The video discusses the perception of the European Union (EU) as a democratic entity, its structure, and the influence of citizens' votes. It begins by acknowledging that being a citizen of the EU means many aspects of life are regulated by the EU, which some Europeans perceive as a large bureaucracy making decisions over their heads.
The video then explores the concept of democracy, noting that in democratic states, public policies are based on the will of the people, but this will is often divided among various groups vying for influence and power. It discusses the concept of checks and balances in a working democracy, which are designed to create a fair environment for these battles.
The video also delves into the history of international politics, noting that it has been largely anarchic, with no central authority powerful enough to ensure fairness or enforce laws. It mentions the United Nations, founded after World War II to establish rules on how countries should behave, but acknowledges that it has virtually no power and its members often have opposing interests.
The video then discusses the EU's attempts to establish rules and laws for its member nations that are enforceable, such as the European Court of Justice's ability to make binding decisions. It explains that the EU was originally founded to ensure peace between European nations and prosperity for the continent, but it also aims to gain international power for its members.
The video then discusses the EU's structure, mentioning the European Council, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. It explains that the European Parliament is the only part of the EU that is directly elected by citizens in the European elections.
The video concludes by discussing the influence of citizens' votes in the EU, noting that while the European Parliament has become more powerful over the past two decades, it cannot propose new laws on its own. It suggests that the struggle to make the EU more democratic is closely tied to who holds power over what, and that it's up to the member states and citizens to decide how the union should develop.
The video ends by encouraging viewers to be active participants in the political process, noting that extreme things can happen through elections and that if they don't take part in the struggle for power, others will, and they might not like what they decide for them.
1. Being a citizen of the European Union means that many aspects of our lives are regulated by a large entity.
2. Many Europeans perceive the EU as a bureaucracy that makes decisions over their heads.
3. There is a perception that the EU elections do not count and that the EU is not democratic.
4. Public policies in democratic states are based on the will of the people.
5. In a working democracy, there are checks and balances to create a fair environment.
6. International politics are not democratic but anarchic.
7. No central authority is powerful enough to ensure fairness or enforce laws.
8. The EU is a construct that tries to have rules and laws for its member nations that are enforceable.
9. The EU was originally founded to ensure peace between European nations and prosperity for the continent.
10. The EU is also an attempt to gain international power for its members.
11. To create a democratic union of independent nations, you have two options: either let everybody vote for national politicians who then make decisions for the union together, or let every citizen vote directly for an independent institution that's able to make binding decisions.
12. The EU has four main institutions: the European Council, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, and the European Parliament.
13. The European Parliament is the only part of the EU that is directly elected by citizens in the European elections.
14. The European Parliament has become more powerful over the past two decades, approving new laws that can be binding for the member countries, voting on how the EU budget is spent, and on international treaties.
15. Despite this power, the EU Parliament officially can't propose new laws on its own.
16. The EU is not as democratic as most of its member states but it is democratic.
17. If you don't like decisions they make, you can look up what your representatives voted for and vote them out.
18. The struggle to make the EU more democratic is closely tied to who holds power over what.
19. The EU keeps changing, and citizens are voting not only on the current politics but also on what the system will look like in the future.
20. There are many parties and politicians that vowed to make the EU Parliament and therefore your vote stronger.
21. It's equally important for the EU who you vote for at home because these are the people who have the most influence in the European Union.
22. Voting and caring about how our political institutions change and develop is one of the most powerful things we can do as citizens.
23. The last few years have shown that extreme things can happen through elections.
24. We have to decide if we want to be an active part of this process.
25. If we don't take part in the struggle for power that is politics, others will, and we might not like what they decide for us.