Luuk van Middelaar- 'The Passage to Europe.' Flashcards
Identify similarities between the 19th-century European Congress and the European Union?
- Both the 19th-century European Congress and the European Union were formed as a means of fostering cooperation and diplomacy between European states.
- Both entities aimed to establish a framework for resolving conflicts and maintaining peace among European nations.
- Both the Congress and the EU sought to create a system of rules and regulations to govern relations between European states.
Identify differences between the 19th-century European Congress and the European Union?
- The 19th-century European Congress was primarily a gathering of sovereign states, while the European Union is a supranational organization with its own governing institutions and legal framework.
- The Congress focused on the balance of power and diplomatic negotiations between states, while the EU has evolved to encompass economic, political, and social integration among its member states.
- The Congress was more focused on maintaining the sovereignty of individual states, while the EU has moved towards a greater degree of shared sovereignty and decision-making at the European level.
- The eu had more of an economic priority but Congress didn’t
- congress didn’t have legal binding whereas EU has a supernational institution that can hold countries legally accountable and inter governable
What does Luuk van Middelaar think of the EU as a political union?
In economic terms, the EU is a transnational union in which the member states have surrendered much national control to the European Commission. The Member States make decision-making on important political matters in the intergovernmental bodies of the European Council and the Council of Ministers. Proposals can only be adopted with a majority vote. In foreign policy, the consent of all member states is necessary. A frequently heard point of criticism of the EU is, therefore, that the EU is a global player economically but a dwarf in the field of foreign policy because decision-making often does not take place, and when it does come, it often looks like a watered-down compromise.
Middalaar takes a mild view as he understands the complexity this entails.
How was the EU created?
-with a want to tie European economies together
–> European Coal and Steel Community 1951 treaty
- 6 countries (Bel, Ger, Fr, It, Lux, NL) - common market.
–> meaning no country could make weapons of war to turn against one another.
–> Maastricht treaty 1992
What is the Maastricht treaty
-Feb 1992 signed.
–> signed by 12 member states of European community
-completing the integral market
-paved way to create single European currency - Euro
-established European Central Bank etc.
-EU citizenship
-completing the internal market
-creating of Common Foreign + Security Policy
Treaty of the European Union
The EU is an economic superpower, but is it also political?
-need political cooperation from all nations involved in order for it to work.
–> need for unanimity - dependent on nations agreeing and contributing.
-economic strength as a political tool –> economic leverage. Promotes stability and cooperation.
-incremental progress- EU’s political development incremental - evolving process - each step to strengthening EU as political union.
Outermost sphere
-blurred from geography + history.
-Embraces ‘wider Europe’ - all sovereign states on continent- known as Concert of Europe.
- self-interest by states, order mainly from balance of power + territorial borders.
The outermost sphere refers to the arena of a wider Europe, where sovereign states pursue power and national interests on behalf of their populations. It is a world without a European entity that embraces or transcends the states, and it is characterized by power politics and conflicts of interest. This outer sphere is reminiscent of the old European concert of states, where political relationships between states were shaped by a balance of power.
Innermost sphere
-created from treaty 1951.
-Covers expanding economic realm within participating states.
- European project - order and firm footing from treaty signing.
The innermost sphere refers to the institutional inner sphere of the European Union, which includes the High Authority, the Council of Ministers, and the Court, as well as the European Council. This sphere is characterized by the founding treaty, which provides order and footing, and it operates based on a legal basis or formal competency outlined in the treaty. The inner sphere is where the European project is guided by a vision of the future and where the Community ideologues work to sustain a “community spirit.” It is the realm of supranational organs with their own independent authority, and it represents a departure from old-style diplomacy, emphasizing the merging of individual interests into the common interest of the European community.
Intermediate sphere
-Arose unexpectedly when the Community was found.
- unnoticed for years.
- Crucial.
-Is the sphere of Europe’s member states.
–> characterised by growth of common interests + national interests
–> membership by law and balance of power.
The intermediate sphere is characterized by the joint control of the entrance by member states, where they experience themselves as a club. The intermediate sphere is where the member states act together as a single entity and serves as a transition point between the outer and inner spheres. It is also where the member states pursue their national interests while becoming increasingly aware of common interests that flow from membership. The sphere is described as being neither outer nor purely inner, where the member states discover the unique nature of their collective world.
To what extent do the economic + political objectives of the EU reflect (neo) liberal optimism in the post Cold War? Think Fukuyama!
-reinforces what he said
–> people were joining the democratic liberalism thing - was a safety net.
-overall the EU had an attractiveness to it.
The EU’s economic and political objectives in the post-Cold War era embody the (neo)liberal optimism described by Francis Fukuyama’s “end of history” thesis. Economically, the establishment of the Single Market, the Economic and Monetary Union, and the promotion of free trade agreements reflect a commitment to market liberalization and economic integration. Politically, the EU emphasizes the spread of liberal democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, evident in its enlargement policy and Common Foreign and Security Policy. This alignment with (neo)liberal ideals underscores a belief in the benefits of democracy and free markets. However, challenges such as economic disparities, democratic backsliding, and geopolitical tensions reveal the complexities and limitations of this optimistic vision.
How can we best describe the EU as an institution: international, transnational or supranationl?
-can be described through the three spheres that cover all
–> it was an international cooperation with nations having national interests etc.
The EU can best be described as a supranational institution. The inner sphere of the EU is governed by a treaty and operates independently when able to invoke an article of the treaty, indicating a level of authority beyond that of a traditional international organization. Additionally, the EU’s founding treaty created a legal entity represented both inwardly and outwardly by the High Authority, now known as the Commission, which operates autonomously within the parameters set by the states. This level of autonomy and authority points to the EU being a supranational institution, transcending the traditional boundaries of international and transnational organizations.
Is the chosen description an embodiment of a ‘great promise’
Great promise means- eacem economic cooperation and prosperity.
–> so looking towards peace and security that would remain globally.
–> peace
–> yes - embodiment of thus somewhere.
–> if it always fufils this is a different question but it is there.
Institutionally and inner scale.
What is the relevance of the three spheres
The relevance of these spheres lies in the dynamics of European politics, with each sphere contributing to the overall functioning of the European Union. The outer sphere engages in power politics, the inner sphere is focused on the European project and the functioning of the institutions, and the intermediate sphere represents the joint action of the member states. Understanding the interactions and relationships between these spheres is crucial to comprehending European politics’ complexities and the EU’s decision-making processes.
