Constructing Europe
LECTURE
2 treaties were rejected during the process of an “ever-closer union”:
‣ 1952 European Defence Community
‣ 2004 European Constitution for Europe
Process of enlargement: an “ever wider union”
- 27 member states
- ENP countries (North Africa, Belarus, Caucus, Israel) — > various partnership, political / social / economic
issues and cooperation
- Bi-lateral cooperation: Switzerland and Ireland
- Eurozone
- Schengen area
European institutions:
★ European Commission
★ European Council VS Council of Europe (x european union institution)
★ European Parlement
Most powerful member sate = FR + GR
The European Union is a “Sui generic” organisation:
• Neither a sate, nor an international organisation
• Less than a federation, more like a regime
Definitions …
Politics Polity
The process by which a group of people Speci c form of a gov’ of a social organisation ( a
determines “who get what, when and how” politically organised unit)
The institutional framework in which politics and
policy are made
THE TREATY OF LISBON
How was the situation before the treaty of Lisbon ?
2001 Laeken Declaration:
Head of states + Head of gov’ commit to making the EU more democratic and efficient (practical)
This happened during an optimistic period (no stagnation)… so, countries started referendums
2005 Refusal of the Constitutional Treaty
Constitution was refused by Netherlands and France + a lot of other countries were delaying it
💡 Nugent p. 114 box 8.1
June 2007 convening of a IGC (Intergovernmental Conference) to write a new treaty
13 December 2007 Meeting in Lisbon to ratify the treaty
All the countries except Ireland do so ratified by parliamentary vote
fi
,📍 Focus Ireland:
2008 June the Irish people reject the treaty by referendum
The Irish gov’ have to therefore negotiate w Brussels to find a compromise …
= >The country can keep its tax sovereignty because they had the advantage of taxing companies less
than other member countries.
2009 October Irish voted YES to the new referendum
The ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon came after the financial crisis of 2008
What is the Treaty of Lisbon ?
Similarities w the Constitution Differences w the Constitution
Renovation of the institutional framework: For the first time there is an exit clause for member states
The European Council becomes an institution in it’s own wishing to leave the EU.
+ its President will be elected every two and a half years
Goal: centralised the political activities Ex: Brexit 2017
📍 European Council brings together the heads of state
and government of the 27 member state
Recognition of a legal personality for the EU Added the fight against climate change as an objective
Reorganization of the three fundamental pillars: EU symbols are not mentioned:
I. European communities: police cooperation and criminal ๏ Flag
matters + justice in home affairs policy is strengthen ๏ Anthem
II. Common foreign and security policy ๏ Motto
(They combined the third and the first pillars ๏ Currency
+ suppressed constitutional terms
Creation of the post of EU High Representative for CFSP Replace the voting system by a simpler one in the European
(Common Foreign and Security Policy): Council:
(EU ambassador Type)
- Appointed by the European Council (5 years mandate) — > before needed unanimity
- Mission: intervene for the EU and to negotiate for
member states on the international scene ✓ QMV (Qualified Majority Voting)
- Part of the Council of Minister and European Council
(even if he does not have the right to vote)
Changes from the Constitution to the Treaty of Lisbon were made for 3 reasons:
• More acceptable for citizens
• Accommodate national interest (fear loose of sovereignty)
• Recognize new issues
• Tackling climate change
• Prioritising member state solidarity on energy policy
💡 Nugent p.105
Why did the Constitution fail ?
The terms in constitution were too precise / language unappealing
In the Constitution, they wanted to reduce the number of commissioners
(which smaller member states did not like)
,It was difficult for members states to create a proper european federation because it depends on the will and
political belief of each political leader and some were more eu-friendly than other.
During the negotiation period, some domestic political changes occurs.
(We note the election of eu-friendly politicians )
The Treaty of Lisbon did not need a referendum to be accepted compare to the Constitution.
What is the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon ?
➡ Improved the EU’s capacity for developing appropriate policies in such areas as internal security and energy
➡ Inter-institutional tensions between the European Council President // High Representative // European
Commission President
➡ Increase the power of the EP (European Parliament): take care of the annual budget
What are the difficulties in signing treaties ?
Treaty-making is an intergovernmental process during IGC (Intergovernmental Conferences) used since SEA.
IGC are organised and proposed by the European Council.
Key actors: representatives of the government of the member states + unanimity
The treaties are the outcomes of negotiations between national governments. They become lengthier
and more complex.
Because of their own needs, states have sometimes argued that in addition to taking a share of general
benefits they should also be awarded special benefits and/or be given special consideration.
Opposition between …
Eurosceptic Europhile
This find that the Treaty of Lisbon contain major They find that the Treaty of Lisbon has too many missed
supranational advances opportunities and a title in a intergovernmental direction
Its an elite-driven process, because some treaties don’t
require referendum
What are the other way of having institutional changes ?
There is two ways to ratify a treaty:
(1) Parliamentary votes
(2) Referendum
Ordinary revision procedure Simplified procedure
Organising a Convention or a IGC Unanimous agreement by national government + national
parliament
💡 Nugent p 111-121
, LECTURE
Brexit and the EU relationship
Winston Churchill call to “build a kind of United States of Europe” in 1946.
Uk played a leading role in the creation of the Council of Europe in 1949.
Uk was not there for the Schumman Plan, wary its supranational elements and damaging relationship with the
Commonwealth.
Uk applies to join the EEC, but is vetoed by Fr on both occasions.
1973 Uk eventually join EEC (+ D-mark and Ireland)
1975 following a renegotiation of terms of the Uk’s membership and budgetary contributions, a referendum is
held in which 67% vote in favour of remaining in the EEC.
1984 Uk perceives a continued injustice in EEC budget and negotiations a rebate on its contribution.
1987 Single European Act, creating a single market broadly in line with British free market ideals, came into force
1992 Maastricht Treaty signed, albeit with Uk opt-outs on Economic and Monetary Union and the Social
Chapter
1997 Amsterdam Treaty signed, albeit with Uk opt-out on Schengen
2004 Referendum promised on adoption of EU Constitutional Treaty (cancelled following Fr and NL “no”
votes)
2007 Lisbon Treaty signed, albeit with Uk opt-outs Charter of Fundamental Rights
Uk and European integration:
★ Keen to be part of the European project, but on its own terms
★ Treaty opt-outs, make the Uk’s membership of the EU a case of differentiated integration
★ Mismatch between Uk behaviour at Eu-level VS domestic framing the EU within Uk political discourse
“awkward state” ?
Uk joined late, so it had to adapt to existing rules and structures, rather than shape them …
Public Euro-scepticism firmly rooted in political culture and media
Majoritarian Westminster model of politics with the consensual approach in Brussel
Political preference for Anglophone relationships over European ones.
The Uk was not the only member state to be “awkward” in its relationship with the EU
✴ Fr and the 1965 Empty Chair Crisis
✴ Opt-outs for D-mark, Ireland, Poland
✴ “No” votes:
✴ Fr and NL to Constitutional Treaty (2005)
✴ Ireland to Nice Treaty (2001) and Lisbon Treaty (2008)
✴ NL to Ukraine Association Agreement (2016)
LECTURE
2 treaties were rejected during the process of an “ever-closer union”:
‣ 1952 European Defence Community
‣ 2004 European Constitution for Europe
Process of enlargement: an “ever wider union”
- 27 member states
- ENP countries (North Africa, Belarus, Caucus, Israel) — > various partnership, political / social / economic
issues and cooperation
- Bi-lateral cooperation: Switzerland and Ireland
- Eurozone
- Schengen area
European institutions:
★ European Commission
★ European Council VS Council of Europe (x european union institution)
★ European Parlement
Most powerful member sate = FR + GR
The European Union is a “Sui generic” organisation:
• Neither a sate, nor an international organisation
• Less than a federation, more like a regime
Definitions …
Politics Polity
The process by which a group of people Speci c form of a gov’ of a social organisation ( a
determines “who get what, when and how” politically organised unit)
The institutional framework in which politics and
policy are made
THE TREATY OF LISBON
How was the situation before the treaty of Lisbon ?
2001 Laeken Declaration:
Head of states + Head of gov’ commit to making the EU more democratic and efficient (practical)
This happened during an optimistic period (no stagnation)… so, countries started referendums
2005 Refusal of the Constitutional Treaty
Constitution was refused by Netherlands and France + a lot of other countries were delaying it
💡 Nugent p. 114 box 8.1
June 2007 convening of a IGC (Intergovernmental Conference) to write a new treaty
13 December 2007 Meeting in Lisbon to ratify the treaty
All the countries except Ireland do so ratified by parliamentary vote
fi
,📍 Focus Ireland:
2008 June the Irish people reject the treaty by referendum
The Irish gov’ have to therefore negotiate w Brussels to find a compromise …
= >The country can keep its tax sovereignty because they had the advantage of taxing companies less
than other member countries.
2009 October Irish voted YES to the new referendum
The ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon came after the financial crisis of 2008
What is the Treaty of Lisbon ?
Similarities w the Constitution Differences w the Constitution
Renovation of the institutional framework: For the first time there is an exit clause for member states
The European Council becomes an institution in it’s own wishing to leave the EU.
+ its President will be elected every two and a half years
Goal: centralised the political activities Ex: Brexit 2017
📍 European Council brings together the heads of state
and government of the 27 member state
Recognition of a legal personality for the EU Added the fight against climate change as an objective
Reorganization of the three fundamental pillars: EU symbols are not mentioned:
I. European communities: police cooperation and criminal ๏ Flag
matters + justice in home affairs policy is strengthen ๏ Anthem
II. Common foreign and security policy ๏ Motto
(They combined the third and the first pillars ๏ Currency
+ suppressed constitutional terms
Creation of the post of EU High Representative for CFSP Replace the voting system by a simpler one in the European
(Common Foreign and Security Policy): Council:
(EU ambassador Type)
- Appointed by the European Council (5 years mandate) — > before needed unanimity
- Mission: intervene for the EU and to negotiate for
member states on the international scene ✓ QMV (Qualified Majority Voting)
- Part of the Council of Minister and European Council
(even if he does not have the right to vote)
Changes from the Constitution to the Treaty of Lisbon were made for 3 reasons:
• More acceptable for citizens
• Accommodate national interest (fear loose of sovereignty)
• Recognize new issues
• Tackling climate change
• Prioritising member state solidarity on energy policy
💡 Nugent p.105
Why did the Constitution fail ?
The terms in constitution were too precise / language unappealing
In the Constitution, they wanted to reduce the number of commissioners
(which smaller member states did not like)
,It was difficult for members states to create a proper european federation because it depends on the will and
political belief of each political leader and some were more eu-friendly than other.
During the negotiation period, some domestic political changes occurs.
(We note the election of eu-friendly politicians )
The Treaty of Lisbon did not need a referendum to be accepted compare to the Constitution.
What is the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon ?
➡ Improved the EU’s capacity for developing appropriate policies in such areas as internal security and energy
➡ Inter-institutional tensions between the European Council President // High Representative // European
Commission President
➡ Increase the power of the EP (European Parliament): take care of the annual budget
What are the difficulties in signing treaties ?
Treaty-making is an intergovernmental process during IGC (Intergovernmental Conferences) used since SEA.
IGC are organised and proposed by the European Council.
Key actors: representatives of the government of the member states + unanimity
The treaties are the outcomes of negotiations between national governments. They become lengthier
and more complex.
Because of their own needs, states have sometimes argued that in addition to taking a share of general
benefits they should also be awarded special benefits and/or be given special consideration.
Opposition between …
Eurosceptic Europhile
This find that the Treaty of Lisbon contain major They find that the Treaty of Lisbon has too many missed
supranational advances opportunities and a title in a intergovernmental direction
Its an elite-driven process, because some treaties don’t
require referendum
What are the other way of having institutional changes ?
There is two ways to ratify a treaty:
(1) Parliamentary votes
(2) Referendum
Ordinary revision procedure Simplified procedure
Organising a Convention or a IGC Unanimous agreement by national government + national
parliament
💡 Nugent p 111-121
, LECTURE
Brexit and the EU relationship
Winston Churchill call to “build a kind of United States of Europe” in 1946.
Uk played a leading role in the creation of the Council of Europe in 1949.
Uk was not there for the Schumman Plan, wary its supranational elements and damaging relationship with the
Commonwealth.
Uk applies to join the EEC, but is vetoed by Fr on both occasions.
1973 Uk eventually join EEC (+ D-mark and Ireland)
1975 following a renegotiation of terms of the Uk’s membership and budgetary contributions, a referendum is
held in which 67% vote in favour of remaining in the EEC.
1984 Uk perceives a continued injustice in EEC budget and negotiations a rebate on its contribution.
1987 Single European Act, creating a single market broadly in line with British free market ideals, came into force
1992 Maastricht Treaty signed, albeit with Uk opt-outs on Economic and Monetary Union and the Social
Chapter
1997 Amsterdam Treaty signed, albeit with Uk opt-out on Schengen
2004 Referendum promised on adoption of EU Constitutional Treaty (cancelled following Fr and NL “no”
votes)
2007 Lisbon Treaty signed, albeit with Uk opt-outs Charter of Fundamental Rights
Uk and European integration:
★ Keen to be part of the European project, but on its own terms
★ Treaty opt-outs, make the Uk’s membership of the EU a case of differentiated integration
★ Mismatch between Uk behaviour at Eu-level VS domestic framing the EU within Uk political discourse
“awkward state” ?
Uk joined late, so it had to adapt to existing rules and structures, rather than shape them …
Public Euro-scepticism firmly rooted in political culture and media
Majoritarian Westminster model of politics with the consensual approach in Brussel
Political preference for Anglophone relationships over European ones.
The Uk was not the only member state to be “awkward” in its relationship with the EU
✴ Fr and the 1965 Empty Chair Crisis
✴ Opt-outs for D-mark, Ireland, Poland
✴ “No” votes:
✴ Fr and NL to Constitutional Treaty (2005)
✴ Ireland to Nice Treaty (2001) and Lisbon Treaty (2008)
✴ NL to Ukraine Association Agreement (2016)
