EU POLITICS, EUROPEAN POLITICS

TODAY – ORAL ARGUMENTS

2 groups Each group select 3 people to present an

argument Prepare together 2x3 people will speak – max 20 minutes

What your suggested answer is Main lines of argument Replies to the other side’s reasoning

OUTLINE – PROBLEMS IN EUROPE

Democracy deficit European identity EU’s future? Economic development Education Social situation

Democracy deficit Institutional Identity

EUROPEAN IDENTITY – WHAT?

European Union Common set of values Sense of belonging to the EU in addition to national identities Indirectly (unity in diversity)

Citizenship European public sphere

EUROPEAN IDENTITY – WHY?

Functioning polity Legitimacy Low levels of attachment Weak political activity

EUROPEAN IDENTITY – HOW? Different schools of thought Common points:

democratic participation, more democracy education and culture  social and economic cohesion

EU actions Europe for citizens programme Constitutional tools implement a common foreign and security policy …

CONSTITUTIONAL TOOLS FOR FOSTERING EUROPEAN IDENTITY – democratic participation

Symbols of the European Union European Parliament elections Referendums European Citizens’ Initiative

SYMBOLS

Anthem•Beethoven set to music the "Ode to Joy" written in 1785 by Friedrich von Schiller•human race becoming brothers

9th of May Europe Day

“United in diversity” is the motto of the European Union

.eu TLD €

EP ELECTIONS

REFERENDUMS

1992 Denmark: no, France: yes, but small margin

2001 Ireland: no Constitutional Treaty

2005: France, Netherlands vote no Reform (Lisbon) Treaty

2008: Ireland votes no

EUROPEAN CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE

Constitutional tool used in several countries In the Constitutional Treaty (I-47) In Lisbon – TEU Provisions on democratic

principles (Art. 11)

ENLARGEMENT - TURKEY AND THE EU

1987 application for membership

2005 recognised as a candidate country

Conditions for joining:Democratic systemFunctioning market

economyAdopting the acquis

communautaire

ISSUES OF JOINING

“too big, too poor, and too Muslim” Referendums

Positive example for European Christian and Moslim cooperation

Common Foreign and Security Policy

OTHER CANDIDATES

Croatia Iceland The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Montenegro

Albania Serbia Kosovo

REFORM OF THE EU

6 members to 27 Supranationality Amending treaties, case-law

Constitutional Treaty 2005: France, Netherlands vote no

Reform (Lisbon) Treaty 2008: Ireland votes no

Now adopted – needs to be applied

LACK OF UNDERSTANDING No information → too much information? No chance for feedback, democratic

participation Elite – citizen divisions Transparency, democracy not up to standard Eurojargon Political participation

Where is the end of EU integration?

FOR TOMORROW Prepare to talk about

your research on the EU Member State you chose on the first week

Which pictures have you identified

Why are they important for the Member State in question

Write it up in maximum 1 page

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