Chapter 1: EU Integration PDF

**[Summary of (chapter 1= I]ntroducing the Mosaic of Integration Theory[/ ]***Thomas Diez and Antje Wiener)* **Overview of Integration Theory** The chapter emphasizes the importance of integration theory in understanding the European Union (EU) beyond its institutional mechanics. It seeks to: 1....

**[Summary of (chapter 1= I]ntroducing the Mosaic of Integration Theory[/ ]***Thomas Diez and Antje Wiener)* **Overview of Integration Theory** The chapter emphasizes the importance of integration theory in understanding the European Union (EU) beyond its institutional mechanics. It seeks to: 1. **Introduce integration theory** to newcomers in the field. 2. **Reflect on theoretical approaches** to stimulate critique, reformulation, and advancement of the field. Integration theory explores the dynamics of political cooperation and institution-building in Europe, analyzing both processes and outcomes. It incorporates insights from political science, international relations (IR), and other disciplines. **Key Concepts in Integration Theory** 1. **Definition of Integration**: - Haas defines it as shifting loyalties and expectations from national states to a new central authority. Theories differ in focus---some prioritize political institutions, others emphasize social integration. 2. **Purpose of Theories**: - Explain integration outcomes. - Analyze EU governance and its policy processes. - Critically evaluate and propose normative frameworks. 3. **Theoretical Frameworks**: - **Explaining**: Early theories (e.g., neofunctionalism, intergovernmentalism) analyzed drivers of integration. - **Analyzing**: Governance and comparative politics approaches examine the EU as a unique political system. - **Constructing**: Later approaches focus on the EU\'s identity, norms, and broader implications. **Phases of European Integration Theory** 1. **Explanatory Phase (1960s onward)**: - Focused on explaining why integration occurred and the institutional outcomes. - Neofunctionalism and intergovernmentalism were central debates. - Influenced by realism and liberalism from IR theory. 2. **Analytical Phase (1980s onward)**: - Explored the EU as a system of governance, addressing institutional processes and policy dynamics. - Brought in comparative politics and institutionalist theories. 3. **Constructive Phase (1990s onward)**: - Addressed normative, identity-related, and critical questions. - Incorporated insights from constructivism, political economy, and post-structuralism. **Functions of Theory in European Integration** 1. **Explanation/Understanding**: Why and how integration processes happen. 2. **Description/Analysis**: Conceptualizing the EU\'s institutional and political character. 3. **Critique/Normative Intervention**: Challenging integration trajectories and proposing alternatives. **Interdisciplinary and Contextual Influences** Integration theories are shaped by: 1. **Socio-political contexts**, such as EU treaties and crises. 2. **Academic debates**, including IR and social science trends. 3. **Regional/national traditions**, with diverse academic styles contributing to theoretical discourse. **Theoretical Diversity: Competition or Complementarity?** The chapter advocates a \"mosaic\" view where diverse theories complement each other, addressing different aspects of integration. While some theories compete directly, others contribute unique perspectives, enriching the overall understanding of European integration. **Conclusion** The chapter highlights the evolving nature of integration theory, reflecting shifts in the EU\'s political and institutional landscape. It calls for critical engagement, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the recognition of multiple perspectives to advance the field. NOTES **Political theories and regime of the EU** ***I. Introduction*** *"The European integration is a process whereby political actors in several, distinct national settings are persuaded to shift their loyalties, expectations and political activities toward a new centre, whose institutions process or demand jurisdiction over the pre-existing national states".* Why do sovereign states create the EU? Here, the European integration is seen as a dependant variable. ***II. Political system of the EU*** **1. Originsofahybridpoliticalsystem** The European political system finds its origins in 1951 with the ECSC, which is an economic treaty bonding the coal and steel sectors to prevent countries to make war to each other. Now, the ECSC has evolved in EU, resulting from all the treaties and rules that have been made the past years, and giving birth to a unique combination of supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. On the one hand, **supranationalism** means that the MS pool and delegate their sovereignty on certain matters to allow joint decision making; it means that this kind of power is **above the national level**. This is the case for certain sectors, such as internal market or competition\... The supranational institutions are the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice. On the other hand, **intergovernmentalism** means that MS work together on policies of common concern but retain their full sovereignty; therefore, the decisions are not made in a system above the national level, but **between the MS**. This is the case for sectors such as foreign policy, police and judicial cooperation\... The intergovernmental institutions are the European Council and the (Ministers) Council. ⇨ **First big evolution** Today, **EU has 28 MS**, resulting from the constant enlargement that has been made through the years. Indeed, at the beginning, MS were at the number of 6. **Therefore, the EU's territorial scope has been considerably increased.** ⇨ **Second big evolution** **EU has been strengthened by all the Treaties from Rome to Lisbon**, which have constitutional structure because they establish the basic rules and agreements between the MS. Every treaty is a continuation, an amelioration, an amendment of the previous ones; the fundamental things are still echoing in all of them, even if there's some changes. The Treaties give the objectives to follow, the legal authorities for the different sectors, the policy-making rules\... **2. Rationale behind the institutional framework** Montesquieu believed in **the logic of separation of powers**, that it would lead to a democratic state. And **it worked at a national level**. But in order to understand the EU institutional system and structure, **this logic must be forgotten.** Citizens elect at supranational level the Parliament, which elects the Commission. The European Council is composed of all the State or government leaders and so is directly elected to by the citizens at a national level and indirectly at European level. The Council, which is composed of all the Ministers competent in the sector of the day, works the same way. When there are conflicts, the CJ is there. The Council and the European Council are intergovernmental institutions, while The Commission, the EP and the CJ are supranational institutions. **The proposals are always initiated by the Commission** because it represents European interests, while the Council represents MS's interests. After that, the Council and the Parliament co-decided the proposal and try to find an agreement. So, **there's no separation of powers** because the **supranational and intergovernmental levels collaborate.** They engage more and more policy coordination without supranational develop. Finally, **for the big decisions (eg : treaties), the European Council takes decisions.** This system has been structured that way because the European legislation is more or less 2000 pages, and it can be easy to deviate for one of the institutions. The system is made in such way in order to avoid that. **3. European Commission** ***a. Composition and structure*** The European Commission is subdivided in 2 wings: **political and administrative (bureaucratic).** The political one is **the political institution itself** and is composed of 28 commissioners (one per MS who represents his country). Each of them has a portfolio with the position of the country during the weekly meeting. **All the decisions are taken collegially**, which means everyone is responsible for the decision. ⇨ **Characteristics of executive power\ **The administrative wing is the **main administration of the EU** and is composed of the general's directors. It can be compared to the Ministries at a national level. ⇨ **Characteristics of administrative power** ***b. Functions*** The functions of the Commission are multiples: - **Exclusive right to initiate a proposition of legislation:** every directive, decision, regulation is proposed by the Commission, because it represents the common, European, interests, and not the national interests. The legislative power (the EP and the Council) cannot do anything if the Commission doesn't introduce a proposition. There's an **interdependence upon each other**, also during the adoption of a law proposition. The Commission participates at the meetings between Council and EP. - **Control on the application of European legislation**: - Possibility to start proceedings before the Court if a country does a fault; - Guardian of the Treaties. - **External representation in international affairs that deal with EU competences** - **Direct executive powers:** - The Commission executes EU rules - Administration of financial **4. European Parliament** ***a. Composition*** The EP is directly elected by the citizens of the EU from 1979. **Before the elections,** the seats in the EP are distributed between different national electoral districts. The citizens vote in their commune for the party they wish to see in the EP. **The distribution of the seats is organized according degressive proportionality**, which means that the largest the state is the lesser power he will have in comparison with smaller countries. By instance, a Germany citizen has less influence than a Maltese citizen because, for the former, 1 MEP represents 72 000 Maltese citizens, while 1 MEP represents 854 000 German citizens for the latter. **After the European elections**, the different national groups have formed European political groups which represents a more or less same political colour or family: - EPP: conservative, centre-right parties - S&P: socialist parties - Renew Europe: liberals parties - The Green/European Free Alliance - Identity and democracy: far right parties - European conservatives and reformists: British conservatives parties - European united left/Nordic Green Left: most left-wing parties - Non affiliated **There's no stable majority because the opposition is inexistent**, in comparison with the national level. **This is a case by case majority building**, so it is difficult to follow. Moreover, there is **more internal heterogeneity than in the national level.** In one European group, there are a lot of national political parties. To get some power, you need to be a member of an alliance. ***b. Functions*** The functions of the EP are on the one hand a **co-decision with the Council in terms of law proposition**. It was decided after Maastricht that the Council and the EP would be on a **same level of power**. Before the SEA, **the EP had only a consultation power**, was not directly elected and was composed of members of the national Parliament. After the SEA, it was decided to introduce a cooperation procedure with the EP and the Council. Until today, the EP has thus gotten more and more power. In 90% of the cases, the EP and the Council have to co-decide: this is called **the OLP (ordinary legislative procedure).** On the other hand, **the EP also has a control powers**, but it can't propose a legislation, this is the Commission's role. **5. Council of the EU** ***a. Composition*** The Council (of the EU/of ministers) is composed of the MS representant in the field discussed. There are 10 configurations. ***b. Rotating presidency*** There is a **rotating presidency**, which changes every 6 months between the MS. Since July, it is Finland who is at charge. Thus, it is the Finish ministers who are chair in every meeting (ex: Finish agriculture minister for the agriculture meeting). ***c. Voting rules in the Council*** The voting rules in the Council evolved **from unanimity towards more QMV.** The Council is part of the legislative procedure and needs to justify its proposition. Before coming to Brussels, the national ministers must establish a common position and defend it. There are different outcomes regarding if the vote is done with QMV or unanimity. **Under unanimity**, this is harder to obtain everyone's accord and so it is no for the most ambitious projects; there is **less possibility for harmonization**. **Under QMV**, which means the ministers needs to reach 55% of the MS and 65% of the European population, it is easier to obtain a compromise, because the decision can be apply even if some countries don't agree; there is much more possibility for a harmonization. To break the policy, there must be a collation between countries. By instance, the fiscal harmonization is done with the QMV. The decision for unanimity of QMV is decided in the Treaties by a legal basis in the article and §. Thus, in practice, there is much possibilities for compromises and consensus. However, in reality, the MS are afraid of "the shadow of the vote", which means that if they don't vote like the others they could be outvoted or isolated. This is a **highly consensual system** and so a non-vote can create consequences. ***d. Preparatory and diplomatic level of the Council*** The Council has **3 levels for preparation and diplomacy**: **the ministerial level, the diplomatic level and the administrative level.** The Council's working groups of the administrative level -- **the officials** - are in charge of the **preparation of technical issues for diplomats**. Those have to deal with the most sensitive and difficult issues and prepare the work for the ministers into the COROPER. Finally, the COROPER has to prepare the work for the Ministers. They are all permanent representatives. **6. The European Council** ***a. Composition*** **The European Council is composed of the Heads of government and Heads of State** (Chypre, France, Romania and ), which are the national representatives at the highest political level. They meet during a **"European Summit".** During the meetings, **a permanent President is in charge of the chair**. The President of the European Commission is present too. When foreign policy is discussed, **the High Representant of Foreign Policy must be present.** ***b. Functions*** *"The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political directions and priorities thereof. It shall not exercise legislative functions"* (art 15 § 1 TEU). The European Council has **several functions**: - **It discusses all issues**, which is the difference with the Council. - **No legislative power but:** - **Ultimate decision maker** - **In charge of the foreign policy and Treaties amendments** **The rule in the European Council is the consensus**, with some exceptions. The advantage is that **the outcomes are backed and collective.** The disadvantage is that **there are different interpretations of the problems** and then the ambiguity has to be vanquished to find a solution. Every Heads needs to be able to sell this conclusion at home as a victory.