Global Geopolitical ChangeGlobal Geopolitical Change

Regionalizing Europe

Supranational Economic Organizations

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?

Changing Changing Boundaries Boundaries In EuropeIn Europe1914-20041914-2004

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

Score onScore on““European-European-ness”ness”(max. 12)(max. 12)

Treaties pulling Europe together-NATO

NATO Membershttp://www.nato.int/multi/interactive-maps/NatoFlas

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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

Applicants to NATO

Albania Croatia Macedonia

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”

The Belgian Curtain: pre 2004

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

European Union/Euroland

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)

Next step: EU Constitution

                                                                                                          

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

Eastern Europe: New Europe meets Old Europe

Geography History

– Sense of cohesive identity– Historical antecedents in political realms– Austro-Hungarian legacies

Depth of Communist Control Post Communist Policies

– Cleaning house of Communists– Adopting a market economy

Strategic welcoming