EU History and Integration: Vocabulary Flashcards

Why study the history of the EU?

• To make sense of political decisions and decision-making.
• To understand wider contexts: geopolitical situations, changes of leadership in countries.
• To explain the nature of EU governance today: path dependency.

Historical developments: key institutions

• European Commission: known as the College of Commissioners; growth sequence (as EU expanded): 9 → 13 → 17 → 20 → 25 → 27 → 28 → 27.
• European Parliament: from Consultative Assembly to elected Parliament; procedures evolved from consultation to co-decision to assent.

Widening vs deepening?

• Widening: adding new member states.
• Deepening: increasing policy integration and transfer of sovereignty.
• Change in EU is driven by both processes; they interact over time.

Drivers of European integration

• Neofunctionalism (Haas): interdependence and spillovers compel deeper integration.
• Intergovernmentalism (Hoffmann, Moravskasik): governments control the speed and direction; integration driven by national interests.

Theoretical debates (Euro example)

• Neofunctionalist view: spillover from economic cooperation; reduce barriers and costs; Commission pushes to empower common institutions.
• Intergovernmentalist view: member states set the parameters (e.g., convergence criteria); recognise benefits but maintain control (e.g., via ECB Board).

30 years of European Union

• Maastricht Treaty came into force in 1993, introducing the name European Union and concepts like opt-outs and differentiated/ multi-speed Europe.
• Enlargement dynamics: before Maastricht, talks of more members; 1995 added Austria, Finland, and Sweden.

Ever closer union?

• National leaders remained in the EU after Maastricht because they believed joint action could manage global crises more effectively; the belief was powerful but also created tensions.

Treaties after Maastricht

• 1998 Treaty of Amsterdam: UK opt-out on Schengen.
• 2000 Treaty of Nice: addressed institutional issues ahead of enlargement; intergovernmental bargaining on QMV, Commissioners, EP seats; public support remained mixed.

Does the EU need a constitution?

• Constitutional convention (2001) and Laeken Declaration (2001) aimed at opening treaty-making.
• Draft European Constitution (2004) sought to reform the EU and include a Charter of Fundamental Rights; rejected in France and the Netherlands.
• Provisions were incorporated in the Lisbon Treaty (2007), which entered into force in 2009.

New member states 2004 enlargement

• 2004: "Big Bang" enlargement – 10 new member states.
• 2007: Two more joined.
• 2013: One more joined.

20 years since the “Big Bang” enlargement

• Reflection on a major shift in EU scope and demographics (link provided in slides).

Where are we today?

• What is the EU?
• What are the current challenges?

Big issues on the agenda

• Widening vs deepening balance
• Governance and institutional reform
• Enlargement and neighbourhood policy
• Economic governance (euro, budget) and stability
• Democratic legitimacy and rule of law
• External policy and global role

Widening versus Deepening: Revision exercise!

• Compare and contrast widening and deepening processes.
• Assess how they interact and what trade-offs arise for governance and legitimacy.