class 19

Question 1

Discuss why regional or cohesion policy has been and still is a major area of priority for the EU.

Answer 1

goes towards one area, regions since the EU is constituted of them, tries to reduce disparities for one direction, economic, social, territorial union, reduce between the two markets (rich and poor), enlargement with poorer countries, economic growth, sustainable development
→ define regional policy, define cohesion policy, explain, give examples, why it needs to be done…

more empirical answer: poorest and richest regions (ile de France, Frankfurt, Munich, Milano and poorer regions that are border regions negative dev related to industry and other issues like environment (fishing, etc.)

Question 2

EU and the war in Gaza: how can you explain the weakness of the EU in addressing this crisis?

Answer 2

• how can people agree on something so controversial
• bring stagnation as it did before
• different countries different values
• institutional aspects and ideologies
• unfair to force a country to go against what it believe in
• depending on the geo-political scenario
• historical influence
• lack of unity in foreign affairs have their own foreign affairs policies (sovereignty in their borders)
• spreading very thin because they can’t fully put their attention on it

Question 3

EU and the war in Gaza: how can you explain the weakness of the EU in addressing this crisis, is it because of diverging interest or is it something else?

Answer 3

historical legacy and relationships
geography