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N. Nugent

N. Nugent. The Government and Politics of the European Union 2010 Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. Historical Background: Factors behind European integration. Combating nationalism New political map of Europe (East-West) New international power balance (Europe as entity) German problem

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N. Nugent

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  1. N. Nugent The Government and Politics of the European Union 2010 Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4

  2. Historical Background: Factors behind European integration • Combating nationalism • New political map of Europe (East-West) • New international power balance (Europe as entity) • German problem • Bretton Woods institutions (1944) • Marshall Plan Aid conditionality: economic cooperation and openness • Interdependence (economic & political)

  3. National considerations • France • Germany • Italy • Benelux

  4. European Coal & Steel Community (ECSC) • Schuman and Monnet • ECSC Treaty of Paris (1951) • Abolition of customs tariffs & quotas • Progress in removal non-tariff barriers to trade • Harmonization external trade policy • Levies on coal & steel production • Restructuring of industries • Institutions: High Authority/ Commission; Council of Ministers; Common Assembly; Court of Justice • Initial success • But coal & steel declining importance/ other energy sources

  5. To the EEC Rome Treaty 1957 • Need for greater defense cooperation • Pleven plan: European Defense Community agreed by 6 (1952) (+EPC) • EDC rejected by French National Assembly 1954  EDC collapse • Original Schuman strategy: political union best achieved via economic integration • Messina 1955: plan for further econ integration (“united Europe”) • Two Treaties of Rome 1957 (EEC, Euratom) • EEC: clear rules on trade, only guiding principles for social and agricultural policy

  6. The EEC Treaty • Removal of tariffs & quotas  free trade area • Common External Tariff for external imports; basis for Common Commercial Policy  customs union • Prohibition of distortion of competition • Measures to promote free movement of persons, services and capital (SM) • Institutions: Commission; Council of Ministers; Assembly; Court of Justice

  7. Deepening of Integration 1: Treaty Development • Treaty Development [signed/ entered into force] • Rome 1957/ 1958 • SEA 1986/ 1987 • Maastricht 1992/ 1993 • Amsterdam 1997/ 1999 • Nice 2001/ 2003 • Lisbon Dec. 2007/ December 2009

  8. Deepening of Integration 2: Development of Policy Processes • Changing relationships btw institutions/ blurring of responsibilities • Involvement of new participants (heads of gvnt, national & transnational sectoral interests) • Policy process more varied & complex, functioning in different ways/ levels [channels, interactions, etc] • Policy processes for efficient (QMV) & democratic (EP). • Policy processes more supranational (Commission, ECB, QMV).

  9. Deepening of Integration 3: Development of Policies • Core: Internal Market/ Single Europ Market • Development of policies; EU regulatory presence • Product standards; liberalization of national economies; prudential regulation; control against subsidies • Additional to core: Employment, environment, consumer protection; working conditions • EMU • Limited involvement in social welfare, education, health & defense (heavy spending CAP) • Regional & social policies (since 1970s, 2 main cohesion funds: ERDF, ESF) • Other policy areas: foreign & security; defense; justice & home affairs • Very few areas left without significant EU policies

  10. Widening of Integration Process • 1st enlargement 1973: DEN, IRE, UK • Mediterranean 1981/86: GR, ESP, POR • EFTAn 1995: AU, FIN, SWE • 10+2 2004: CY, CZ, EST, HU, LAT, LIT, MAL, POL, SLOVK, SLOVN +2: BU, RO • Total: EU-27

  11. 1ST Enlargement • FRA against UK 1961, ‘67(de Gaulle): could unsettle FR-GR alliance; ties with US; dilute integration • FRA for UK (Pompidou): counterweight to GER; support FRA to opposition to supranationalism; economic gains, UK net contributor • Reasons for UK pro: decline of UK, Commonwealth, special relation with US, EC outperforming UK, rising EC political status

  12. Mediterranean enlargement • Underdevelopment of Greek economy • Commission negative • GR (applied 1974): underpin democracy; consolidate GR’s west european alliance bonds; negotiations opened 1976 • SP-POR: applied 1977 • Decoupling of accession negotiations

  13. EFTAn • End of cold war (neutrality) • EFTA unsatisfactory (had to accept rules they could not influence) • EFTA was replaced by EEA in 1994 • Norway voted against

  14. 10+2 • CEECs: EU soft security protection, crucial for trade • 1993 Copenhagen criteria: democracy, rule of law, human rights, respect for minorities, functioning market economy, capacity to cope with market competition in EU; candidate ability to adhere to aims of political, economic & monetary union • 1993 Copenhagen: “EU capacity to absorb new members, while maintaining momentum of integration, also an important consideration in the general interest of both EU and candidate ms”

  15. 10+2 • Luxemburg 1997: begin 5+1 1st wave (CZ, ES, HU, PO, SLOVN + CY) • Helsinki Summit 1999: open 2nd wave 5+1; decisions to be made on basis of progress; TUR “candidate country” • 2000 COM roadmap • 10 Accession Treaties signed April 2003; by Sept 2003 all 8 CEECs completed ratification referenda. • Full members 1 May 2004.

  16. Why Willing to Enlarge? • Candidates: benefits of membership • EU: never had clear policy on enlargement • Look at particular membership rounds • Prior to EFTAn round, Delors fears that enlargement would divert attention from EMU and CFSP • Only Iceland, Norway, Switzerland “easy” applicants out

  17. Impacts of Enlargement on EU • Driving force behind treaty reform, increases in QMV since SEA • EU institutions grew in size • Institutional problems, eg language • EU policy outcomes more flexible (OMC; differentiation/ enhanced cooperation; opt outs) • Not easy for larger ms to push their prefs • Uploading of requirements, prefs, problems • EU global importance (500 million, 1/5 of global imports/exports not counting intra-EU) • Croatia, TUR negotiations; • FYROM, Montenegro, ALB, SERB, ICE applications • Georgia Ukraine possible

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