Cash Cow, Tool and the Accession Hangover: Cash Cow, Tool and the Accession Hangover:

The EU and SlovakiaThe EU and Slovakia

Tim Haughton (University of Birmingham)Tim Haughton (University of Birmingham)

SSEES, University College London, SSEES, University College London,

10 May 2008 10 May 2008

Key argumentsKey arguments

European issues have had some prominence European issues have had some prominence

in inter-party competition, but they have in inter-party competition, but they have largely been instrumentalized.largely been instrumentalized.

EU 3 roles since entry: EU 3 roles since entry: source of agreement source of agreement reference point/external validator reference point/external validator measure of competencemeasure of competence

Impact of EU membership on party politics has Impact of EU membership on party politics has to a significant degree been the product of the to a significant degree been the product of the EU’s impact on government.EU’s impact on government.

Impact of Transnational Party GroupingsImpact of Transnational Party Groupings

Declined in significance since 2004 in part Declined in significance since 2004 in part because of role they played in Slovak parties because of role they played in Slovak parties prior to 2004prior to 2004 Membership = badge of approvalMembership = badge of approval

Smer-SD and Party of European Socialists Smer-SD and Party of European Socialists (PES)(PES) Membership sought early in decadeMembership sought early in decade 2006 election – domestic calculations matter more – 2006 election – domestic calculations matter more –

led to suspensionled to suspension Back in the club – thanks more to change in PES’s Back in the club – thanks more to change in PES’s

position than Smer-SD, although Hannes Swoboda position than Smer-SD, although Hannes Swoboda still meddlingstill meddling

The EU and party competition in The EU and party competition in SlovakiaSlovakia

2006 manifestos – few parties devoted 2006 manifestos – few parties devoted more than handful of paragraphs to EUmore than handful of paragraphs to EU

Even SDKU-DS relegated explicit Even SDKU-DS relegated explicit discussion of EU to few paragraphs at the discussion of EU to few paragraphs at the backback

When Europe mentioned usually in When Europe mentioned usually in relation to funds: EU seen as a cash cow relation to funds: EU seen as a cash cow to be milked.to be milked.

Content Analysis of Party Manifestos in the 2006 Elections

Party Economic and

financial policy

Social policy

Health Education and

research

Religion/

secular values

Nation/Ethnic

minorities

Culture Agriculture

Regional

policy

Foreignand

security(including defence)

Justice

andinteri

or

EU Other

Total

Smer–SD

87(27.3%)

61(19.1%)

24(7.5%)

28(8.8%)

0(0.0%)

10(3.1%)

13(4.1%)

7(2.2%)

11(3.4%)

2(0.6%)

22(6.9%

)

8(2.5%)

46(14.4%)

319

SDKÚ–DS

42(11.6%)

29(8.0%

)

36(10.0%

)

47(13.0%)

1(0.3%)

1(0.3%)

17(4.7%)

5(1.4%)

37(10.2%

)

45(12.5%)

40(11.1%)

14(3.9%)

47(13.0%)

361

SNS 44(7.8%)

39(6.9%

)

40(7.1%)

40(7.1%)

17(3.0%)

75(13.2%)

44(7.8%)

55(9.7%)

42(7.4%)

69(12.2%)

34(6.0%

)

7(1.2%)

60(10.6%)

566

SMK 58(12.3%)

42(8.9%

)

20(4.3%)

51(10.9%)

4(0.9%)

63(13.4%)

8(1.7%)

25(5.3%)

67(14.3%

)

42(8.9%)

23(4.9%

)

24(5.1%)

43(9.1%)

470

ĽS–HZDS

25(11.3%)

20(9.0%

)

12(5.4%)

29(13.1%)

2(0.9%)

4(1.8%)

10(4.5%)

11(5.0%)

13(5.9%)

41(18.6%)

26(11.8%)

4(1.8%)

24(10.9%)

221

KDH 8(5.8%)

21(15.2%)

17(12.3%

)

8(5.8%)

4(2.9%)

0(0.0%)

9(6.5%)

4(2.9%)

8(5.8%)

18(13.0%)

21(15.2%)

7(5.1%)

13(9.4%)

138

SDKÚ-DS/SDKÚ 2002 2006

HZDS/ĽS-HZDS 2002 2006

Smer-Tretia Cesta/Smer-SD 2002 2006

KDH 2002 2006

Economic and Financial Policy

85(27.5%)

42(11.6%)

24(18.3%)

25(11.3%)

19(17.4%)

87(27.3%)

19(10.1%)

8(5.8%)

Social Policy 18(5.8%)

29(8.0%)

19(14.5%)

20(9.0%)

15(13.8%)

61(19.1%)

12(6.4%)

21(15.2%)

Health 11(3.56%)

36(10.0%)

3(2.3%)

12(5.4%)

8(7.3%)

24(7.5%)

15(7.8%)

17(12.3%)

Education and Research

27(8.7%)

47(13.0%)

12(9.2%)

29(13.1%)

13(11.9%)

28(8.8%)

18(9.6%)

4(2.9%)

Religion/Secular Values

0(0.0%)

1(0.3%)

2(1.5%)

2(0.9%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

4(21.3%)

0(0.0%)

Nation/Ethnic Minorities

0(0.0%)

1(0.3%)

1(0.8%)

4(1.8%)

0(0.0%)

10(3.1%)

0(0.0%)

9(6.5%)

Culture 3(1.0%)

17(4.7%)

3(2.3%)

10(4.5%)

0(0.0%)

13(4.1%)

3(1.6%)

4(2.9%)

Agriculture 0(0.0%)

5(1.4%)

2(1.5%)

11(5.0%)

7(6.4%)

7(2.2%)

21(11.2%)

8(5.8%)

Regional Policy 0(0.0%)

37(10.2%)

3(2.3%)

13(5.9%)

0(0.0%)

11(3.4%)

8(4.3%)

18(13.0%)

Foreign, Security and Defence

17(5.5%)

45(12.5%)

5(3.8%)

41(18.6%)

4(3.7%)

2(0.6%)

24(12.8%)

21(15.2%)

Justice and Interior 53(17.1%)

40(11.1%)

13(9.9%)

26(11.8%)

7(6.4%)

22(6.9%)

34(18.1%)

26(11.8%)

EU 113.5%

143.9%

86.1%

41.8%

21.8%

82.5%

94.8%

75.1%

Other 84(27.2%)

47(3.9%)

36(27.5%)

24(10.9%)

34(31.2%)

46(14.4%)

21(11.2%)

13(9.4%)

Total 309 361 131 221 109 319 188 188

What European issues dominant?What European issues dominant?

Completion of Integration i.e. Schengen Completion of Integration i.e. Schengen and euroand euro

‘‘reactive’ – Lisbon Treaty, relations with reactive’ – Lisbon Treaty, relations with Russia, energy security i.e. have to Russia, energy security i.e. have to respondrespond

1. Source of Agreement1. Source of Agreement

Broad agreement amongst the major Broad agreement amongst the major parties about being in the EU: joining parties about being in the EU: joining eurozone etc. eurozone etc.

One exception in KDHOne exception in KDH Only party prior to 2004 which offered Only party prior to 2004 which offered

anything approaching detailed, principled anything approaching detailed, principled stance (keep veto on JHA and moral issues) stance (keep veto on JHA and moral issues)

Even the nationalists like the EU Even the nationalists like the EU …… for its money…… for its money at least!at least!

2. Reference point/External 2. Reference point/External validatorvalidator

European standards invoked in domestic European standards invoked in domestic politicspolitics E.g. Kalinak’s proposals for stricter citizenship E.g. Kalinak’s proposals for stricter citizenship

laws – he stressed other states introduced laws – he stressed other states introduced stricter conditionsstricter conditions

E.g. amendment to Labour Code in 2007: Fico E.g. amendment to Labour Code in 2007: Fico stressed this gave employees a ‘European stressed this gave employees a ‘European level of protection’level of protection’

3. Valence3. ValenceShared goals, but who is best placed to achieve these Shared goals, but who is best placed to achieve these goals:goals:

Euro entry:Euro entry: Hardline communists opposed, KDH some reservations, Hardline communists opposed, KDH some reservations,

but overwhelming supportbut overwhelming support

Criticism = govt’s handling of economy and preparations. Criticism = govt’s handling of economy and preparations. Both seen as endangering SK’s chances Both seen as endangering SK’s chances

Fico – keen to stress that he appreciates consequences Fico – keen to stress that he appreciates consequences of euro entry for sections of society – emphasized he will of euro entry for sections of society – emphasized he will ensure ‘social justice’ maintained c.f. opposition ensure ‘social justice’ maintained c.f. opposition

Valence not new: Valence not new: Smer’s 2002 campaignSmer’s 2002 campaign

Slovakia and the Ratification of the Slovakia and the Ratification of the Lisbon TreatyLisbon Treaty

Debate surrounding Lisbon Treaty Debate surrounding Lisbon Treaty ratification:ratification:

KDH offered some principled objectionsKDH offered some principled objections Ratification held up because of opposition Ratification held up because of opposition

complaints about new press lawcomplaints about new press law Fico criticized opposition for playing a Fico criticized opposition for playing a

‘destructive game’ ‘destructive game’

Ad HocAd Hoc Versus Coordinated Change Versus Coordinated Change

Strong Europeanization i.e. EU integration Strong Europeanization i.e. EU integration as a (causal) factor prompting coordinated as a (causal) factor prompting coordinated party responseparty response

Weak Europeanization i.e. party reactions Weak Europeanization i.e. party reactions are ad hoc and isolated are ad hoc and isolated

Slovakia – Slovakia – Ad HocAd Hoc with possible exception with possible exception of KDHof KDH

Through the Medium of Through the Medium of GovernmentGovernment

Governments have to react and engage Governments have to react and engage with the European level on a daily basiswith the European level on a daily basis Parties in government more likely to respond Parties in government more likely to respond

to EU impulses – evidence from 2006 to EU impulses – evidence from 2006 manifestosmanifestos

Smer-SD: some evidence that being in govt Smer-SD: some evidence that being in govt mattersmatters

Concluding thoughtsConcluding thoughts

evidence of political parties in Slovakia evidence of political parties in Slovakia seeking to upload their preferences to the seeking to upload their preferences to the European level in an attempt to change European level in an attempt to change European policy - linked to sizeEuropean policy - linked to size

As a relatively poor state, distributive As a relatively poor state, distributive politics = key; ensure flow of fundspolitics = key; ensure flow of funds

European integration as a ‘New Set of European integration as a ‘New Set of Tools’ (Enyedi) Tools’ (Enyedi)