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!