close cooperation
working together closely | ||||
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Closer cooperation definition was found in categories: Government(1) Law(1)
Closer cooperation Definition from Government Dictionaries & Glossaries
| EU English Glossary |
Closer cooperation
To encourage closer cooperation between countries of the European Union who wish to go further than the degree of integration provided for by the Treaties (in the fields of social affairs, elimination of border controls, etc.), various instruments have been introduced, such as the Social Policy Agreement and the Schengen Accords. This has allowed Member States who so wish to make progress at a different pace or on different objectives outside the institutional framework of the European Union.
After the Treaty of Amsterdam came into force, the use of these instruments was put on a more formal footing with the introduction of the concept of "closer cooperation" in the Treaty on European Union (EU Treaty) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (EC Treaty).
The aim of such cooperation is to enable a limited number of Member States that are willing and able to advance further to deepen European integration within the single institutional framework of the Union.
Closer cooperation must meet a number of conditions. In particular it must:
•cover an area which does not fall within the exclusive competence of the Community;
•be aimed at furthering the objectives of the Union;
•respect the principles of the Treaties and the Community acquis;
•be used only as a last resort;
•involve a minimum number of Member States;
•allow the gradual integration of other Member States.
Closer cooperation under the EC Treaty is authorised by the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament.
The object of closer cooperation under the EU Treaty, according to the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam, is to develop the area of freedom, security and justice. At the request of the Member States concerned, it is authorised by the Council, acting by a qualified majority after obtaining the Commission's opinion and after submitting the request to the European Parliament.
According to the Treaty of Amsterdam, a Member State could always refuse to allow closer cooperation in a particular area for reasons of national political importance. However, a qualified majority in the Council could refer the matter to the European Council, which must act unanimously.
The Treaty of Nice aimed, in particular, to simplify the use of closer cooperation and introduced significant changes:
•the minimum number of Member States required for closer cooperation has been cut by a half (Treaty of Amsterdam) to eight, irrespective of the total number of Member States;
•Member States can no longer prevent closer cooperation: the matter may be referred to the European Council but it is the Council of Ministers that decides by the majority provided for in the Treaties;
•under the EC Treaty, Parliament's assent is required if closer cooperation covers a field subject to codecision;
•an additional condition for the implementation of closer cooperation has been added: it must not jeopardise the internal market or economic and social cohesion.
The Treaty of Nice introduced the possibility of closer cooperation in the field of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), except for matters having military or defence implications. At procedural level, decisions are taken by the Council, after an opinion from the Commission, acting by qualified majority on the basis of a common strategy.
See:
•Concentric circles
•Europe 'à la carte'
•Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)
•'Multi-speed' Europe
•Single institutional framework
•Treaty of Nice
•'Variable-geometry' Europe
To encourage closer cooperation between countries of the European Union who wish to go further than the degree of integration provided for by the Treaties (in the fields of social affairs, elimination of border controls, etc.), various instruments have been introduced, such as the Social Policy Agreement and the Schengen Accords. This has allowed Member States who so wish to make progress at a different pace or on different objectives outside the institutional framework of the European Union.
After the Treaty of Amsterdam came into force, the use of these instruments was put on a more formal footing with the introduction of the concept of "closer cooperation" in the Treaty on European Union (EU Treaty) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (EC Treaty).
The aim of such cooperation is to enable a limited number of Member States that are willing and able to advance further to deepen European integration within the single institutional framework of the Union.
Closer cooperation must meet a number of conditions. In particular it must:
•cover an area which does not fall within the exclusive competence of the Community;
•be aimed at furthering the objectives of the Union;
•respect the principles of the Treaties and the Community acquis;
•be used only as a last resort;
•involve a minimum number of Member States;
•allow the gradual integration of other Member States.
Closer cooperation under the EC Treaty is authorised by the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament.
The object of closer cooperation under the EU Treaty, according to the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam, is to develop the area of freedom, security and justice. At the request of the Member States concerned, it is authorised by the Council, acting by a qualified majority after obtaining the Commission's opinion and after submitting the request to the European Parliament.
According to the Treaty of Amsterdam, a Member State could always refuse to allow closer cooperation in a particular area for reasons of national political importance. However, a qualified majority in the Council could refer the matter to the European Council, which must act unanimously.
The Treaty of Nice aimed, in particular, to simplify the use of closer cooperation and introduced significant changes:
•the minimum number of Member States required for closer cooperation has been cut by a half (Treaty of Amsterdam) to eight, irrespective of the total number of Member States;
•Member States can no longer prevent closer cooperation: the matter may be referred to the European Council but it is the Council of Ministers that decides by the majority provided for in the Treaties;
•under the EC Treaty, Parliament's assent is required if closer cooperation covers a field subject to codecision;
•an additional condition for the implementation of closer cooperation has been added: it must not jeopardise the internal market or economic and social cohesion.
The Treaty of Nice introduced the possibility of closer cooperation in the field of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), except for matters having military or defence implications. At procedural level, decisions are taken by the Council, after an opinion from the Commission, acting by qualified majority on the basis of a common strategy.
See:
•Concentric circles
•Europe 'à la carte'
•Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)
•'Multi-speed' Europe
•Single institutional framework
•Treaty of Nice
•'Variable-geometry' Europe
Closer cooperation Definition from Law Dictionaries & Glossaries
| European Commission Glossary of Justice and home affairs |
closer cooperation
The object of closer cooperation under the EU Treaty is to develop the area of freedom, security and justice more swiftly: a limited number of Member States willing and able to advance further can do so within the single institutional framework of the Union.
The object of closer cooperation under the EU Treaty is to develop the area of freedom, security and justice more swiftly: a limited number of Member States willing and able to advance further can do so within the single institutional framework of the Union.