security policy, including the ‘progressive framing’ of a common defence policy.


Brussels has ‘exclusive competence’ on five issues where only the EU may legislate:

·         The Customs Union

·         Competition rules

·         Monetary policy in the eurozone

·         Conservation of marine biological resources

·         Commercial policy.

 

Then there are ‘shared competences’, where member states can act, but only if the EU has chosen not to. These include:

·         The internal market

·         Social policy

·         Economic, social and territorial cohesion

·         Agriculture and fisheries

·         The environment

·         Consumer protection

·         Transport

·         Energy

·         Health and safety

·         The ‘area of freedom, security and justice’.

 

There are ‘shared competences’ where EU action does not preclude member state action:

·         International aid

·         Research and development

·         ‘Space’

 

There are also areas where the EU has competence to carry out ‘supporting, co-ordinating or complementary action’:

·         The protection and improvement of human health

·         Industry

·         Culture

·         Tourism

·         Education

·         Sport

·         Vocational training

·         Civil protection

 

The EU is also meant to make ‘arrangements’ for the co-ordination of member states’ economic and employment policies, and to carry out ‘initiatives’ to ensure the co-ordination of social policies.

If it seems that the EU may take action more or less wherever and whenever it pleases it could well be right.

Fingers on the buzzers – list in what areas member states do have exclusive control.