break with past forms of European states systems? What is the EU, how and when was it created? 1949 the Council of Europe: protect democratic principles and and integrate legal norms.
1951 Treaty of Paris: European Steel and Coal Community. First move of economical integration.
1957 Treaty of Rome: second step of economic integration, setting up
the European Economic Area. This set a common market.
1993 Treaty of Maastricht: European Union
28 member states as of today
Main EU institutions?
Executive Power: European Commission
Legislative Power: European Parliament
Judicial Power: European Court of Justice
Why did the powers of Europe want to integrate after the world war? They were too weak to stand up against a Soviet military threat
strength through unity, by bringing together neighbours such as
France and Germany
Profitable common markets
Their commitment to liberal democracy
Europe's influence has largely declined compared to its previous
glory Before WWI: After WWI: Empires Nation States Empires Disappeared: New Nation States:
-Russian Empire -Austria
-Ottoman Empire -Hungary
-Austro-Hungarian Empire -Czechoslovakia
-German Empire -Prussia
-Ukraine -Lithuania -Latvia -Estonia Definition of Nation State? Germany during WW2: The European Union is a political and economic union between 28 states of Europe as of today.
This new form of states system, based
on principles of democratic governance, was able through economic integration to transform war-torn Western Europe into a zone of peace and prosperity. Differences: types of free trades or movement Goods may move freely, without being submissive to tax, quota or restriction
Services: People or companies are free to
provide services to entities
Capital: people may freely invest and are
free to transfer funds between the Member States
Citizens may freely reside and work in
Member States. Differences: laws and currency
Countries dont have anymore full sovereignty
over their decisions. EU gives some directives that countries have to follow but they can adapt them to their spirit.
New currency: the Euro. Countries which use the
Euro have to follow what the EU central bank decides regarding this currency. Federalism?
Is the European Union federalism system:
It is federalism: EU decides and gives directives to other countries under
its responsibility
It is not federalism: Members States can adapt EU directives in order to
integrate them into their own laws The European Integration may not be a complete break with past forms of powers Similar problems subsist This is why we need a new approach to integration [...] comparable to polyphony. I borrowed the concept from music, where it refers to two or more independent melodic lines employed simultaneously. Jan Zielonka In your opinion, do you think the European Integration should be an ever closer union or a genuine diversity ?