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
Email it to me