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European Themes
Changing Map – Nation-state giving up sovereignty to regional organizations
Who belongs to the various groups?
How do they feel about it?—Changing Identities of Nation and Region
– What does it mean to be European?
European Membership CharacteristicsEuropean Membership Characteristics(Formal)(Formal)
1.1. Stable Democracy (human Stable Democracy (human rights etc)rights etc)
2.2. ““European” locationEuropean” location
3.3. Market economyMarket economy
4.4. Accept EU treatiesAccept EU treaties
Informal European Characteristics
High income Stable democracy High education levels Human rights protection – e.g. no death penalty Christian Material possessions (TV, cars, etc) Interest in politics (high turnout) “Green” attitudes High taxes: social community
NATO Membershttp://www.nato.int/multi/interactive-maps/NatoFlas
h_en.Cache.html
Belgium (1949) Canada Denmark France Iceland Italy Luxembourg United Kingdom United States Netherlands Norway Portugal
Greece (1952) Turkey Germany (1955) Spain (1982) Poland (1999) Hungary Czech Republic 2004:
– Bulgaria,– Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania– Romania, – Slovakia – Slovenia
Treaties pulling Europe together: many layers over time
Coal and Steel CommunityCoal and Steel Community 1952 1952 EEC (European Economic Community) EEC (European Economic Community)
19571957 ( (Common marketCommon market) ) – Expanded between 1973-1986Expanded between 1973-1986
Single European Act 1987Single European Act 1987– Removed remaining barriers to tradeRemoved remaining barriers to trade
Treaties pulling Europe together: coalescing union
Treaty on European Union 1992 – “The Maastricht Agreement”– Common security– Common foreign policy– Blueprint for monetary union (Euro)
New Members 1995: – Sweden, Austria and Finland Sweden, Austria and Finland – Rejected entry – Norway and SwitzerlandRejected entry – Norway and Switzerland
New Members 2004:– Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, – Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus– Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Applicants: – Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey
Treaties pulling Europe together: coalescing union
“Schengen” treaty 1999: Rules on freedom of movement
“Fortress Europe” – Yes Iceland, Norway, – NOT Ireland, UK– “The Belgian Curtain”
Euroland
“Euro” replaces currencies of individual countries Efficiency and competitiveness
NOT: UK, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland
NOT yet?: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
What EU says about itself
“The European Union (EU) is a family of democratic European countries, committed to working together for peace and prosperity…..
It is not a State intended to replace existing states, but it is more than any other international organisation.”
“The rule of law is fundamental to the European Union. “
five EU institutions
European Parliament (elected by the peoples of the Member States);
Council of the European Union (representing the governments of the Member States);
European Commission (driving force and executive body);
Court of Justice (ensuring compliance with the law);
Court of Auditors (controlling sound and lawful management of the EU budget).
Europe: the big picture
EU: 27 states Skeptics: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland Maybe ?
– Croatia, Switzerland On very long finger
– Turkey, Albania
Euroland: 12 states Skeptics 3 states (UK, Sweden, Norway)
Irl 75% Be. 62% Ger. 41%
Lux. 75% Gr. 61% Fin. 40%
Ned. 73% It. 60% Swe 34%
Spa 71% Den. 53% Aus. 33%
Port 64% Fra. 49% UK 25%Source: Eurobarometer 2000
Is your country’s membership in the EU a good thing?
BelBel 85%85% GerGer 76%76% IrlIrl 56%56%
It.It. 85%85% SpaSpa 76%76% Dk.Dk. 53%53%
NedNed 85%85% GreGre 76%76% UKUK 49%49%
FrFr 85%85% PorPor 66%66% FinFin 46%46%
LuxLux 79%79% AusAus 61%61% SweSwe 45%45%
Source: Eurobarometer 2000
Support for a common defenseand security policy.
Overall support for EU membership:Good thing 49%Bad thing 14%Not good nor bad 28% Don’t know 9%
Overall support for a common foreign policyYes 64%No 17%Don’t know 19%
European Support for Integration
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