6
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 20:
Line 20: + + + Line 27:
Line 30: − +
no edit summary
The EU has its own judicial apparatus, consisting most notably of the '''Court of First Instance''' and the '''European Court of Justice''', the latter being the supreme judicial authority of the Union. It should not be confused with the [[European Court of Human Rights]], which is entirely separate from the EU and its institutions.
The EU has its own judicial apparatus, consisting most notably of the '''Court of First Instance''' and the '''European Court of Justice''', the latter being the supreme judicial authority of the Union. It should not be confused with the [[European Court of Human Rights]], which is entirely separate from the EU and its institutions.
==Sovereignty==
The member states of the European Union fall under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Similar to Federal Law trumping State Law in United States politics, the EU member states are obligated to follow the laws set forth by the European Court of Justice. This system of government takes sovereignty from the nation, and rests it in the EU court of Justice. Some political theorists argue that the EU is thus the death of the Nation. By the rules of The Treaty of Westphalia, nations are defined by their rite of Self-Sovereignty.
==Criticism==
==Criticism==
==Candidates for membership==
==Candidates for membership==
There are three official candidates being considered for membership, [[Turkey]], [[Croatia]] and [[The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]]. Typically a country that is considered will have to make some economic or social changes to bring it in line with other member states.
There are three official candidates being considered for membership, [[Turkey]], [[Croatia]] and [[The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]]. Typically a country that is considered will have to make some economic or social changes to bring it in line with other member states. There is some conflict between current EU member states over possible candidates for membership. For example, The United Kingdom is in favor of adding Turkey to the EU, while France is strongly against Turkey's possible membership.
Here is a map of the European Union as of January 2007, including countries seeking to join: [[Image:European_Union.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Member states of the European Union.]]
Here is a map of the European Union as of January 2007, including countries seeking to join: [[Image:European_Union.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Member states of the European Union.]]