Introduction to the EUIntroduction to the EU

Gary MarksGary Marks

Five Perspectives on the Five Perspectives on the EUEU

1. Peace1. Peace2. Democracy2. Democracy3. Protest3. Protest4. Efficiency4. Efficiency5. Survival5. Survival

PERSPECTIVE ONEPERSPECTIVE ONEPeace Peace

World War I: 20 million dead World War I: 20 million dead

World War II: 70 million deadWorld War II: 70 million dead

What to do about nationalism: the What to do about nationalism: the most deadly force in human most deadly force in human historyhistory

A “United States of Europe”A “United States of Europe”

. . .What is this sovereign remedy? It is to recreate the European Family or as much of it as we can and provide it with a structure under which it can dwell in peace, in safety and freedom. We must build a kind of United States of Europe.Therefore I say to you:“Let Europe Arise!”

Zurich, 19 Sept 1946

“ “ . . . only one solution: we . . . only one solution: we must bind ourselves must bind ourselves inextricably to inextricably to Germany. . .” Jean Monnet Germany. . .” Jean Monnet

The Schuman DeclarationThe Schuman DeclarationEurope will not be made all at once, or Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements . . . through concrete achievements . . . The French government proposes that The French government proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed as a whole be placed under a common High under a common High AuthorityAuthority. . .. . .as a first step in the federation of as a first step in the federation of Europe. AnEurope. Any war between France and y war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. ….but materially impossible. …. Robert Schuman, 9 May 1950Robert Schuman, 9 May 1950

How can war be averted?How can war be averted?

JJean Monnet

Robert Schuman

Three LandmarksThree Landmarks

The European Coal and Steel Community The European Coal and Steel Community (1951): Succeeded!(1951): Succeeded!

European Defence Community (1954): Failed!European Defence Community (1954): Failed!

The European Economic Community (1957): The European Economic Community (1957): Succeeded!Succeeded!

PERSPECTIVE TWO PERSPECTIVE TWO DemocracyDemocracy

It’s no secretIt’s no secret

We actually know how to consolidate We actually know how to consolidate democracydemocracy

Copenhagen criteriaCopenhagen criteria

““Membership requires that the candidate country Membership requires that the candidate country has achieved stability of institutions has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing . . .”guaranteeing . . .”

1) the1) the rule of law, human rightsrule of law, human rights and respect for, and respect for, and protection ofand protection of minoritiesminorities

2)2) democracydemocracy

3) the existence of a functioning3) the existence of a functioning market economymarket economy

PERSPECTIVE THREEPERSPECTIVE THREEProtestProtest

no! No! NO!no! No! NO!

Elites and public on Europe

Sources: a) elites, Intune (Fall 2007)

b) public opinion: Eurobarometer 68 (Fall 2007)

02468

101214161820

1971-80

1981-90

1991-00

2001-07

EU Referenda

"NO" votes

REFERENDA ON EUROPE

IDENTITY

0

10

20

30

40

50

Public Opinion

national only

national,european

european,national

european only

Source: Commission (2002 survey), Public Opinion (Eurobarometer 2001)

Criticism on the radical right

http://europa.sp.nl/campagne2004/waakhond.shtml

Criticism on the radicalleft

First anti-EU protests in Bulgaria (January 2007)

Issue: sales tax on home-made liquor

Graffiti:

We don’t want Europe

We don’t want money

We want the liquor at the old prices.

Eurobarometer 1992-1998

1=exclusive national identity 2= mix of national and european identity

PERSPECTIVE FOUREfficiency

n“Multilevel governance must be a priority.” José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission,

2009.

“Develop as quickly as possible practical measures . . . with a view to strengthening multilevel governance.”

October 2008 resolution of the European Parliament

Principles of Multilevel Principles of Multilevel GovernmentGovernment

CentralizeCentralize where necessary where necessary

a) encompass relevant externalitiesa) encompass relevant externalities

b) exploit economies of scaleb) exploit economies of scale

DecentralizeDecentralize where possible where possible

a) responsive governmenta) responsive government

b) preferences varyb) preferences vary

Match the scale of government to the Match the scale of government to the scale of problem:scale of problem:

LocalLocal: garbage pickup : garbage pickup RegionalRegional: urban sprawl: urban sprawl NationalNational: land usage; transport : land usage; transport

networknetwork ContinentalContinental: Rhine pollution : Rhine pollution GlobalGlobal: climate change: climate change

1950: sovereign national states1950: sovereign national states

National National legal systems, armies, taxation, legal systems, armies, taxation, parliaments, welfare health, educationparliaments, welfare health, education

Inside countries: Inside countries: legitimate authority, the rule of legitimate authority, the rule of law, democracy, liberty, equalitylaw, democracy, liberty, equality

Outside countries: Outside countries: no legitimate authority, no no legitimate authority, no effective legal or normative order, anarchy, effective legal or normative order, anarchy, power politics, warpower politics, war

Regionalization in EuropeRegionalization in Europe

BRITAIN Scottish, Welsh parliaments, 1997

FRANCE Elected regional governments,1982

GERMANY Federal constitution, 1949

ITALY Elected regional governments, 1976. Strengthened, 1996.

SPAIN Autonomous regions, 1978. Strengthened, 1993; 1998.

PERSPECTIVE FIVESURVIVAL

Why the EU is the world’s most important experiment

A growing number of public bads are transnational

FALLING COST OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1920 1930 1940 1950 1969 1970 1980 1990

Ocean freight Air Transatlantic phone Satellite

Falling cost of transport and communications

• climate change• nuclear proliferation• financial regulation• failing states• biodiversity loss• ocean exhaustion

• deforestation• overfishing• nuclear waste

disposal• epidemics• refugees

Combatting these problems involves winners and losers

national sovereignty is seriously suboptimal

6.6%

93.3%

85.0%

11.1%3.9%

the European Union is the world’s most important experiment in creating

authoritative, general purpose, supranational government

task specific general purpose