Institutional Development of the European Union - Coursework Example

The European Union Established in the wake of the Second World War, the European Union (formerly the European Economic Community) is a supranational multilateral organization which generates an estimated 30% of the world’s total Gross Domestic Product. In addition to being an economic powerhouse, the European Union (EU) represents European integration in the political, judicial, social and economic spheres. Democracy, negotiation, and collective decision-making through multilateralism are all inherent attributes of the modern EU. The European Union, as an expression of its constituent members, represents the best of the European democratic tradition to the benefit of all member states (Warleigh 2004). Accordingly, the European Union continues to evolve, especially in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The institutional framework of the European Union is unique and this research paper will explore the development of the EU’s institutions since its inception. We will begin with a description of the organizational framework of this supranational body and a comprehensive overview of history the European Union will follow. The distribution of power within these institutions continues to evolve and these developments will be explored with an eye to the evolution of the EU. Organizational Structure of the EU There are presently five institutions of the European Union which together govern the continental Union. Established through the treaties of the EU, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European Court of Justice, and the European Court of Auditors. The latter two institutions are non-political and while the first three are the real political institutions of the Union and which maintain the executive as well as legislative power of the Union. The European Parliament represents European citizenry, the Council of the European Union is the principal decision making body in the EU, representing national governments. Accordingly, the European Commission is the executive wing of the EU and an institution which exists to promote the overarching European interest. What is the history of the institutional structure of the European Union and how has the EU evolved over time? (Warleigh 2004) Evolutionary History of the EU The European Union is a supranational body composed of constituent member states, found largely on the European peninsula. Democracy, negotiation, and collective decision-making through multilateralism are all inherent attributes of the modern EU. As a multinational organization, the EU represents various national interests within an overarching political framework. The EU is an international organization which operates on the basis of negotiation between member states and relies on collective decision-making to achieve its ends. Members are joined together and bound by treaties signifying their participation within the larger EU political framework. The political decisions of member-states are thus constrained by their allegiance and signatory status to overarching EU treaties (Almond et al 2002). Today, membership in the European Union is actively sought by nearly all countries on the European peninsula as well as by one country straddling both Europe and Middle Asia (Turkey). Although there were initially only five members of the precursor to the European Union (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and West Germany), there are presently 27 countries in the EU and they are, in alphabetical order, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and finally, the United Kingdom. Countries currently seeking membership in the EU include parts of the former Federal State of Yugoslavia as well as Turkey. A political and economic powerhouse, this intergovernmental organization is estimated to account for up to 30% of the world’s total Gross Domestic Product (Warleigh 2004). As a multinational organization, the EU represents various national interests within an overarching political framework. The EU is a multilateral organization which operates on the basis of negotiation between member states and relies on collective decision-making to achieve its ends. Members are joined together and bound by treaties signifying their participation within the larger EU political framework. The political decisions of member-states are thus constrained by their allegiance and signatory status to overarching EU treaties (Almond et al 2002). Although it has not always been the case, modern-day Europe is characterized by a unifying democratic political culture. While the concept of democracy originated on its shores, the philosophy of democratic governance was challenged in 20th century Europe by authoritarian political movements, including fascism (expressed by Nazi Germany & Mussolini’s Italy), and communism (as exemplified in Eastern Europe during the Cold War). With Allied victory in World War II and the recent collapse of the Soviet Union, democracy – in varying degrees– is now a universal trend amongst European states. In fact liberal democracy, best expressed by the states of Western Europe with entrenched democratic traditions, is quickly becoming the standard for the continent (Almond et al. 2002). Democratic norms and rules have subsequently been established through a pan-European legal framework, the European Union. The Treaty of Rome, signed in March of 1957, proposed a common European economic market throughout the European Economic Community. Historically-speaking this was perhaps the most important precursor to the integration of Europe today (Wood & Quaisser 2008). Recent treaties, including the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Treaty of Nice, and the failed EU Constitution all followed the precedent set more than 40 years ago in Rome. Despite some controversies, democracy remains alive and well within the EU political framework. In fact, the recent failure to implement a Constitution for Europe affirmed the democratic underpinnings of the Union and proved that debate and collective decision making are inherent components of the working European Union. The Maastricht Treaty (1993) creating the European Union, replaced the European Community, and paved the way for further economic, social and political integration within Europe. This integration was strengthened through the implementation of three institutional pillars: 1) European Communities; 2) Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and 3) police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters as well as the acceptance of a single currency, the Euro (Almond et al. 466-8). In addition to the three pillars, the acceptance of the Euro as an official currency of members of the so-called “Eurozone” strengthened economic bonds between member states. Maastricht laid the blue print for the implementation of the Euro, further strengthening pan-European Attitudes across the continent. Following negotiations in the Dutch city of Maastricht, the Treaty of Amsterdam (1999) represented a further evolution of collective decision making amongst EU members. The Treaty of Amsterdam strengthened the power of the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice, as well as the role of the EU in the fields of public health, immigration, and criminal affairs, as well as enhanced foreign and security policies (Almond et al. 2002). The development of a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) has been controversial in spite of recent European foreign policy failures, such as the collective European response to genocide in the Balkans (Wood & Quaisser 2008). Although largely unfounded, some member states feared the loss of autonomy in key policy areas such as foreign affairs. In spite of worries surrounding increased integration, particularly in the political and social fields, the Treaty of Amsterdam put in place measures for the EU to safeguard the rights of European citizens continent-wide. The European Court of Justice is arguably the most pronounced example of the attempt to ensure common judicial standards throughout Europe. Accordingly, the Treaty of Amsterdam significantly strengthened the powers of the European Parliament and made the European Commission more politically accountable (Almond et al. 2002). Following the framework established in Amsterdam, the Treaty of Nice (2001) set out to prepare the EU for enlargement and provided an institutional basis for growth in Eastern Europe (Warleigh 2004). Nice also amended the electoral framework of the Council, enlarging the EU Parliament and determining how power should be shared following enlargement. New articles were made subject to qualified majority voting (QMV), an important aspect of the EU’s commitment to democracy. The voting capabilities of states were also re-weighted following Nice. This was controversial because large states (the “big four”: Britain, Germany, Italy and France) would receive a greater share of voting power vis-à-vis smaller states (Wood & Quaisser 2008). Additionally, states kept their veto power over key domestic issues such as taxation and social policy. Nice established the rules of the game for enlargement and gave the elder players (Britain, Germany, Italy and France above) a privileged position within the enlarged framework. More controversially, the Irish Republic rejected the Nice Treaty in a referendum, the only country legally obligated to hold a vote on the subject. Despite the fact that Ireland initially rejected the proposed enlargement of the EU, a year later it accepted the provisions of Nice, providing a fine example of European democracy at work. This Treaty enlarged the number of seats in the European Parliament and resolved to reduce the size of the European Commission. Finally, although controversial, it also provided for subsidiary courts beneath the European Court of Justice. Finally, the proposed EU Constitution (2003) was left unimplemented after failed referendums in France and the Netherlands. Debate ensued over the complexity and length of the proposed Draft Constitution, the extension of qualified majority voting, the question of national versus union law, and the role of the Commission in the democratic functioning of the Union. Because the European Commission is made up by appointees and not elected officials, the democratic legitimacy of this unelected body was cast into doubt. Described by many as a “democratic deficit” within the EU, it was likely an important factor for the failure of the Draft Constitution to be implemented as law. Additional concerns included the potential ascension of Turkey into the ranks of the EU. Although the Draft Constitution failed, the debate that it stimulated amongst members of the EU, as well as within member states, is important. Democracy was again displayed when conditions were made to ensure that the Draft Constitution was ratified by all members and not simply imposed from above (Wood & Quaisser 2008). Concluding Remarks Described as a “confederated state” (Almond et al. 2002), the European Union represents an evolution of the European democratic tradition. Europe is the cradle of modern democracy and modern European states have successfully maintained a democratic tradition for centuries. Despite claims that legislation enacted in Brussels bypasses the rights of individual states, the opposite is true. All states within the union participate in its decision making processes (Almond et al. 2002). While the institutional distribution of power may have changes over time, the underlying ideals of the European Community have remained relatively unchanged since its inception. The European Union is arguably the world’s most successful attempt at regional integration. The motto of the EU is “unity in diversity” and collective bargaining, negotiation and a plurality of opinion are attributes of today’s EU. The European Union represents democracy at work and recent treaties obligating all members to abide by common standards in the political and social realms affirm a common standard among the states of Europe. The motto of the EU is “unity in diversity” (Wood & Quaisser 2008) and collective bargaining, negotiation and a plurality of opinion are attributes of today’s EU. The European Union represents democracy at work and recent treaties obligating all members to abide by common standards in the political and social realms affirm a common standard among the states of Europe. In fact, “by agreeing to pursue that interest within an organization as constraining as the European Union, the member-states have recognized the ultimate superiority of multilateral, as opposed to unilateral, decision making and action in a variety of policy arenas” (Almond et al. 2002). Power is shared and the European collectivity, as an example of “pooled sovereignty” (Almond et al. 2002), is in fact an evolution of the European democratic tradition and a positive force for democracy on the continent. Treaties bind members to a common good and force constituent states to compromise and work towards a common goal. Accordingly, multilateralism, democracy, and collective decision making are at the heart of today’s European Union. Bibliography Almond, G.A, Dalton, R.J & Powel Jr., G.B. European Politics Today, 2nd edition. New York: Longman, 2002. Warleigh, A. European Union: The Basics. New York, Routledge, 2004. Wood, S. and Quaisser, W. The New European Union: Confronting the Challenges of Integration. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2008. Read More