The EU and NAFTA

Paper Summary:

This paper briefly examines the differences and similarities between the European Union (EU) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Specifically, the paper explores the various institutions of each and notes how the EU has in place institutions which seek political and social integration (at least with regards to policy) in a way that NAFTA does not - and probably never will.

From the Paper:

"Having mentioned at length the political integration of Europe, some time should be devoted to the legal integration of the continent (and Great Britain). For one thing, the European Court of Justice ensures that all laws promulgated by the council and parliament are interpreted and applied in the same fashion in all member states; at the same time, the Luxembourg Court also ensures that national courts do not give different rulings when confronted with the same legal matters and substantially the same laws - and it works tirelessly to compel EU institutions to follow the letter of the law, as well (Europa, "How is the EU Organized?" sec.4). For its part, the Court of Auditors supervises EU funds and checks to make sure that taxpayer money is not spent illegally or in a profligate manner; the court - also based in Luxembourg - has the right to audit any organization handling EU money (Europa, "How is the EU Organized?" sec.5)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Europa. "How is the EU Organized?" Europa: Panorama of the European Union. N.d. European Union. 27 Nov. 2006 <http://europa.eu/abc/panorama/howorganised/index_en.htm>
• Europa. "United in Diversity." Europa: Panorama of the European Union. N.d. European Union. 27 Nov. 2006 <http://europa.eu/abc/panorama/index_en.htm>
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. "Overview of the NAFTA." The North American Free Trade Agreement. 25 Sept. 2003. Government of Canada. 27 Nov. 2006 <http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/nafta-alena/over-en.asp>
• NAFTA Secretariat. "Overview." About the NAFTA Secretariat. 20 Oct. 2004. NAFTA Secretariat. 27 Nov. 2006 <http://www.nafta-sec-alena.org/DefaultSite/index_e.aspx?DetailID=184>

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