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European Integration (Fach) / History Chapter 1 (Lektion)

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• what caused the war? blame the loser capitalism destructive nationalism
• the 3 post-war solutions 'Neuter' Germany, Morgenthau Plan 1944 adopt  communism pursue European integration European integration ultimately prevailed, but this was far from clear in the late 1940s
• Emergence of a divided Europe Cold War begins. USSR pushes communism in the East. UK, French and US zones merged by 1948 Moves towards creation of West German government.          Berlin blockade, 1948. “Neuter Germany” solution abandoned for strong West Germany + European integration.
• First steps: the OEEC and the EPU OEEC and EPU set up in conjunction with Marshal Plan, 1948. OEEC coordinated aid distribution and prompted trade liberalisation. EPU facilitated payments and fostered trade liberalisation. New view: trade liberalisation could be pro-growth and pro-industrialisation.
• Need for deeper European integration As Cold War got more war-like, West German rearmament became necessary. 1949, Federal Republic of Germany established. But strong and independent Germany was a scary thought for many, including many Germans. Widespread feeling: best to embed an economically and militarily strong W. Germany in European superstructure. Problem: Many thought OEEC was too loose to avoid future war among Western European powers.
• Two strands of European integration Federalism and intergovernmentalism Immediate disagreement about depth of European integration Federalism – supranational institutions Intergovernmentalism – nations retain all sovereignty Intergovernmental initiativesOEEC (1948), Council of Europe (1949), EFTA (1960) Federal initiativeECSC (1951), EEC (1958)
• Evolution to Two Concentric Circles Preferential liberalisation in EEC and EFTA proceeded - (EEC’s customs union and EFTA’s FTAs completed by 1968) Discriminatory effects emerge, leading to new political pressures for EFTAs to join EEC - Trade diversion creates force for inclusion EEC market bigger & growth faster. - Important discrimination facing EFTA exporters.
• Evolution to Two Concentric Circles UK government changes mind & applies in 1961. - EEC7 would have meant discrimination in an even larger market, so 3 other EFTAns also changed their minds after the UK decided to apply. De Gaulle’s ‘non’ (twice).
• Evolution to Two Concentric Circles First enlargement, 1973 - UK, Denmark, Ireland & Norway admitted (Norwegians say no in referendum) Enlargement of EEC reinforces ‘force for inclusion’ on remaining EFTAs - To avoid new discrimination as UK, Denmark & Ireland join EEC customs union, remaining EFTAs sign FTAs with EEC-9. Why weren’t the FTA’s signed before? - Domino-like affect of lowering barriers.
• Euro-pessimism, 1975-1986 Political shocks: ‘Luxembourg Compromise’ (1966) + enlargement leads to decision-making jam. Plans for extensive economic integration promised in Treaty of Rome postponed (approximation of laws, monetary integration (Warner Plan)), etc. Economic shocks: Bretton Woods falls apart, 1971-1973. Failed EEC monetary schemes (except within DM bloc). 1973 and 1979 oil shocks with stagflation. Growing cost of Common Agricultural Policy creates frictions over budget (especially with the UK).
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• Bright spots Democracy in Spain, Portugal and Greece. Greece joins in 1981. Spain and Portugal join in 1986 after long a difficult accession talks. EMS set up in 1979 works well. Budget Treaties (1970, 1975). 1979 Cassis de Dijon decision built on 1974 Dassonville ruling. - Challenged validity of national rules that introduce non-tariff barriers to trade.“Mutual recognition” principle introduced.
• Deeper circles: single market programme Mutual recognition as threat to national regulatory control; race to bottom? How to put member goverment back in charge? Delors launches completion of the internal market with Single European Act      - create "an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods,  persons, services and capital is ensured". Important institutional changes, especially move to majority voting on Single Market issues.     - Mutual recognition is disciplined by minimum harmonization    - More efficient decision making procedures allow agreement on min. standards “New Approach” Directives.
• Single Market Programme, EC92 Basic elements       – Goods Trade Liberalisation Streamlining or elimination of border formalities, Harmonisation of VAT rates within wide bands Liberalisation of government procurement Harmonisation and mutual recognition of technical standards in production, packaging and marketing      – Factor Trade Liberalisation Removal of all capital controls (!!!), and deeper capital market integration Liberalisation of cross-border market-entry policies,
• Domino effect, part 2 Deeper integration in EC-12 strengthened the 'force for inclusion' in remaining EFTAns.- EFTA nations saw FDI outflows. End of Cold War loosened EFTAns' resistance to EC membership As before, new 'forces for inclusion'⇒domino effect. - EEA – initiative to extend single market to EFTAs.- Membership applications by all EFTAns except Iceland. Concentric circles, but both deeper.
• communism's creeping failure and spectacular collapse by the 1980s, western european sytem clearly superior due to the creeping failure of planned economies up to 1980s, Soviets thwarted reform efforts (economic & military pressure) Changes in USSR due to inadequate economic sytem.- timid pro-market reforms (perestroika)- openness (glasnost)
• Velvet revolutions in CEECs June 1989 Polish labour movement ‘Solidarity’ forced free parliamentary elections & communists lost - Moscow accepted new Polish government. Moscow’s hands-off approach to the Polish election triggered a chain of events. - Reformist in Hungarian communist party pressed for democracy & Hungary opened its border with Austria, 1000s East Germans moved to West Germany via Hungary and Austria. - Mass protests in East Germany; Wall falls 9th November 1989.- End of 1989: democracy in Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and East Germany (unification in 1990).
• USSR collapses 1990: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – declared their independence from the USSR. End of 1991, the USSR itself breaks up. Cold War ends without a shot. Military division of Europe ended.
• EU reacts EU reacted swiftly with emergency aid and loans to the fledgling democracies. Signing of ‘Europe Agreements’ with newly free nations in Central and Eastern Europe. - These were free trade agreements with promises of deeper integration and some aid. - At first, no promise of eventual membership.
• EU says CEECs can join the EU (June 1993) Set out famous Copenhagen criteria for membership stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and, protection of minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. Copenhagen summit December 2002 says 10 CEECs can join in 2004. 5th enlargement in May 2004
• German unification & Maastricht Pending 1990 unification of Germany opens door to a ‘grand bargain’ (Mitterrand, Kohl). - Germany gives up DM for European monetary union & East Germany joins the EU without negotiation. Jacques Delors proposes 2nd radical increase in European economic integration. - Formation of a monetary union.- Idea championed by French President Francois Mitterrand and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Maastricht Treaty signed 1992. - Monetary union by 1999, single currency by 2002.- Sets up EU’s ‘three pillar’ structure to reduce EU’s ‘competency creep’ ERM exchange rate crises, 1992-1994. - Convinces some to abandon monetary union (UK, Sweden); convinces others of absolute necessity of one money (France, Italy, Greece, etc.)
• Preparing for Eastrn Englargement Impending enlargement required EU to reform its institutions Five tries: - Amsterdam Treaty, 1997.- Nice treaty, 2000.- draft Constitutional Treaty, 2003.         •Reconsidered by IGC 2003 - Constitutional Treaty, June 2004.- Reform Treaty, 2007.
• Amsterdam Treaty Failed to agree main reforms set out as the goal for the Amsterdam Treaty. Tidied up the Maastricht Treaty - More social policy, Parliament powers modestly boosted.- flexible integration, ‘closer cooperation introduced.’ Could not agree on reform of Commission, reform of Council voting rules, or on list of areas to move to QMV, so we had the “Amsterdam leftovers”: - voting rules in the Council of Ministers, - number of Commissioners, - Extension of issue covered by majority voting
• Nice Treaty Reforms of main institutions agreed, but poorly done: - Council voting rules highly complex and reduce EU’s ability to act with more members.- No important extension of majority voting.- Make shift solution for Commissioners.- No reform of decision making in ECB. Generally viewed as a failure. - This is what is in force in 2009 and will stay in force until Reform Treaty is passed. Main changes re-visited in draft Constitutional Treaty, 2003
• European Convention 1 year after Nice Summit, EU leaders admit Nice Reforms are not enough. - They ask for reform of the Nice reforms even before the Nice reforms have been tried. (Especially Council voting rules.) They agree “Laeken Declaration” and set up “European Convention” to outline a new Treaty. Convention decided to write a “Constitution”: - Run by former French Pres Valery Giscard d’Estaing.
• Constitutional Treaty Improved decision-making rules for Council of Ministers & slightly more majority voting. - Switch weighted voting to double majority (Chapter 3). Inclusion of Charter of Fundamental Rights. Other things where CT not strictly required:          – Many ‘gestures’ (flag, anthem, single document instead of Treaty of Rome and Maastricht Treaty, etc.) and tidying up (renumber articles, eliminate archaic provisions, etc.).        - Moves towards more coherent foreign policy decision making.        - Many de facto points turned into de jure (e.g. supremacy of EC law).
• Rejection France & Netherlands reject Constitutional Treaty in referendums in Summer 2005 EU leaders suspend the ratification deadline
• Reform/Lisabon Treaty Under German EU Presidency (2007) EU leaders decide still need to reform the Nice rules to keep the enlarged EU operating efficiently and legitimately. Constitutional Treaty declared dead & outline of replacement agreed, the Reform Treaty, also known as the Lisbon Treaty (where it was signed by leaders in 2007). - 50th Anniversary of the EU.
• Reform Treaty Much of CT taken up in Reform Treaty. - But framed as a reform of Treaty of Rome & Maastricht Treaties, so very had to read. Different form & no symbols of statehood. Goal was to avoid referendums without changing the substance.
• Irish reject Reform Treaty June 2008, Irish voters reject Reform Treaty in a referendum (which is mandatory under Irish Constitution).
• Next steps EU leaders made some promises to Irish government and the Irish government held a second referendum in autumn 2009. The treaty came into effect end of 2009. Now the Lisbon treaty is the relevant legal basis for European integration.
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• New challenges Politically the crisis in Ukraine presents the most dramatic challenge for the European Union, showing both the need and the weaknesses of a European approach. Economically the financial crisis and the especially the economic development in Greece presents the biggest economic challenge for Europe. The uneasiness in the UK about the membership in the EU implies the first real threat that a member country decides to leave the European Union.

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