Differentiated Integration

Question 1

Context of DI

Answer 1

EU enlargements have increasing heterogeneity (diversity)

Increasing euro-scepticism

Not all MS can/want integrate further

Tension between widening v deepening

DI= last resort to stalled negotiations - avoids stalemate where very small minority blocking agreement

Flexibility - MS choose policy option close to ideal

Question 2

Landscape of DI

Answer 2

Core of MS= participated in almost all integration projects
-founding states and most euro-area MS

Integration outsiders don’t comprise a consistent group, but vary
-UK outside in almost all DI projects

Question 3

Opt outs

Answer 3

DI can be established on basis of EU treaties through optouts

1st time used - Maasticht Treaty 1992 : UK remain outside EMU

Number optouts increased since Lisbon Treaty

Question 4

Opt ins

Answer 4

Not required to be involved in project as whole - can select what want to take part in

Ireland and UK : participated majority on asylum policy and fight against illegal migration but not visa policy, migrations

Since Lisbon Treaty UK= 20/24 Council decisions

Question 5

Multi-Speed Europe

Answer 5

Some states cooperate closer at earlier point to others

Transitional provisions governing accession of new MS

Model= structured around LT goal of uniform, supranational integration

Question 6

Enhanced cooperation

Answer 6

Min. 9 MS allowed advance integration/cooperation

Extensive cultural and legal heterogeneity (diversity) within EU on 1 issue

Limits:
Permitted only within shared competences of EU
Can’t be used to expand EU powers or reduce them by returning competences to national level

Question 7

Risks DI

Answer 7

'2 class Europe' - integrated core group exclude others
E.g. Transitional arrangements used by then 15 MS protect from eastern enlargement 

Those who opt out lose influence
-opting out implies self imposed marginalisation

Institutional arrangements become even more complex and therefore harder to understand and implement

Optouts can undermine cohesion and solidarity when outsiders are protected from shared risks by their non-participation

• UK debate whether assist eurozone states that have balance of payments problems
• -> helped Ireland out of national interest but refused other aid packages

Question 8

Disintegration

Answer 8

Collapse of economic interdependence

High levels interdependence + politicisation = DI likely

European integration = threatened by rising hostility towards EU in MS

Question 9

DI = ?

Answer 9

Arrangements that represents a departure from the principle that all MS must move towards the same objective at same pace

Exists when closer cooperation is established between MS in selected policy fields in which not all MS participate

Anti-thesis to integration