Composition and Governance of the European Union - Case Study Example

EUROPEAN UNION Your name Course title Tutor Institution 27/04/2011 European Union contributions to political and security issues in the Asian-Pacific regions of the world The term European Union refers to a conglomerate of nations in the European Continent joined together by treaties. The merging of those countries is aimed at realizing economic, social and political success. Currently the union is home to 27 member states with its headquarters primarily in Europe. Etiology of the European Union is traced back in the 1945 after the culmination of the deadliest Second World War. It was formed primarily to shun the occurrence of such wars in the future that had led to the loss of innocent lives through military and civil warfare. 1 French Minister for foreign affairs Robert Schuman is documented as the European Union’s brainchild. At first, the Union was formed to regulate coal and steel industries. This was chiefly because steel had provided an avenue for the production and subsequent proliferation of firearms during the war, an incident that the proponents of the Union wanted to alienate. In a similar viewpoint was Jean Monnet who proposed the formation of a European Community that would ensure future reduction in warfare. Monnet was optimistic that the European Union would provide a moral and political, economic notwithstanding for the European nations. Reasons for the formation of the European Union As earlier stated, the formation of the European Union was a gateway in ensuring peace and political stability in the European nations. After the Second World War, the proponents of EU formation saw the need for the establishment of the Union so as to create a unified Europe that would amicably solve their difference diplomatically. The Union ideally formed a negotiating factor between warring partners to come into consensus with minimal occurrences of warfare. This greatly shaped the current status of the historic Union. Moreover, the EU was also formed in a bid to harness the economic environment for the European market. For example, its formation gave leeway for business-minded individuals to transact businesses across the European countries with minimal hurdles such as territorial boundaries. Through eradication of boundaries ranging from physical to technical barriers, the formation spurred economic growth. For instance, investors from member countries would move freely though member countries and at times establish business branches. This amicably led to economic growth not only on individual member states but also the region as a whole. Composition and governance of the European Union The EU is made up of various organs that ensure the effectiveness of service delivery. It is divided into two broad categories namely supranational institutions and intergovernmental institutions. The supranational institutions include the European Commission, the Parliament and the Court of Justice. On the other hand, the intergovernmental institutions represented in the EU consist of the European Council and the council of ministers from member states. The 20-member European Commission, headed by a President appointed for a five-year term in office, makes legislative proposals for the acceptance, rejection or amendment by the council of ministers. In light of this, it ensures the implementation of proposals passed by the council. The European parliament comprises of 626 members from each member state. It serves as the determinant organ of the EU that oversees the appointment of commission members. Moreover, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is mandated with the enforcement of the Union’s legal system. By so doing, it interprets, applies and delivers judgments on EU laws to member states. In an intergovernmental perspective, the EU’s council of ministers comprises of foreign affairs ministers of member states and at times presidents of member states. Asian-Pacific Region The term Asian-Pacific connotes the regions in the world in the proximity of the western Pacific Ocean. It includes East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Countries predominately in the Asia Pacific regions include Australia, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia among others. The region boasts of faster economic growth rate in the world. The Asian-Pacific region are home to diversities such as ethnicity, language, culture and population. The region boasts of the world largest country China with a population of over 1.25 billion. Years back, the region was home to some of the poorest nations in the world but has alienated that ideology through its innovative technology, nowadays competing with world economic super powers such as the United States of America2. Politics and Security in the Asian-Pacific The countries in the Asian-Pacific regions of the world are developing with time. In many states in the region, military strengths are used as a show of political might thus proliferation of conflict3. European Union contributions to political issues in the Asian-Pacific regions of the world The Asian-Pacific regions in the world comprise numerous countries near the Pacific Ocean including large proportions of East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania. In this respect, the European Union has turned to be an inevitable force in the political authorities within and without Europe, Asia-Pacific regions not exceptional. The European Union contribution to political issues in the Asian-Pacific regions of the world traces back in the early 1990s upon mounting pressure on the EU to develop a comprehensive Asia Strategy. The union is growing in popularity in the regions in its efforts to instill political stability.4 For example the European Union was greatly involved in the negotiating efforts during the Korean peninsula and its’ subsequent peacekeeping mission in Aceh, a province in Indonesia. Additionally, the European Union provides an avenue for emulation by other associations in the Asian-Pacific regions. The EU serves as a powerful reference point for the nations in the regions in their quest for integration. The European Union largely contributed to the formation of political systems in the Asia-Pacific regions. It propagated its ideological perspectives of nation states such as nationalism, liberalism and socialism, thus shaped the agenda in the respective states. Through experience from the European Union, the ASEAN has greatly shaped the sovereignty of countries. In light of this, countries in East Asia have arguably trodden in the footsteps of the giant Union to come up with formal institutions and sharing of national sovereignty to propagate collective ideologies. However, the ideologies were not successfully implemented in the areas leading to their failures. For example, leadership although trending on good political agendas was weak and corrupt leading to their failures. Moreover, EU’s cooperation with the ASEAN member countries arguably shaped the political circles through the advocating for upholding of human rights. Nonetheless, the EU steeped low on China’s political life and scantly dealt with political issues in the region. The EU on its part contributes immensely on good governance through the enhancement of political responsibility and transparent and accountable leadership in the Asian-Pacific regions. Through this, the EU plays an important role that ensures the apprehension of democracy and human rights5. European Union contributions to security issues in the Asian-Pacific regions of the world The Asian-Pacific regions are not to controversies arising from security issues. For example, the region is arguably the most security prone geographical territory in the world. This shows the extent to which the EU toils to ensure peace and stability within and without its member states geographical territorial boundaries6. In its resolve to be an institution governed by peace, the European Union contributes to the reduction of security lapses through use of its security peacekeeping missions to trouble spots globally. As stipulated in its security strategy, regional conflicts are key security threats that should be dealt with amicably. In its capacity, the European Union uses the development aid to help governments fighting terrorism in Asia and beyond. However, the European Union is not largely involved in security actions in the Asian region but as an economic partner. The Union contributes in conflict prevention efforts in Asian-Pacific region by engaging the conflicting parties into dialogue and application of diplomacy in efforts to reduce conflict escalation. Moreover, it helps in reducing criminal activities such as human and drug trafficking, money laundering among others. Through the EU, Asian-Pacific states apply development cooperation to resolve conflicts. For example, Central Asia serves as another security policy for EU due to the fact that the EU is expending its membership eastwards. 7 Moreover, the EU has continued in its contribution of security assistance in the vast Asia. In a classical example, EU’s mission in Pyongyang that aimed at reducing tension that had risen following American’s President George Bush North Korea’s criticism8. According to Connors, Davison and Dosch9 the ability of the Asian-Pacific countries to produce nuclear weapons attracted the European Union concern thus resulting in talks with the concerned countries to produce nuclear arms in a preventive way to avert warfare. The EU’s role in the Korean Energy Development Organization is a classical example10. In contributing to security issues in the Asian-Pacific regions, the European Union assumes various methodologies namely; bilateral and multilateral. In bilateral, the security issues are dealt with within EU member countries and Asian-Pacific countries. For example, security dialogues involving defense ministers from Japan and other actors such as Germany, France among others. On the other hand, multilateral initiatives include activities involving either European or East Asian countries. European-Asian’s contribution, for instance, to the UN transitional administration in East Tomir commonly known as UNTAET 11 In light this; the EU has contributed to great lengths the formation of other unions and organizations in other countries geared towards the realization of a peaceful society. Through such regional cooperation, exemplary from EU, the countries that had earlier been battle fronts are with time entering into associations and as a result foster a cohesive atmosphere. The inclusions of states into these regional organizations greatly help in the apprehension of security concerns. For example, since the formation of the ASEAN in 1997, wars have drastically reduced12 Ruland 13 argues that the Union contributes to the effective application of security measures to avert the terrorism acts such as the September 11 terrorist attack in the United States of America. This is carried out through campaigns against proliferation of weapons of mass destructions such as nuclear bombs. Rationale: Conflict and security lapses in the Asian-Pacific regions are often catapulted by political reasons as various political heavyweights use military forces to illustrate their might. In light of this, numerous innocent lives are lost. However, solving military issues with clear cut political strategies in place would largely help in the replacement of warfare to diplomacy application as a conflict resolution mechanism. For example, engagement in talks between Asia and Europe aimed at creating mutual understanding and in the long run attain a win-win situation for all concerned parties. In essence, the political dialogue should be goal driven with critical emphasis on upholding of equality, promotion of fundamental rights and in accordance to international laws. Moreover, production of weapons of mass destructions by the war-driven Asian-Pacific countries such as Japan should be regulated through setting up of organizations that will spearhead the disarmament of countries. For example, instead of showcasing its military prowess, Japan should gear towards the socio-economic development of its citizenry and the Asia-Pacific region in general. Future of European Union-Asian-Pacific Cooperation The formation of regional integration organizations is set to foster peace and prosperity between member countries as displayed by the European Union. In light of this, warfare that has characterized Asian Pacific relations is headed to the deathbed. Apart from security politics, the Asian-Pacific and EU integration played a significant role in the increment of trade volumes with ASEAN representing 6 percent of European imports. However, application of regional cooperation should be relative in all nations to avert a win-lose situations. A win- lose situation arises when policies are decided without a look at the economic wellbeing of a country. For example, the policies applied in Japan should be relatively higher than other nations due to the fact that Japan has arguably a stronger economy as compared to a couple of the member states 14 Apprehension of regional cooperation over the world has served as a mechanism for the application of democracy and economic development. For example, countries that fail to follow laid out policies for various organizations risk economic sanctions that are detrimental in realizing a country’s economic wellbeing15. Conclusion The Asian-Pacific region countries of the world are advantageous thanks to their technological ability to own state-of-the art military war equipments that propagates their socio-political and economic wellbeing. However, the political administrations should not take advantage of the military abilities to bring about warfare but instigate peaceful negotiations between countries. In light of this, socio-economic and political development will be realized with ease. Moreover, countries in the Asian-Pacific should follow exemplary actions portrayed by European Union aimed at fostering unity of purpose among member states. Formation of association is geared towards reduction in conflict. In conclusion, the European Union has adequately played an integral role in the realization of a harmonious Asian-Pacific community. BIBLIOGRAPHY Arranz, Alfonso, Doyle, Natalie and Winand, Pascaline, New Europe, New World?: The European Union and the challenges of the 21st Century (Brussels: Peterlang, 2010) 229. Camilleri, Joseph, Asia-Pacific geopolitics: hegemony vs. human security (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2007) 4. 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