Kenwin Maung 1A133G21

Should the EU move toward more integration?

Agenda1. Brief history of European integration

2. My framework for understanding integration

3. Current challenges

Jean MonnetEuropean Coal and Steel

Community(ECSC)

Origins of the European project

Robert Schuman Jean Monnet Paul Henri SpaakEuropean Economic

Community(EEC)

Political motivations + Economic incentives

Importance of integration

Europe is a socially constructed reality:

REALITY

gentsNurture, not Nature.

Importance of integration

Identity & Interpretation

Common Interests

Institutions &

Policies

Europe is a socially constructed reality:

European Parliament・ Council

of Ministers

・Passports・ Euro

Current challenges

Do current ‘crises’ spell the end for the European Project?

Current challenges

Greek debt crisis:

Werner Plan:‘Snake in the

tunnel’(early 1970s)

European Monetary System(1979)

Economic & Monetary

Union(Now)

+ Stricter monitoring & regulation

+ European Financial Stabilisation Facility / European Stability Mechanism

Collapse of Bretton Woods

Reunification of Germany

Debt crisis

Fiscal Union(???)

Current challenges

Migrant crisis:

Angela Merkel

“Sometimes, I despair too. Some things go too slow. There are many conflicting interests in Europe.”

“There is so much violence and hardship on our doorstep.”

“What's right for Germany in the long term? I believe it is to keep Europe together and to show humanity."

Source: The telegraph (29 Feb 2016)

Current challenges “CONFIRMING their

attachment to the principles of liberty, democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and of

the rule of law”Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty 1992)

The EU is a civilian power

It intends to “’civilise’ relations between states along the lines of [its] own, democratic, domestic politics” so as to “change

international relations for the better” (Maull, 2005, p 780)

Current challenges

An example : Strategic Partnership AgreementA document that accompanies every bilateral Free Trade Agreement concluded by the EUTitle II : Invoking the UN Universal Declaration of Human rights; Commitment to Democracy

Title III : Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Title IV : Sustainable development

Yes, the EU should move toward more integration.Thank You