The European economic Community

The European Economic Community has as its aim the welding* of Europe into single prosperous* area by abolishing restrictions* affecting the: movement of people, of goods and of capital.

Article 2 of the Treaty of Rome provides:

' The Community shall have as its task, by establishing a common market and progressively approximating* the economic policies of Member States, to promote throughout Community a harmonious development of economic activities, a continuous and balanced expansion*, an increase in stability, an accelerated raising* of the standard of living* and closer relations between the States belonging to it. '

Article 3 of the Treaty of Rome gives an extended version* of the principles by which the aims set out in Article 2 are to be achieved:

1. The elimination of customs duties* and quantitive restrictions* on
the import and export of goods between Member States.

When all customs duties between Member States have disappeared there will be a single European market of approximately 270 million customers available to producers in Europe, and European manufacturers will be able to produce goods more cheaply on the scale* that is practised for example in the United States.

2. The establishment of a common customs tariff (CCT) on goods
entering any Member State of the Community from a third country and the
establishment of a common commercial policy*.

Article 48(2) of the Treaty of Rome provides that: '...any discrimination based on nationality between workers of the Members States as regards employment' must be abolished.

3. The establishment of a Common agricultural policy

4. The regulation of restrictive* trade practices

Notes

welding — слияние, сплочение, объединение

prosperous — процветающий

abolish restrictions — уничтожать ограничения

approximating — приближая, сближая

expansion — зд. развитие

accelerated raising — ускоренный подъем

standard of living — уровень жизни

extended version — развернутое описание

customs duties — таможенные налоги

on the scale — в масштабе

quantitive restrictions — количественные ограничения

common commercial policy - общая торговая политика

restrictive — ограничительная

Ответьте на вопросы.

1. When did the European Community come into being?

2. What is the idea of Schuman plan?

3. What industries of Western European countries were integrated?

4. How many countries signed the Treaty of Paris?

5. How was the establishment of the European Coal and Steel
Community seen by many?

6. When and how has the process of integration taken a step futher?

7. What organizations make up the European Community?

8. Enumerate the three objects of the European Communities and
interpret them.

9. What is the aim of the European Economic Community?

 

10. Interpret Artice 2 of the Treaty of Rome.

11. What are the principles given in Article 3?

12. What does the establishment of a common customs tariff provide?

Unit Ten

BILLS OF RIGHTS (A)

There are several ways in which one can try to ensure that the rights of citizens listed in a bill of rights are respected. One of by convention. The earliest bill of rights was an English statute of 1689. Since in England (now Britain) the legislature is sovereign, it has the legal power to disregard the rights* listed in the bill, such as the right to free speech in Parliament. But in practice the legislature and government have respected these rights.

Another way of enforcing rights is through an international treaty. A state may agree to a treaty that gives citizens certain rights and sets up* a court to judge whether they have been respected by the government of the state, its legislature or its judges. This is what happened with the European Convention on Human Rights, which came into force* in 1953. Forinstance, the European Convention gives a person charged with a crime the right to a fair trial. Anyone who objects that he has not had a fair trial in, say, Britain can complain to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. If the court thinks that he has not been fairly tried, the state in which the trial has taken place has a duty to put the matter right, if necessary by changing the law.

Notes

disregard the rights — игнорировать, не принимать во внимание

права

set up — создавать, основывать come into force — войти в силу

BILLS OF RIGHTS (В)

Another way of dividing up powers is to divide them between the state and private citizens. This is done by listing in a law certain basic rights of citizens* If there is a written constitution the list will be part of the constitution. When a bill of rights is in force* a citizen has some rights that cannot be taken away from him either by the legislature, or the government, or the courts.

For instance, if a citizen has the right not to be imprisoned for more than so many days without trial the legislature cannot make a law that provides for imprisonment for a longer period without trial. Nor can the government disregard the law and imprison its opponents without trial. The difficulty is, of course, to ensure that the legislature and government respect the law*.

Supporters of legislature sovereignty object to* this way of enforcing rights* because it gives too much power to judges.

But in most countries, even democratic governments and legislatures cannot always be trusted to respect basic human rights. So the judges may be the lesser of two evils.

Notes

basic rights of citizens — основные права граждан

in force — в действии, в силе

respect the law - уважать закон, соблюдать закон

object to — возражать

enforce the rights — осуществлять права

THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (A)

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was first adopted in 1950 and has now been signed by every country of Western Europe. Individual citizens of these countries have the right to bring a complaint* before the European Commission if they think their government has broken the Convention*. If the Commission agrees, it may try to persuade the country in question to rectify the breach*, or it may refer the matter to* the European Court of Human Rights, which has the right to order a change of law in that country. Covering countries with similar cultures and economic conditions, the ECHR is more practical than many international human rights agreements. However, individual governments still manage to delay making changes to their laws by claiming* special national interests.

When the laws of a country violate human rights*, groups like Amnesty International* protest to the government on moral grounds*. But whenever possible, legal arguments are also used - references to the constitution of the country itself and to any relevant international agreements* which its government has signed. But despite the development of legally binding* national and international conventions, millions of people in the world still do not enjoy human rights*.

Notes

bring a complaint — подавать жалобу

break the Convention — нарушать конвенцию

rectify the breach — устранять ошибку, нарушение

refer the matter to — обращаться с вопросом к

claiming — заявляя

violate human rights — нарушать права человека

Amnesty International — Международная амнистия

on moral grounds — на основе нравственных (моральных)

принципов relevant international agreement —соответствующие международные

соглашения legally binding — обязательные (согласно закону), имеющие

обязательную силу enjoy human rights — пользоваться правами человека