EU been a success for its member states

Question 1

1) economic success

Answer 1

EU’s single market & customs union → strong economic growth (450M consumers, >15% of global GDP):

CETA & EU-Korea FTA → boosted exports & jobs → e.g. Poland’s GDP per capita ↑ from €5k → €20k since 2004.
36M EU jobs linked to non-EU exports.
Collective leverage → trade deals better than individual states could achieve.
Against: Loss of economic sovereignty + uneven benefits:

EU competition law → limits state aid (Italy’s steel, agriculture).
Eurozone crisis: Greece, Spain, Portugal hit by austerity; Greece GDP ↓ 25%, youth unemployment >50%.
Richer states (Germany, NL) gain more → structural inequalities persist.
Judgement: Overall success → collective economic weight, single market access outweigh sovereignty limits & uneven benefits.

Question 2

2) geo-political security

Answer 2

EU enhances geopolitical influence & promotes liberal values:

50% of global dev. aid → EDF supports governance in Africa/MENA.
Bangladesh garment reform after Rana Plaza via EU pressure.
Strong response to Ukraine war: sanctions + aid → boosted EU relevance.
Macron pushing EU strategic autonomy.
Against: Lacks hard power → dependent on US/NATO:

Bosnia/Kosovo 1990s & Ukraine 2022 → NATO led military action.
Divisions (e.g. Iraq War, US-China stance) → weak unified foreign policy.
No centralised military force → can’t rival US/China in global power.
Judgement: Mixed success → strong soft power & influence, but lacks unified hard power & still relies on US for security.

Question 3

3) structural influence

Answer 3

EU gives members structural power in trade & IGOs:

Brussels Effect: GDPR → global data privacy std.
WTO: EU led hormone-treated beef ban.
Climate leadership (Paris Accord), active G7/G20 role.
Collective weight → far greater global influence than members would have alone.
Against: Loss of sovereignty via “ever closer union” & QMV:

Lisbon Treaty → QMV expanded (trade, climate, immigration).
2015 migrant quotas & 2020 climate targets → Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic overruled.
National vetoes increasingly limited → sovereignty erosion.
Judgement: Success overall → collective structural power outweighs sovereignty loss (Brexit shows exit option exists).