Chairpersons:
Vojkan Budić (RS) Kyprianos Spyrou (CY) |
Journalist:
Florian Schinnerl (AT) |
Idea of united Europe is centuries old. Starting with Roman Empire, all attempts of putting Continent under single banner have eventually failed. Kicked off with the Treaty of Paris and European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951. European Union seemed as project that will finally fulfil that goal. Considering many benefits EU brings to the member states such as free trade, high level of human rights, help of wealthier countries to those who are not and generally higher living standard, number of countries wanting to partake in it was growing. However, in the recent years, the phenomenon once seen as the British disease is spreading across the Europe. Scepticism and distrust in the European Union is rapidly growing. Many national parties in both European Union countries (UKIP in the UK, National Front in France, SYRIZA in Greece, Sinn Féin in Ireland, Five Star Movement in Italy, FPÖ in Austria) and in countries that are still applying for membership are proposing the departure of their national politics from EU since they view it as bad for further development of their countries.
Reasons for this are many. First, some of them regard it as a threat to national self-determination and a violation of state sovereignty. Second, a common voiced concern would be the loss of identity. The fear of a pan-European identity suffocating the national identity seems to scare people. Third, in new member states there are disappointed citizens which hoped to see the benefits of EU subsidies quickly, and who imagined an unrealistically rapid leap towards Western European standards of wealth. Fourth is that the economic crisis has caused much of the euroscepticism we see today.
In this climate of dissatisfaction, the European Union is struggling. What further steps can be taken in order to restore the legitimacy of EU and continue European integration?
Reasons for this are many. First, some of them regard it as a threat to national self-determination and a violation of state sovereignty. Second, a common voiced concern would be the loss of identity. The fear of a pan-European identity suffocating the national identity seems to scare people. Third, in new member states there are disappointed citizens which hoped to see the benefits of EU subsidies quickly, and who imagined an unrealistically rapid leap towards Western European standards of wealth. Fourth is that the economic crisis has caused much of the euroscepticism we see today.
In this climate of dissatisfaction, the European Union is struggling. What further steps can be taken in order to restore the legitimacy of EU and continue European integration?
Key Terms
- Supranational vs. intergovernmentalism
- Euroscepticism- is the body of criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of political European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum.
- Process of EU integration: is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic, social and cultural integration of states wholly or partially in Europe. With Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1. december 2009., EU eliminated many technical hurdles, making enlargement of Union easier.
- Copenhagen criteria- the rules that define whether a country is eligible to join the European Union. The criteria require that a state has the institutions to preserve democratic governance and human rights, has a functioning market economy, and accepts the obligations and intent of the EU. These membership criteria were laid down at the June 1993 European Council in Copenhagen, Denmark, from which they take their name.
- Separatism- is the advocacy by group of people that calls for separation from the larger group.
- Democratic deficit- The concept of a democratic deficit within the European Union is the idea that the governance of the European Union in some way lacks democratic legitimacy. The term was initially used to criticise the transfer of legislative powers from national governments to the Council of ministers of the EU. This led to an elected European Parliament being created and given the power to approve or reject EU legislation.
Facts and figures:
|
Key Actors:
- The European Parliament- considering it is the only directly elected body of the European Union, the European Parliament should take responsibility for raising trust in European Union institutions and European integration among people.
- Pro EU political parties- With the expansion of eurosceptic political parties and number of their voters on the increase, pro EU parties are in a situation in which they cannot allow themselves a further decline in popularity.
- Anti EU political parties- considering their representation in the media and the recent growth in their popularity and influence, they will be one of the key actors in the shaping of political future of Europe.
- The EU Member States- As these countries have already decided that they believe joining EU is the right path to follow, putting more effort in showing their trust in the institutions of EU to the people is expected from them.
- NGOs- In the past, NGOs have proven their importance in the forming of political views. Using their reputation among the general population, their role might prove to be crucial in rise or fall of European Union (Pro Europa in United Kingdom, Pro Futuro Europae in Poland).
- The countries who are applying for the membership- Since they still have to fulfil criteria for getting a full membership they can also be considered as actors in regaining trust of people in the idea of united Europe.
Key Conflicts:
- Euroscepticism: sceptical approach towards the process of European integration, often characterised with the lack of trust in EU institutions. Though it may provide constructive criticism of the processes developing within the EU, euroscepticism is often coming from the lack of knowledge on the EU and its competences,the involvement and the impact of EU's actions on people's everyday lives.If people don't know the EU’s effects and how they have changed their lives, why would they feel European?
- EU as federation of states? Despite the calls for further integration and federalisation of the EU that are coming from political circles in Brussels and some leading Member States, public opinion stays deeply divided (failed attempt of adopting the EU Constitution in France and the Netherlands in 2005). How to address the calls for federalisation in the light of the rising euroscepticism and calls for referendums on EU membership coming from different Member States?
- Perception of an advantageous EU: living in an era of economic crisis, unemployment and poverty mainly across the southern borders, with the Northern West looking more stable as the years pass,this leaves an aftertaste of a bitter system. One which is unfair and fundamentally undemocratic .
- Lack of education: Education broadens a person's horizons. Despite the progress made the past years to manufacture a European Union with an informed electorate and aware citizens, lack of education in the general aspect is what sets loose foundations for an integrated Europe. Many countries produce citizens with a weak knowledge of the english language,others teach a different set of material.
- Dead-End European Union falling right under euroscepticism and despite the uneducated few, many are those who dispute of a futile,inefficient, waste of time European dream . Within them founder and ex-leader of UKIP, and Member of the European Parliament, Nigel Farage has set to convince citizens and politicians of a non functioning EU system.
- Schengen: Borders do not promote integration. The Schengen Agreement in june 1985 has since strived to abolish lines within European soil. Yet, despite common goals between Member States, several are those who haven't or are not wishing to sign and comply with the Agreement.
- Transparency: Where,When,What happens is not of the books but just as easily not in the knowledge of the public leading to a sense of a passive Europe. Often mass media avoid the mention of anything affiliating with EU affairs focusing mostly on domestic issues. Resulting in a ripple effect, people have no information on European affairs and distance themselves from an EU Identity.(metaphorical) Respectively EU issues have come to be considered as second order issues with less effect on its 500 million citizens.
Key Questions:
- How is the EU membership influencing the identity of citizens in different Member States?
- What is the role of extremist groups with regards to euroscepticism and how can the EU and its bodies prevent the misinformation and brainwashing of public?
- Is there a need for a reform of the procedure that regulates how the EU’s bodies are elected? Is the current process efficient and transparent enough and does it represent the will of the Member States and their citizens accordingly?
- A fundamental policy of the EU is the Enlargement policy. Why is fulfillment of the Copenhagen requirements important for Candidate countries?
- Bearing in mind the increase in unemployment,mainly across the southern borders but also in Candidate countries how can the EU narrow the gap between more developed and less developed economies of its Member States?
Measures already in place:
Treaty of Lisbon has been a significant step forward towards more integrated EU (role of the European Parliament has been strengthened and a new, Citizen Initiative has been adopted).
The Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) distinguishes between three types of competence: exclusive competences of the EU, shared competences and supporting competences of the EU which is helpful in the division of responsibility between the EU and its Member States.
Cohesion fund was established in order to narrow the gap regarding existing differences in economic development between the Member States. In the period from 2014 to 2020, the Cohesion fund will allocate 63.4 billion euros to less developed Member States (funding mostly concerns infrastructure projects and environment).
Copenhagen criteria are bound to determine whether a candidate country is eligible to join the EU. Copenhagen criteria are devised into political and economic criteria, as well as the implementation of acquis communautaire. Accession process is now structured in 35 chapters which need to be negotiated upon.
For the first time, political groups in the European Parliament have decided to nominate their candidates for the President of the European Commission prior to European Parliament elections in 2014, thus contributing to the transparency of the process of electing the European Commission.
The Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) distinguishes between three types of competence: exclusive competences of the EU, shared competences and supporting competences of the EU which is helpful in the division of responsibility between the EU and its Member States.
Cohesion fund was established in order to narrow the gap regarding existing differences in economic development between the Member States. In the period from 2014 to 2020, the Cohesion fund will allocate 63.4 billion euros to less developed Member States (funding mostly concerns infrastructure projects and environment).
Copenhagen criteria are bound to determine whether a candidate country is eligible to join the EU. Copenhagen criteria are devised into political and economic criteria, as well as the implementation of acquis communautaire. Accession process is now structured in 35 chapters which need to be negotiated upon.
For the first time, political groups in the European Parliament have decided to nominate their candidates for the President of the European Commission prior to European Parliament elections in 2014, thus contributing to the transparency of the process of electing the European Commission.
Links for further research:
EU Treaties: http://europa.eu/eu-law/decision-making/treaties/index_en.htm
Benefits of the Treaty of Lisbon: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-09-531_en.htm?locale=en
Cohesion Fund: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/funding/cohesion-fund/
Populist/extremist political parties: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/12/03/the-2014-european-parliament-elections-will-see-populist-parties-make-gains-but-they-will-remain-a-battle-for-control-between-mainstream-parties/
Differences in electoral procedures: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ftu/pdf/en/FTU_1.3.4.pdf
Eurosceptical point of view: http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/OS/OS13.php
Speech given last january on education across the EU: http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/OS/OS13.php
Enlargement policy: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/policy/conditions-membership/index_en.htm
Benefits of the Treaty of Lisbon: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-09-531_en.htm?locale=en
Cohesion Fund: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/funding/cohesion-fund/
Populist/extremist political parties: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/12/03/the-2014-european-parliament-elections-will-see-populist-parties-make-gains-but-they-will-remain-a-battle-for-control-between-mainstream-parties/
Differences in electoral procedures: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ftu/pdf/en/FTU_1.3.4.pdf
Eurosceptical point of view: http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/OS/OS13.php
Speech given last january on education across the EU: http://www.civitas.org.uk/eufacts/OS/OS13.php
Enlargement policy: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/policy/conditions-membership/index_en.htm
Florian Schinnerl (AT)Flo would call himself a typical Austrian who really loves his hometown Graz, a very lovely city full of life and inspiration. When not sitting in front of his computer working (or catching up with the latest news from Westeros) he can be found playing the Ukulele, drawing, taking pictures or doing some other kind of artsy project. Now that he has finished school he finally has time for his second big passion: travelling. So if you see a blonde guy with a bright smile on his face, a ukulele on his back and a camera around his neck somewhere in Europe, don't hesitate to say hi, he's always up for a chat, a coffee or a proper party.
|