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Differentiation in the European Union Integration Process

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“From time to time it is worth reminding ourselves why twenty-seven European nation states have come together voluntarily to form the partnership that is the European Union.” 1

Europe has a history of war and conflict that predates living memory and the idea of a united Europe is something that appears repeatedly in that history. Hitler, Napoleon, and the many Roman Emperors all sought a united Europe. Their quests although in many ways motivated by a horrifying desire for power sparked the minds of philosophers and other political thinkers to imagine Europe united in harmony and peace despite national differences. Today we have the European Union which is quite unique. After the horrors, bloodshed, and economic disaster of the twentieth century, in a desire for peace and harmony and economic and political prosperity twenty-seven states have limited their national sovereignty.2 With national interests and ambition still in mind these countries see the European Union and supranational governance and the benefits of peace and prosperity therein as something worthwhile. However, in the history of European integration there has been much conflict and Euroskepticism. Some see unity in diversity and diversity in unity as impossible, and the existence of differentiation in the EU as highly problematic. However, differentiation in the European Union’s integration process is not the hindrance it is often defined as, rather it creates further cooperation in Europe bringing the European Union closer to its objectives of peace, and economic and political growth, resulting in a more effective and efficient bureaucracy. Differentiation in the EU’s integration process has created more successful integration as it allows the nations who wish t...

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.... “European Identities: From Absent-Minded Citizens to Passionate Europeans,” Sociology 41.4 (2007).

Jorgensen, Marianne – Phillips, Louise. Discourse analysis as Theory and Method. London: Sage, 2002.

Junge, Kerstin. Differentiated European Integration:European Union Politics. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Keil, Kathrin. Differentiation in the European Integration Process. Sweden: Lund University, 2009.

Littoz-Monnet, Annabelle. The European Union and Culture: Between economic regulation and European cultural policy. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2007.

Marks, Gary and Marco R. Steenbergen. European Integration and Political Conflict. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Zervakis, Peter, 2006. “Differentiated Integration”: An Alternative Path to Classical Integration?, in: The Federalist (Paria), 48 (2006) 3, 205-213.

In this essay, the author

  • Opines that it is worth reminding ourselves why twenty-seven european nation states have come together voluntarily to form the european union.
  • Opines that the idea of a united europe is something that appears repeatedly in the history of europe.
  • Defines differentiation as member states engaging in policy areas and integration projects that every member state is not involved in. differentiation allows countries to implement policies at the rate that is best for them.
  • Explains that differentiation in the process of european integration means more successful integration and acts as a catalyst for further integration.
  • Explains that enhanced cooperation makes it possible for a group of at least eight member states to integrate further than the treaties require of them.
  • Explains that differentiation creates democratic legitimacy within the european union by encouraging countries to work together in certain policy areas, but by not requiring harmonization, differences in opinion can exist without increased tension.
  • Explains that enhanced cooperation and the opt-out policy create a high degree of openness and involvement of the european parliament and national parliaments, thus further enhancing democracy.
  • Explains that differentiation improves cooperation amongst member states. cooperation is fostered through some countries acting as leaders for others to learn and benefit from, thus creating a strong relationship between nation states
  • Explains that differentiation is something that comes naturally to the european union. the growing size requires flexibility and differentiation, which will grow in importance.
  • Argues that differentiation improves the relationship between the european union and its citizens.
  • Explains that differentiation in the european union has become natural to the integration process. it provides opportunities for deeper integration of member states and allows the nations who wish to integrate further to do so without being held back by nations.
  • Cites littoz-monnet, annabelle, the european union and culture: between economic regulation and european cultural policy.
  • Explains marks, gary, and marco r. steenbergen. european integration and political conflict.
  • Explains zervakis, peter, and the federalist, "differentiated integration": an alternative path to classical integration?
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    • Explains that turkey became an independent nation-state after the ottoman empire collapsed after world war i and the turkish war of independence. turkey applied for membership into the european economic community in 1959.
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    • Opines that without full assimilation and adherence to the acquis and other treaties, the inviolability of the union can be compromised.
    • Explains that cyprus won't open eu accession chapters for turkey. schneider, c. j., and uvalic, m.
    3125 words
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  • Is the EU Democratic?
    analytical essay
    The European Union (EU), since the initial foundation in 1952 as the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and throughout periods of development, has been considered one of the most advanced forms of regional integration. It, based on numerous treaties and resolutions, has strived to promote values such as peace, cooperation or democracy, and in 2012 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for having “contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe” (Nobel Media AB, 2012). Despite its struggle for promoting democracy, the EU itself has long experienced scholarly criticisms that it suffers the democratic deficit, from which its democratic legitimacy is undermined by observable problems in political accountability and participation. As the importance of legitimacy in a democratically representative institution is hardly debatable, the criticism of whether and why the EU lacks democracy has been given a considerable gravity in academia.

    In this essay, the author

    • Argues that the unique and complicated institutional identity of the eu induced major theoretical debates attempting to provide a definition, or categorisation.
    • Argues that the specific theoretical definition or categorisation of the eu is hardly possible due to its complex institutional structure and identity.
    • Explains the historical and foundational significance of democracy to the eu, which can be observed from history and treaties.
    • Explains that allegri, m. r., 2008. democracy at union level: an open question. political perspectives, 2(2).
    • Explains azman, k. d. (2011), the problem of "democratic deficit" in the european union.
    • Explains the consolidated version of the treaty on european union.
    • Opines that crombez, c. 2003, the democratic deficit in the european union: much ado about nothing?.
    • Explains dosenrode's perspective on federalism theory and neo-functionalism: elements for an analytical framework.
    • Describes eriksen, o., and fossum, j. e. chapter 1: reconstituting european democracy.
    • Explains follesdal, hix, and moravcsik's response to why there is a democratic deficit in the eu.
    • Explains nobel media ab's 2012 nobel peace prize for 2012 to the european union.
    • Analyzes norris, p., 1997, representation and the democratic deficit, european journal of political research, 32, pp. 273-282.
    • Analyzes peterson's the democracy concept of the european union: coherent constitutional principle or prosaic declaration of intent?
    • Explains schmidt, v. democracy and legitimacy in the european union revisited: input, output and throughput. kolleg-forschergruppe working paper, 21, pp.
    • Cites sieberson, s.c., the treaty of lisbon and its impact on the european union’s democratic deficit.
    • Explains sweet, a. s., neofunctionalism and supranational governance, yale law school legal scholarship series, paper 4628.
    • Concludes that the eu should improve its democratic legitimacy by implementing measures to enhance institutional flaws and facilitate citizens' participation.
    • Cites hix, s., mather, j. and mayoral. what's wrong with european union and how to fix it.
    • Describes mccormick, j, miklós, k., and miklas' perspectives on the lisbon treaty and the constitutional court's "lisbon-judgements".
    • Cites thomassen, j. and schmitt, h. (2004). democracy and legitimacy in the european union.
    1425 words
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  • The Influence and Role of Current U.S. Foreign Policy in Modern Italy
    opinionated essay
    Europe now, for the first time in modern history, is a partnership sharing common values and a commitment to harmony and cooperation. The dream of European integration, shared by the United States, is now being realized, leaving behind us the wasteful era of wars, hostility, and inequalities. We are on the road to a Europe enjoying a unity and influence without precedent in its long history. (http://www.italyemb.org/JointEditorial.htm).

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that president bush's state of the union address was to accelerate the development of hydrogen energy technologies to improve energy, economic, and environmental security.
    • Explains that the spreading of the csi to italian ports will influence shipping procedures in italy and the cost of shipping into and out of italy.
    • Explains that italy's prosciutto and meat inspection regime was on the brink of losing access to the u.s. market.
    • Opines that intellectual property is one of the united states' most valuable assets. strong intellectual property protection bolsters the rule of law, stimulates trade and investment, and generates economic growth.
    • Explains that italy and the united states have formed a partnership to fight against intellectual property theft.
    • Opines that the united states is an influential country whose policies have wide ranging effects throughout the world.
    • States that italy joins the international partnership for the hydrogen economy on august 5, 2003.
    • Opines that europe is a partnership sharing common values and commitment to harmony and cooperation, leaving behind the wasteful era of wars, hostility, and inequalities.
    • Explains that the container security initiative (csi) would be operational in the port of genoa, italy.
    • Argues that the u.s. has had a lot of difficulty with the eu and their biotechnology policy, arguing that it is not safe to consume food grown using these technologies.
    • Explains that port of genoa implements container security initiative. sembler, mel.?food safety and trade issues.
    1734 words
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