Topic 11. Relance: the Enlarged Europe

Question 1

The Hague Summit (1969)

Answer 1

The 1970s and the paralysis of European integration

    * Transitional decade between EEC commissioning + 80s relaunch.
    * International economic situation not conducive to progress in economic integration
    * “Eurosclerosis”

Pompidou proposes a summit of Heads of State + Govt. to “relaunch” the Community (1969). 3 basic topics dealt with:

    * Financing of CAP + agreement on the Community budget (“Completion”).
    * Enlargement of the Communities (“Widening”)
    * Deepening of Communities. 2 reports are commissioned: the Werner Report (EMU) + the Davignon Report (political cooperation).

Question 2

The 80s and European integration

Answer 2

The economic difficulties of the 70s drag on during the first half of the 80s, exacerbating national interests.
Appearance of new political leaders who will have a special relevance in the process of European construction:
* UK - Margaret Thatcher (79-90)
* France - François Mitterrand (81-95)
* GFR - Helmut Kohl (82-98)
good Europeanist understanding between Mitterrand-Kohl (Franco-German axis), to which Felipe González (82-96) will be added.

Question 3

Thatcher and the budget crisis

Answer 3

UK budget claims:

    * until 1980 UK benefited from a transitional period;
    * from 1980 onwards, application of the "normal" budget system (negative balance for the UK). Problems: British agriculture + the economic crisis in the UK;
    * Thatcher's speech at the Dublin European Council (1979): “We are not asking the Community or anyone else for money. We are simply asking to have our own money back”

Community position against general budget change, while Thatcher threatens to stop paying its share to the EU budget.

Fontainebleau European Council (1984): the Ten decide to establish a financial compensation mechanism for the UK (the “British rebate”).

Impact of British demands: Mitterrand formulates the possibility of establishing a Europe of “variable geometries” or “different speeds“.

Revitalisation of the Franco-German axis + impetus for progress in European integration

Question 4

Enlargement to Ten (1981) and Twelve (1986) background

Answer 4

Until now, the Community had expanded towards the North, leaving aside the South (poor + undemocratic).

Background: signature of association treaties of the 60s + 70s with Greece, Turkey, Malta + Cyprus (future accession).
Spain had signed a preferential trade agreement (1970) and Portugal had benefited since 1972 from the CEE-EFTA industrial free trade agreement.

Question 5

Enlargement to Ten (1981) and Twelve (1986)

Answer 5

• At the end of the 70s dictatorships in Greece, Portugal and Spain: application to join the Communities
• Nine react favourably to enlargement (although they point to some adverse economic consequences).
• Greek adhesion: it causes some problems within the EPC (divergent postures).
• Accession of Spain and Portugal: Spanish negotiations begin 1979 and Portuguese negotiations begin 1978. The Spanish accession will be the most complicated (long negotiations: agriculture, unemployment, fishing). German support for Spanish accession was key.
• Accession Treaties of both countries signed 1985 in Madrid and Lisbon.

Question 6

Projects to deepen European integration

Answer 6

These are basically three projects:

• Tindemans Report (1975)
• Genscher-Colombo report (1981)
• Spinelli Project on EU Treaty (1984)

Question 7

Tindemans Report (1975)

Answer 7

Tindemans Report (1975): pragmatic view:

• Acceleration of the development of new Community policies
• Developing a common defence and foreign affairs policy
• Reinforce authority President of the Commission.
• Strengthening the democratic role of the EP

Question 8

Genscher-Colombo report (1981)

Answer 8

at the London European Council, German (Hans-Dietrich Genscher) and Italian (Emilio Colombo) AA ministers present a European Minutes plan for the political relaunch of the European construction process.

Principles (common foreign policy and legislative harmonisation) and institutions (European Council as the highest decision-making body).

Consequence: Solemn Declaration on the EU in Stuttgart by Heads of State and Government (1983)

Question 9

Spinelli Project on EU Treaty (1984)

Answer 9

1981: the EP set up an institutional committee chaired by Altiero Spinelli (federalist) and charged him with preparing a draft EU Treaty that would bring together the 3 EU treaties and intergovernmental activities (and would be called the Constitution).
The EP approved the final draft 1984

In short:

* Expansion of the field of competence Union + formalization ECP.
* Extension of decision-making by majority vote in the Council and strengthening of the Commission's implementing powers.
* More democracy by extending the powers of the EP
* At institutional level, the European Council as presidency of the Union and the Commission as government of the Union

Question 10

Single European Act (SEA) (1987)

Answer 10

1985 - Luxembourg European Council approves IGC conclusions in the form of a treaty, the Single European Act (SEA). Signed in February 1986 and entered into force on 1987. First major reform of the Treaties of Rome (1957).

The Preamble sets as objective the creation of the European Union (based on the Communities and the EPC).

Question 11

Single European Act:- The Milan European Council convenes an IGC which:

Answer 11

1985

• Prepares for the completion of the Single Market in 1992
• Improves the institutional system
• Makes Progresses towards the Common Foreign and Security Policy

Question 12

Single European Act:- Institutional reform:

Answer 12

• Institutionalises the European Council (extra-Community institution).
• Extension of the weighted majority EU Council votes.
• Reinforcement of EP powers (binding consultation, accession and association agreements; introduction of a cooperation procedure with the Council).
• Reinforcement of executive power European Commission.

Question 13

Single European Act:- measures and policies

Answer 13

• Creation of the Single Market: (which shall mean) “a borderless area in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured”.
• Adoption of various monetary policy co-ordination measures (preparation towards EMU).
• Reform and support Structural Funds
• Integration of the EPC into the Communities (Title III of the EUA)
• Finally, the EP is very dissatisfied with the EUA: “The EUA, despite the improvements contained, is far from carrying out the EU to which the Member States Heads of State and Government have repeatedly committed themselves” (Resolution PE 1986).
• Pessimists vs. Pragmatics.
• Final balance: positive. Compromise between supranationality and intergovernmentalism.