Impact of the Effect that the Luxembourg Treaty on the Development of the Integration of Europe - Essay Example

The Luxembourg Compromise: The Impact on European Integration As we discuss the impact of the effect that Luxembourg treaty or compromise had on the development of the integration of Europe, we must first understand the term and meaning of the Luxembourg compromise and why it occurred. It was the year 1966, month of January, when the Luxembourg compromise was reached. This negotiation was arrived at so as to solve the problems and differences between the European communities. Now what was the problem? This treaty stated that the central authority of the European community, the council, as they are so called was to agree to a major decision making from 1st January 1966. Now the problem was that of the French government, who were against this decision. Therefore, in 1965 France pulled its representation from the council. This movement or step taken by France was so called the ‘Empty Chair’ crisis which was the first emergency that the European Community faced. Right to veto was demanded by the French for each member state in matters relating to crucial interest, and also that they themselves had to determine when matters were at risk. The Luxembourg compromise was reached to solve this issue where the representative of different states approved to hand out widely held decision in matters relating to country’s imperative issues. This meant that common decision making characteristics used for association between states remained in reality. This step and decision marked an important occasion in matter relating to integration. Surprisingly, the French government raised its crucial interest and to block majority votes on policy pertaining to agricultural. (“Accession negotiations”; “Luxembourg Compromise”) The increase of the European integration was successful earlier, but after the Luxembourg Compromise the process paced down and gave rise to problems in the future. However, though the compromise of 1966 slowed down the integration of the European development, the process got a new life in the eighties. The Single European Act was passed at one of the meetings in Luxemburg. This treaty was to give more rights and power to the commission which meant majority decision rather than common one among the council. Therefore, this meant the end of the Luxembourg Compromise. (Faster Integration) Supposedly, the compromise had to continue then the Single European act would not have come into existence and treaties like the Amsterdam and Maastricht (European Union) would not have been drafted. The majority system of vote cannot fully be achieved; hence a co-decision method was introduced in many areas such as transport, development and employment. The EU had to take decision on the employment pact where member state had to give its assessment of the situation. The council sets up certain reforms and guidelines which, the member state has to follow. Every once in a year the member state has to report to Brussels, where the council looks into these reports and issues suggestion to individual governments. (Faster Integration) The EU had to improve on the foreign policy by introducing strategic planning and warning unit made up of the Councils and the western European Union. However, the integration of the Western European Union into the EU is still a decision waiting to happen. Sadly, the treaty of Amsterdam did not perform well and failed to achieve the enlargement of the European Union. It did not manage to give the European Union the necessary changes and hence missed the opportunity of proper integration of the European Community. (Faster Integration) The Luxembourg compromise gave rise to many treaties in the European Community. However, the decision of majority voting made things more difficult between the members of the European Union as they kept having difference of opinion on matters on vital interest and matters. Although many problems have risen, even then the European communities have managed to grow and take in more members. The European community plays an important role in decision-making. The EU was responsible for harmonizing member states laws in matter relating to the internal market mainly the free movement of people, food, capital and services and to stop anything that might hinder the movement. There is an agreement between the European Union and a new member or other states, which includes an integration of short membership but more extensive than a free trade agreement which in turn can become a full membership. The EU has set up policies to help farmers. This policy is known as Common agriculture policy. (European Union: Analysis of the Integration Process (I) - Stage 3) The EU is responsible for setting up free movement capital, labour and goods and removing all rates and quotas on intra-group trade. This is considered a very deep from of integration in the development of the European community as this involves the harmonization of members in the trade area. The European Union does not only cater to the trade movement but also to the environment. It has policy that helps protect the environment and also to improve the populations health and also proper use of the natural resources. This policy does not only cover the European nations but the world over too. The all around development of the European nations has taken place after the Luxembourg Commission. They have formed many treaties covering almost every section from trade to environment, from human rights to financial laws. They have also harmonized the member states so that they can take their decision on matters, which are crucial with proper care and understanding. The EU has taken non-discrimination policy where no one can be judged according to their orientation, sex, religion. (“Equal treatment on grounds of racial and ethnic origin”) However, a provision is also made to a member state to opt out of the Council if it does not want to represent itself. Proper care has been taken care for the worker class people and the labour market. Training and good working environment has been looked into. They have made sure that there is equal working opportunity for all. The council has made sure of the security system of the nation so that they have proper and strict rules regarding terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking and other criminal activities. They make sure that there is closer co-operation between the police and armed forces so they are informed in all matters relating to crime. Also the European communities look judicial matters closely. Overall we can say that there has been a tremendous change in the development of the European nation and as Luxembourg commission had no value it brought vast changes inside the European Community. The European Union has brought significant changes and new laws that govern its member state, and they expect these states to adhere to the laws that they have put down. The policy of the European Union can be summed up in Three Columns namely the rules and regulation of the community in terms of monetary and economic zones, treaties, union citizenship, policies of the communities. Secondly the common international security law and thirdly the judicial and the law enforcement act. (Faster Integration) In conclusion we can say that though many treaties have been formed and some of them failed to achieve its goal, however, the European community is going strong and continues as new member states keep joining in and amidst these new treaties the Luxembourg compromise is coming to an end and in theory it is now only being used as a refer document. Work Cited 1. Accession negotiations, Babylon, 2004, retrieved on August 17, 2008 from: http://www.babylon.com/definition/Accession_negotiations/English 2. “Equal treatment on grounds of racial and ethnic origin”, Europa, 2005, retrieved on August 17, 2008 from: http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l33114.htm 3. “European Union: Analysis of the Integration Process (I) – Stage”, retrieved on august 17, 2008 from: http://www.dadalos-europe.org/int/grundkurs2/etappe_3.htm 4. Faster Integration, retrieved on august 17, 2008 from: http://elvil.sub.su.se/data2/en/plaza.d/lcentre.d/europe.d/vlectures.d/lecture1/8.html 5. “Luxembourg Compromise”, retrieved on august 17, 2008, from: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0077111192/117919/glossary.doc Read More