Tutorial 1 - The history of European Integration
Assignment 1 - Speech on Nobel prize for peace
1. For what reasons was European integration pursued?
- Peace was the main reason, but also to have a basis: prosperity, future, welfare:
- Social rest by protecting the western states from communism
- Protecting the future generation, investing in the children, if you stop here you will not
be able to create welfare
2. What did we achieve?
- We did achieve peace from a point of view, as there is no war between MS, but the
EU is in a war with terrorists.
- We achieved an internal market and we do have a monetary union for most of the
MS
- We have supranational institutions, but we are not a state. We are fully integrated
with all the problems (crisis), but on the other hand the MS still have sovereignty. The
EU has a sui generis character. We have the freedom to decide what we want to do
with our money and welfare.
- We have free movement and there is one currency for most of the MS.
- Democracy, we have an open society: you don’t have to be christian, you are not
punished for being or having something.
3. What are the current difficulties that the EU is facing?
- Refugee crisis
- Terrorists
- Climate change
- Eurocrisis
4. What are the possible future challenges for EU integration?
It is hard to harmonize in all areas as most of the MS want to keep sovereignty. Particular
people take particular roles in the integration, if it weren’t for them we wouldn’t have
integrated that far. Crisis is also playing a big role, if there is a crisis then there is the
recognition that there needs to be a big entity, and not to stand alone.
5. Are there limits to European integration?
Yes, as the more MS join, the more the current MS have to give up their sovereignty and the
more aid they will probably have to give. Especially the first one has alway been an issue.
Assignment 2 - Timeline
1945: Yalta, after the WO II we were going towards a cold war already, because there were
left winged conflicts in Greece and disputes in Turkey. UK took them over to fight
communism. US and UK wanted to achieve a capitalist market which is opposite of
communism. After war, tendency was against left winged parties, so this really had to be
turned around.
Assignment 1 - Speech on Nobel prize for peace
1. For what reasons was European integration pursued?
- Peace was the main reason, but also to have a basis: prosperity, future, welfare:
- Social rest by protecting the western states from communism
- Protecting the future generation, investing in the children, if you stop here you will not
be able to create welfare
2. What did we achieve?
- We did achieve peace from a point of view, as there is no war between MS, but the
EU is in a war with terrorists.
- We achieved an internal market and we do have a monetary union for most of the
MS
- We have supranational institutions, but we are not a state. We are fully integrated
with all the problems (crisis), but on the other hand the MS still have sovereignty. The
EU has a sui generis character. We have the freedom to decide what we want to do
with our money and welfare.
- We have free movement and there is one currency for most of the MS.
- Democracy, we have an open society: you don’t have to be christian, you are not
punished for being or having something.
3. What are the current difficulties that the EU is facing?
- Refugee crisis
- Terrorists
- Climate change
- Eurocrisis
4. What are the possible future challenges for EU integration?
It is hard to harmonize in all areas as most of the MS want to keep sovereignty. Particular
people take particular roles in the integration, if it weren’t for them we wouldn’t have
integrated that far. Crisis is also playing a big role, if there is a crisis then there is the
recognition that there needs to be a big entity, and not to stand alone.
5. Are there limits to European integration?
Yes, as the more MS join, the more the current MS have to give up their sovereignty and the
more aid they will probably have to give. Especially the first one has alway been an issue.
Assignment 2 - Timeline
1945: Yalta, after the WO II we were going towards a cold war already, because there were
left winged conflicts in Greece and disputes in Turkey. UK took them over to fight
communism. US and UK wanted to achieve a capitalist market which is opposite of
communism. After war, tendency was against left winged parties, so this really had to be
turned around.
