IS THE EU A MODEL OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION?
University of WroclawGlobalization & Regionalization (Political)
Meha Lodha27th October, 2009
EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
EU QUICK FACTS
27 member states Established 1st November 1993 500 million citizens Eurozone - 16 member states Current President - PM of Sweden, Fredrik
Reinfeldt Parliament - Strasbourg, France
REGIONAL INTEGRATION (RI)
DEFINITIONS OF RI . . . “… a common nationality, a common currency and a common
representation abroad” - Sir Arthur Lewis
is a process in which states enter into a supranational regional organization in order to increase regional cooperation and diffuse regional tensions
is a worldwide phenomenon of territorial systems that increase the interactions between their components and create new forms of organization, co-existing with traditional forms of state-led organization at the national level - Philippe De Lombaerde & Luk Van Langenhove
CURRENT MODELS OF RI
EU – 27 countries ASEAN – 10 Southeast Asian countries Mercosur – 4 South American countries ACN – Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru NAFTA – USA, Canada, Mexico
FUNCTIONS OF RIECONOMIC:
the strengthening of trade integration in the region the creation of an appropriate enabling environment for private sector
development the development of infrastructure programmes in support of economic growth
and regional integration GOVERNANCE:
the development of strong public sector institutions and good governance; SOCIO-CULTURAL:
the reduction of social exclusion and the development of an inclusive civil society SECURITY:
contribution to peace and security in the region ENVIRONMENTAL:
the building of environment programmes at the regional level GLOBAL:
the strengthening of the region’s interaction with other regions of the world
EU & ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
SINGLE MARKET Freedom of Choice
2.5 million jobs created since 1993
Prices of phone calls and
airfare halved since 1993
Freedom of Movement of
- Goods
- Services
- People
- Capital
EURO €
16 member states In circulation since
2002 2nd largest reserve
currency 2nd most traded currency Reduced barriers -
increased trade and investment
SHARE OF INTRA TRADE IN TOTAL MERCHANDISE EXPORTS OF SELECTED RTA, 2007
EU & GOVERNANCE
EU TREATIES
1958 - Treaty of Rome - EC 1993 - Maastricht Treaty - EU Amending Treaties Set policy goals Establish institutions with legal powers National courts enforce treaties
THREE PILLARS OF EU
The European Union
The Treaties
European Community
domain (most of common policies)
Common foreign and
security policy
Police and judicial
cooperation in criminal
matters
European Parliament
The EU institutions
Court of Justice
Court of Auditors
Economic and Social Committee Committee of the Regions
Council of Ministers(Council of the EU) European Commission
European Investment Bank European Central BankAgencies
European Council (summit)
EU INSTITUTIONS
How EU laws are made
Citizens, interests groups, experts: discuss, consult
Commission: makes formal proposal
Parliament and Council of Ministers: decide jointly
Commission and Court of Justice: monitor implementation
National or local authorities: implement
HOW EU LAWS ARE MADE…
EU & SOCIO-CULTURAL INTEGRATION
SOCIO-CULTURAL INTEGRATION
Citizenship – right of abode, right to vote, right to work in any position
ERASMUS Culture 2000 MEDIA Plus European Union Youth Orchestra
BUILDING IDENTITYLocal Identity
Ethnic / Socio-cultural Identity
National Identity
Regional Identity
European Identity
Global Identity ???
EU & SECURITY
SECURITY
Common Foreign & Security Policy Schengen Information System Europol - EU’s criminal intelligence agency European Convention of Human Rights European Defense Agency EU forces for peacekeeping missions
EU & ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION PROGRAMMES European Climate Change Programme Water Framework Directive REACH European Climate Change Programme NATURA 2000
IMPROVING HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
Cleaner bathing water Much less acid rain Lead-free petrol Free and safe disposal of old electronic equipment Strict rules on food safety from farm to fork More organic and quality farming More effective health warnings on cigarettes©
Van
Par
ys M
edia
ENVIRONMENT INDICATORS
Between 1990 and 2005, forests grew by 10% in Western Europe and 15% in Eastern Europe soaking up 11% of EU
emissions from human activities.
EU & FOREIGN RELATIONS
ENLARGEMENTS
1952 1973 1981 1986
1990 1995 2004 2007
BUILDING TIES ECHO - Humanitarian Aid to developing
countries Peacekeeping operations and the rebuilding of
society in war-torn countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina
European Neighbourhood Policy Ties with other RTAs Bilateral agreements
SOURCES
WTO Trade Statistics 2008 www.cris.unu.edu www.eccb-centralbank.org/PDF/newspaper3.pdf ec.europa.eu/environment europa.eu/abc/euslides/ppt Wikipedia
THANK YOU!