Theory and History of European Integration

Theory and History of European Integration History of European Integration

Lecture 1: Introduction

European integration= Catch all term for cooperation between European countries -Usually (but not exclusively) referring to EU member states -EU integration  more the supranational form of the EU Integration= Shared decision making Cooperation= Working together European (dis)integration as a dependent variable Widening  more states in EU Deepening  more competences to EU

What influences the widening & deepening:

-Actors: National governments, Political parties & Societal actors

-Actors: EU institutions

-Context: International and Socio-economic situation

History Treaties  distribution of power -It shows the way for the years to come Crisis  when treaties don’t work -Power relations and interests change Theories

Scientific theories are analytical frameworks for:

-Description -Explanation -Prediction

X  Y

-Y= Dependent variable - = theory The question you ask, determines which theory you use Grand theories  Europe as a whole 1 / 4

Lecture 2: The German Problem and the Treaties of Paris

German problem= The distribution of the balance of power in Europe -Key question: How can Germany be in a or influence a supranational organization

-US & Britain: Future of Germany was linked to the emerging of the Cold War

-France & Smaller neighbours of Germany: How to prevent the re-emergence of a threat to their sovereign independence from Germany itself History

There were multiple attempts at unification before the EU:

-Caeser  Roman Empire -Napoleon  Implemented bureaucracy

o1814-1815: Congress of Vienna

Balance of power restored in Europe Practical level: moves for European unity took the form of attempts by one nation or another to dominate Europe through conquest Did BoP work to maintain peace in Europe?Balance of power= create a situation in which a power can’t start a war, without the others constitute a counter weight and stop the attacker

19th century: GB the holder of the balance of power

-She never had an ally, except with weaker states in war oStarted the ‘you cant trust them’ mindset Aim of BoP: It is not an idea of no conflict, but rather to maintain a conflict is it starts -Prevent conflict from spreading so that a state would be to big to contain her The rise of the German Problem

1870-1871: Franco-Prussian war

-Unification of Germany  becoming leading European land power -France wasn’t able to contain it  WWI started -BoP system didn’t work anymore, so another state outside of Europe was needed Yalta conference (1945)= divide Europe at the end of the war into spheres of influence -US & USSR were the holders of the BoP -Divide Germany into four areas to maintain BoP -Start of the ‘iron curtain’ oUS still wanted to cooperate with the USSR oUntil USSR influenced another states sphere of influence oEmergence of separate West and East German states became inevitable (Cold War) BRD became an anchor against the East & DDR became an anchor against the West Ability as an European state to start ECSC, because of an outside power that provided security

Answer to German problem:

1, ‘Temporary’ partitioning of Germany

• Non-European holders of the balance of power
• Spheres of influence

The road to a European coal & Steel community The mood in 1949 Depression & Fear for Germany -German Federal Republic was set up and a new approach was needed Partitioning of Germany was not sufficient esp for France -How to organize Franco-German relations in such way that another war would become impossible?-How to ensure continuing adequate supplies of coking coal from the Ruhr to France?Weak economies need access to German resources Allow Germany to rebuild (war) industry?-Fear that Germany will rebuild faster than France in the war  Institutions were important ! 2 / 4

The ECSC – Why?

1.Nationalism has to be killed, so another war in Europe can be prevented 2.Access to each other resources needed, without abusing them or the fear of it 3.Communism had to be stopped, so Monnet worked with Schuman who both believed in FR and GR cooperation.The answer was European integration The Schuman declaration World peace is only safeguarded with the making of creative efforts to proportionate to the dangers which threaten it You need institutions to pool the resources that could start another war -Pooled in shared organisation, with key countries France & Germany -Common High Authority that will be supranational -Surrender sovereignty over the coal and steel industries

Coal and steel because:

-It is very feasible -It was a key factor in the German rearmament -It was a key factor in reconstruction of Europe -It was a big earn industry for Germany, which made Nazi-Germany possible -France needed coal from Germany, but there was control needed because other way it would become a war

 Monnet: Let’s start with this and then work further

Differences Intergovernmentalism & Supranationalism Intergovernmentalism Supranationalism Who takes decisions? National governments (states retain full control) Supranational institutions (above state level) When are decisions binding?Only with unanimity of member states Binding on all member states, even without unanimity Who is in charge of implementation and compliance?Member states are responsible for enforcing decisions within their borders Supranational authority oversees implementation and ensures compliance Which interests are served?National interests and individual member states Collective interests of the union as a whole -Problem intergovernmentalism: Many rules has to be implemented by the states, there isn’t a higher arbiter -Interests of states are better served in intergovernmentalism because of the possibility to veto Why did it require a supranational organization?

1.Commitment: Neutral third party that functions as an arbiter

2.Compliance: Court was needed as well as a higher authority

3.Efficiency: Same data needed to make decisions

National positions of the ECSC

France:

-Coal supply was needed, for economic recovery -Restored German economy was needed for their own recovery oBut without mobilization and fear for their army -US would enforce compliance as a neutral third party oSpheres of influence oCooperation between GR and FR without the fear of war oSecurity dilemma= a situation in which actions taken by a state to increase its own security lead to increased insecurity for other states Increasing German economy  Increasing fear of German rearmament

Germany:

-European policy of Ardenauer:

oCommitment to his own ideal of European integration oFranco-German reconciliation oFederal Republic needed to gain international acceptance 3 / 4

Strong commitment to the capital West oGelichberechtigung= To be a state gain and be able to stand up and gain national interests get rid of IAR  Ruhr should be unchained from restrictiond oAfraid of USSR influence in DDR would damage the vitality of German culture -Window of opportunity oKanzlerdemokratie= powerful chancellor oUS guaranteed France would not take advantage

USA:

-US leadership in Europe to make sure it wouldn’t become communist -Strengthen North-Atlantic cooperation -Make sure Europe wouldn’t start another war -USA needed Europe (especial West-Germany) as potential ally in the Korean war oMarshall plan

UK:

-Does support it, but not a member oWWII was fought as an national war, not an European war oWorld power with global responsibilities (‘delusion of grandeur’)

oCommon Wealth: UK still had a considerable empire

oUK economy was stronger than other Western European states, which makes the linking dangerous

BeNeLux (Netherlands):

-They could not afford to stay out of any agreement between France and Germany on coal and steel oThese commodities were essential to the economies of the three states oHigh degree of interdependence -Lukewarm (NL)= desire for peace & recovery + fear of Franco-German domination  Intergovernmental Council of ministers Institutions in Luxembourg

High Authority (European Commission):

-Headed by Monnet -Funded through direct taxation of industries (coal and steel)

Council of Ministers: National ministers

-Consent on non-C&S issues

Parliamentary Assembly: National MP’s

-Consultation -Dismiss High Authority Court of Justice -Rules on legality of High Authority’s actions -Supranational organization needs a judge oAfraid that HA would take to much power  strong independent court oMiscalculation  court was to keep HA in check, but kept the countries in check Key components of the ECSC treaty Decartelisation of German C&S industry -Fair competition between Western European companies -Equal access to resources Transition to customs union for C&S -C&S travel free Equalisation in funds -Smaller states wanted something too (Belgium and Italy) oSide-payments to weaker economic parties Gradual harmonisation (and improvement) of working conditions

 1951: Treaty of Paris

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