Constructing Europe Flashcards

Question

What are the different theories regarding the independence of the EC?

Answer 1

**Intergovernmentalism** Governments are the driving force behind decisions - EC has no power bank of its own **Institutionalism** - EC can rely on certain strategies to manipulate situations (information imbalance, alliances between MS) - Looks at interests above national concerns **"Middle-ground" (Bailer)** EC has more info that MS & can use this to its advantage _BUT_ MS still have very strong influence

Answer 2

**Ideological political** 💡 EC is goal-oriented & fosters major socio-economic changes to promote integration **Policy political role** 👮‍♀️ Agenda-setting allows EC to promote certain issues over others **Organisational political role** △ EC decisions are taken in order to justify its existence & preserve itself **Administrative political role** 🧩 Implementation = political act (re-interpreting to adapt to the field)

Answer 3

**Candidate countries** _Advantages_ - Common Market = better economy - Increased security & stability - More weight at international level _Disadvantages_ - Adaptation costs - Imbalanced relationship (conditionality) **European Union** _Advantages_ - Security & stability (stabilitocracies) - Enlargement = geopolitical tool _Disadvantages_ - Constant reform to adapt - Increasingly difficult to function effectively - Economic disparities - Populist Euroscepticism

Answer 4

**Value-based community** Bring democracy & re-uniting Europe - based on common history & culture *eg. Balkan & Eastern Enlargement* **Problem-solving entity** Utility & efficiency *eg. EFTA enlargement* **Rights-based entity** Democratic principles, rights & justice *Mediterranean & Balkan enlargement*

Answer 5

1) Membership application submitted to EC & Council 2) EC prepares opinion 3) Decision by Council to start accession negociations 4) Screening process by EC 5) Negotiations led by Presidency 6) EC, EP & MS endorse outcome of negotiations 7) MS & candidate country ratify Accession Treaty

Answer 6

**Political criteria** - Stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy - Respect of rule of law, human rights & values **Economic criteria** Functioning market eco. capable of coping with competition in Single Market **Administrative & institutional capacity** - Acquis communautaire - Absorption capacity: ability to take on obligations of membership

Answer 7

**Top-down** _Rational choice institutionalism_ Decision-making in the MS shaped by cost-benefit analysis _Sociological institutionalism_ The more a EU policy is in line with domestic interests, the more chances it has of being successful **Bottom-up** _Rational intergovernmental_ Bigger states have more bargaining power & therefore have more chances of seeing their interests taken into account _Constructivist intergovernmental_ Actors are flexible & change opinions - even small MS can be influent if they can give good arguments **!!! Top-down Europeanisation requires misfit, eg. for the domestic policies not to be in line with European standards**

Answer 8

Synthesis of top-down & bottom-up Europeanisation The more an EU state has influence at EU level (can upload/influence policies), the easier for them it will be to download the resulting policies

Answer 9

**Top-down** How the EU influences MS & 3rd countries **Bottom-up** How MS shape EU & upload their preferences to the EU

Answer 10

Interaction of EU-MS-3rd countries & how they shape each other

Answer 11

**World of law observants** Compliance > domestic concerns *Denmark, Finland, Sweden* **World of domestic politics** Temporary non-compliance in case of conflict of interests *Belgium, Germany, Netherlands...* **World of transposition neglect** Intervention of EU necessary to make them comply, only superficial results *France, Greece, Portugal* **World of dead letters** Compliance in the transposition stage, but not enforced *Ireland, Italy, Hungary...*

Constructing Europe Flashcards

Treaties, decision-making & other merdouilles (35 cards)