Lecture 1 - The EU as a Political System - What is the EU? PDF

The EU as a political system: What is the EU? Daniel Schade The EU Today 9 September 2024 Course introduction  100 120 140 160...

The EU as a political system: What is the EU? Daniel Schade The EU Today 9 September 2024 Course introduction  100 120 140 160 180 200 0 20 40 60 80 1945 1948 1951 1954 1957 1960 1963 1966 1969 1972 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 Countries in the world 1996 Growth in UN membership over time 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020 Global population share per continent (2019) 0,6 59,6 % 0,45 0,3 0,15 17,0 % 9,7 % 5,5 % 4,8 % 0,5 % 0 Asia Africa Europe South America North America Oceania A (symbolic) state in the making? Symbols: Common ag & anthem € as common currency Constitutional order Executive, legislative, judiciary EU citizenship & passports It looks like a state by many standards fl Is that really the case though? Course overview Course overview: Block 1 Introductory lectures 9 September The EU as a political system: What is the EU? 16 September The EU as an evolving multi-tiered system: Where does it end? 26 September: The EU as an integrated market: Creating a level playing eld? fi Course overview: Block 1 Introductory lectures 30 September: The EU as a legal system: An Area of Freedom, Security & Justice? 7 October: The EU between international norms and the rule of law: A values-based actor? 14 October: The EU as a foreign policy actor: Much ado about nothing? Course overview: Block 2 Large group splits up into smaller seminar groups Each session devoted to a key debate/controversy in the EU Debates held on a pro/contra basis Each student signs up and prepares for one of the debates (sign-up available later in Block 1) Whether you have to argue for or against a statement will be determined on the day of the debate Non-participating students act as judges/commentators for the speci c debates fi Course overview: Block 2 Key debates 4 November: The EU as a political system: A democratic polity? Debate question: Is the EU democratic? 11 November: The EU as an evolving multi-tiered system: Where does enlargement end? Debate question: Has EU enlargement gone too far? 18 November: The EU as an integrated market: Towards scal federalism? Debate question: Is NGEU a Hamiltonian moment for the EU? fi Course overview: Block 2 Key debates 25 November: The EU as a legal system: The limits of a common migration policy Debate question: The EU needs a proper joint migration policy to preserve its own freedoms. 2 December: The EU between international norms and the rule of law: The end of integration? Debate question: The EU’s rule of law crisis threatens the very existence of European integration. 9 December: The EU as a foreign policy actor: Recent developments Debate question: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the strength of the EU’s foreign policy. Assignments Mid-term exam (40%) Covers the initial 6 course sessions/lectures (Lecture content + required readings) Multiple-choice + short open answer questions Takes place during the class slot on 21 October You need to sign up for this on uSis! Assignments Position paper (40%) Outlines a view on one of the topics/controversies covered in course discussions You can recycle arguments/research from your debate presentation However, needs to be fully grounded in evidence and the existing literature (full references!) 2,000 word limit Due on the date of the course nal (20 December), but can be submitted earlier fi Assignments Active class participation (20%) Regular attendance Familiarity with the readings for each session Debates judged based on: Preparation Quality of the argument Skill in responding to contrary arguments  Contact information Daniel Schade [email protected] Of ce hours by prior appointment (via e-mail) Huizinga 1.24C fi Questions? The EU as a political system: What is the EU? What is the EU? A state? ‘a polity that maintains a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence’ (Max Weber) ‘[an entity] possessing nal jurisdiction over a delineated population and territory and external autonomy in its policies toward other such entities’ (Strang, 1991) An international organisation? ‘an institution established by treaty among two or more governments for the conduct of regular interactions’ (Oxford Handbook of IOs) fi Quiz: EU or Canada? When travelling across state borders, can you take a crate of beer with you without problems? Quiz: EU or Canada? The size of the federal/supranational budget is roughly: 1% of GDP 10% of GDP 20% of GDP  De ning the EU The EU isn’t… …an international organisation (though it shares some features) …quite a state (though it looks increasingly like one) …quite a federation (though it shares quite a few features) The EU is… …a (single) market …a polity …constantly evolving …sui generis fi  De ning the EU In other words William Wallace: “less than a federation, more than a a regime” Giuliano Amato: “hermaphrodite”, “double-sex” Ingeborg Tömmel: “bicephal”, “janus-faced” Brexiters: “an evil empire” Macron: Assurance of our sovereignty Considerable debate about the nature of the EU! fi  De ning European integration In particular: Creation of a common economic area (since 1957) Creation of a political union (Since the 1993 Maastricht Treaty) In general: Conferral of state competencies to a new entity in order to promote stable system of cooperation Member states (MS) bind themselves jointly to supranational regulation (legislation) and jurisdiction (courts) MS oblige themselves to conduct joint policy-making in selected areas, thereby transferring executive & legislative competences to the EU’s institutions Involves giving up parts of “sovereignty” to supranational institutions and accepting the legal order underpinning this cooperation fi Key terms de ning European integration Type of integration Supranational(ism) Governments transfer parts of their powers to a higher authority/level Governments play a representative role at higher level (amongst other actors) Implies potential decision-making by majority (against individual national concerns) Intergovernmental(ism) Governments cooperating voluntarily as representatives of their nations Usually involves decision-making by unanimity/consensus Standard mode of operation for international organisations fi Key terms de ning European integration Scope of integration Deepening Increase in the areas of activity of the EU (policies), implies further transfer of power Change of decision-making rules to favour EU-level decisions Widening (Enlargement) Broadening the geographic scope of European integration/the EU Typically occurs by sovereign states joining the EU Now also needs to consider a shrinking EU fi The term European Union Technically only in existence since 1993 Many signi cant changes to it since then Catch-all term to describe today’s European Union + its historical predecessors e.g. ECSC, EEC, … Outcome of the process described as European integration fi  Key terms de ning European integration Differences in European integration Di erentiated Integration “Europe of multiple speeds” Not all MS have to participate in all EU policies (Some) EU policies are open to non-EU member states Not an original design feature, but a product of the EU’s gradual evolution ff fi A short history of European integration: The supranational ‘Monnet’ method (1950s - 60s) A story of deepening and widening 1951: European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) 6 members: France, Germany, Italy, BeNeLux 1957: European Economic Community (EEC)/ Euratom 1962: Birth of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)  The ECSC: A Franco-German love story? “This is where the hatchet is buried.” “The peace pipe” “Love and coal” “What each contributes to the wedding.” A short history of European integration: ‘Eurosclerosis’ & intergovernmentalism (60s - early 80s) A series of crises De Gaulle’s empty chair policy ‘Luxembourg compromise’ Oil crises & recession Yet, the community is growing 1973: UK, Ireland, Denmark 1981: Greece 1986: Spain, Portugal France on its own? “To the common market.” “Europe is me!” A short history of European integration: Supranational renewal (late 80s - early 2000s) 1987: The Single European Act 1993: The Single Market 1992: Maastricht Treaty (“European Union”) 1995: Austria, Sweden, Finland 1999/2002: Euro € 2002: Nice Treaty 2004/2007 Enlargements 10 countries (25 total): Baltic Republics, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta 2 countries: Bulgaria, Romania A short history of European integration: No coherence (2000s - now) 2005: Rejection Constitutional Treaty 2009: Lisbon Treaty Referendum failure 2009-: Eurozone debt crisis 2013: Croatia joins the EU 2016: Brexit referendum, … 31 January 2020: Exit of the UK The EU in question? Today’s EU 🇪🇺 The EU as a (continental) polity Something of a division of power system Mostly democratic & built on certain values Different logics of representation Different sources of power and legitimacy Inter-institutional competition for in uence fl Today’s EU 🇪🇺 Executive European Commission European Council Legislative European Parliament Council of the EU Judiciary European Court of Justice Summary EU de ned by: Supranationalism, intergovernmentalism Deepening, Widening, Differentiation A polity Distinct “phases” of European integration created today’s EU fi