FINANCE - NORMS
How long there have been common rules in Europe?
What were the reasons for their creation?
The process of forming the European Community has been very long and has gone through several stages in which there have been various regulations that have led to freer relations between the different countries.
The first step in securing a lasting peace and abolishing customs barriers, is the creation of the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community), founded in 1951, with the Paris Treaty. This community has the aim of pooling the production of these two raw materials between six countries: Belgium, France, West-Germany, Italy, Luxemburg and the Netherlands. It gradually expanded with the entrance of other countries.
Secondly, in 1968 the customs duties were removed, even though the commercial exchanges did not take place freely in the member states because of the differences between the national legislations.
Nowadays, the European Union, thanks to the 3rd Article, has exclusive competences in the field of the customs union, in the common commercial policy (definition of competition rules for the internal market) and in the conservation of living resources by common fisheries policy.
In 1987 it stipulated the Single European Act, that aims to create a single market and in six years it benefits trade between member states. In the same year the Erasmus program was established with the intention of funding university students who wish to study in another European country and it developed a multiculturalism that allows people to get to know each other and find out how to live better in a “community”.
Then, in 1992, with the Maastricht Treaty, frontiers were completely abolished and this benefits the decision to create a single European currency and the stages for doing it are laid down.
Ten years later, in 2002, the Euro was introduced in 12 countries and, over the years, other countries were added up to 19.
Summing up, Europe begins to be created after the Second World War with the aim of creating a single internal market with the euro as the single currency; promoting the values of peace; protect the quality of the environment; promote scientific and technological progress and combating by social exclusion and discrimination by promoting gender equality, respecting the richness of cultural and linguistic diversity within it. These are the objectives to which the European Union aims with its borders.
As we have already mentioned before, some European countries have common rules. In fact, they bring advantages and disadvantages. Firstly, these laws aim for one single market with the already mentioned abolition of the customs duties and with a reduction of the costs, in order to make movements more economic. In addition to trade, they also benefit the economy by developing it through the international market and by increasing the competition for a qualitative increase. The rules in common also advantages the world of agriculture by promoting the innovation inside of the technological field and by developing it through funding. Instead, at environmental level, they point to cutting the emissions of harmful gases for the environment and a major use of green energy. But, On the other hand, they have some disadvantages, in fact, some European citizens believe that these laws are too numerous and sometimes unusual.
What do you think are the reasons why there are different rules
in different parts of the European Union?
Not all countries belonging to the European Union take the same decisions to achieve the common goal set by the directive issued by parliament. In fact, taking the health system as an example, to ensure public safety in this period of pandemic (Covid-19) the different states have adopted different restrictive measures: green passes, lockdowns, use of masks and vaccines have been introduced without following a decree-law that was common for everyone.
Another example can be the use of the euro, which has not been adopted by all the Member States. In fact, Croatia, not having some parameters that must be respected before joining the euro, continues to use its own currency.
Given the diversities of all countries and their cultures, not everything that is established by the EU can adapt to the needs of the states and the possibilities they have.
Is there a rule that applies in one of the participating countries but not in the others? How would the use of that rule affect the other countries?
In Europe there are norms that everybody follows: for instance the requirement to welcome immigrants in every EU country (according to the article 67 of TFEU). The number of people to accommodate depends on the possibilities of every state; in fact, not everyone agreed with this law because of their lack of a stable economy.
Despite this, there are norms which every country must follow, such as taxation. According to article 13 of the “Treaty on the functioning of the European Union”, the EU and the member states should respect the laws but at the same time the habits of the Member States concerning, in particular, religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage.
Every country has the independence to manage their taxes. In Denmark they are the highest in the EU, because costs include services such as health and education, so they don’t need to pay for them. In addition, they try to protect the environment by increasing the price of cars, so that citizens use public transports and bikes.
On the other hand, in Italy taxes are lower, but services like private schools and school supplies are subject to charge and there are no constraints for means of transport.
To conclude, we believe that the imposition of the same laws for each country cannot be possible, bearing in mind that every state’s mentality, traditions and culture is different, and we must respect it.