reading 1 - chapter 2 and 3 Flashcards
distrust and rivalry between European states until after ww2 bc?
divisions:
- language
- culture
- political
- religion
- historical experience
- economic
-> tensions, hostility and war
the background of ww2
between the wars:
- sharp and fluid inter-state relations
- no clear balance of power or alliance system
- treaties/pacts often unpatterned and created out of fear
- sometimes greater cooperation but little came of it
LoN failed bc
- vague aims
- intergovernmental -> everyone had to agree
- states wanted different things from it: maintain vs change treaty of Versailles status quo
after ww2
new relations:
- unbroken peace: EU countries seen as allies, not threat + similar view of who were threats
- transformed agenda: more varied, high->lower politics
- new challenges and processes: growing contact, enmeshing and expansion
explanatory approach of the transformation after ww2
- deep roots of European integration
- impact WW2
- increasing importance interdependence
- differing positions western European states
!not mutually exclusive
deep roots of European integration
- ideological: common identity of interest in Europe
(historical critique: always been more conflict) - overstates peace and cooperation in C19 (since C18 more and more cooperation, but last quarter C19 more protectionism and nationalism etc. -> free trading system disappears)
industrial and economic liberalisation are bases for furtherance interconnectedness, but don’t guarantee them
the impact of the second world war
ww2 was a turning point:
political factors
1 combating nationalism (e.g. Council of Europe, European Convention of Human Rights)
2. new map of continental Europe (iron curtain + liberal western ideals)
! role of US should not be overstated but also not understated
3. new international power balance -> Europe caught between great powers led to feeling of unity
4. the German problem: should be contained
economic factor = end war -> want for international economic and financial arrangements (Bretton Woods 1944, IMF, etc.)
- EU balance of payment deficit -> Marshall help with conditions of EU integration -> Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC)
*became OECD (organisation for european cooperation and development) in 1961
interdependence
- increased world trade
- internationalisation production
- fluctuations / uncertainty currency exchanges
- within western Eur specfic: external increasingly centered around western-EU + from 60s Germany strongest economy
-> vulnerability to outside events + acting in isolation often impossible -> countries cooperate/consult
!!influence modern interdependence should not be overstated:
- doesn’t produce unavoidable set integrationist processes + dev.
- political factors have continued to be important in shaping integration processes
- other types of interdependence remain important (e.g. Eur powers limited power when acting alone)
national considerations
not all states equally willing to cooperate/integrate bco loss of sov.
-> limited membership until 1970s
founding members:
- Benelux: ww2 emphasised vulnerability to neighbors + were already used to economic cooperation + none were strong enough to ignore integration initivates Franco-German
- Italy: new start after fascism + anti-communistic sentiment + eco. difficulties
- France: contain Germany + eco. growth
- West-Germany: regain self-respect + place in international community + against eastern threat
! there was / wasnt a common and coherent integrationist force?
NOT such a force:
- multiple IGOs and plans
- relationship between states often uneasy bco different national interests
- slow/rigid process of integration
- 1990s end cold war -> turbulence integration Eastern Europe
the ECSC
early impetus = Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman 1950
- both support European unity and OEEC and CoE + wanted something more ambituous
April 1951 Treaty of Paris, into force in 1952, expired in 2002
ECSC treaty broke new ground:
- ambitious policy aims: free trade arena and foundations common market
- first European inter-state org. with sign. supranational characteristics
key institutions:
- high authority
- council of ministers
- common assembly (chosen y national parliament, motion of censure and advisory function)
- court of justice
ECSC was successful -> impetus further integration
!! problems ECSC:
- declining importance steel and coal ->need for coordinated and effective community energy spending (but national differences prevented this)
- 1958-1959 overproduction (cheap oil import and fall energy consumption) -> countries tried to solve it on their own
EDC
= European Defence Community
(context: cold war + no want to rearm germany)
idea (coined by Pleven): European army
-> 1952 draft EDC trety, not ratified:
- unease German rearmement
- doubt about efficiency
- Fa didn’t want to lose control of forces
- discontent that UK did not participate
- end wars -> feeling it was not necessary
1955 alternative = West European Union: Italy and West-Germany were added to the Brussels Treaty for Cooperation
!EDC shows: rapid integration and political sensitive areas would lead to resistance
- BUT: it came close to ratification: shows alternative intitiatives are possible
Messina Resolution 1955
ECSC states plans for further economic integration -> Spaak committee (UK participated for a bit)
led to a report that was used as basis negotiations april 1956 (treaties of Rome)
Treaties of Rome
- EEC
(treaty diff than nation states: centered around specific policy) - Euratom
(there were many loopholes and exceptions, e.g when national security interests were involved you could keep secrets)
signed: 25 march 1957
into force: 1 january 1958
*lots of negotiations, e.g. France wanted special protection farmers
! clear rules trade, BUT only guiding principles for social and agricultural policies
EEC broad objectives
- common market
- approximating eco. policies of MS
- harmonious. dev. eco. activities
- continuous + balanced expansion
- increase in stability + standard of living
- closer relationship between states
Guidelines for policy development = concerned with est. common market + a community more than just a common market
- removal of tarrifs -> est. common market
- CET: common external tarrif
- prohibtiion activities that distort competition
- measures to promote movements goods, persons, services and capital
