Did the formation of the

European Union represent a

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 ?

To what extent can the EU be considered

more workable compared to past forms?