Buch, Deutsch, 204 Seiten, Format (B × H): 150 mm x 210 mm
Understanding Intergovernmentalism in the Context of EU Crises and Reform Process
Buch, Deutsch, 204 Seiten, Format (B × H): 150 mm x 210 mm
ISBN: 978-3-98595-405-6
Verlag: Nova MD
The last fifteen years of European integration have revealed a fragile European Union.
Due to the crises that have affected the EU on several fronts, most recently the Covid-19 pandemic, the Union has come to terms with the precariousness of the European project. In particular after Brexit, European integration has lost its teleological implication, losing the conviction
of a predetermined progress. Therefore, there is the growing awareness that the lack of political will to
pursue unity in Europe might jeopardise the very existence of the EU. This leads to the question of what ultimately guarantees unity in the Union or, vice versa, what is the real cause of its disintegration.
The modern popular discourse in favour of European integration largely considers intergovernmentalism in the EU as the main cause of its disintegration. By refuting this argument, the aim of this work is to demonstrate that intergovernmentalism is not, per se, a cause of European disintegration. On the contrary, quite paradoxically, the intergovernmental method represents today the only catalyst for possible EU progress.
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The last fifteen years of European integration have revealed a fragile
European Union. The word ‘fragile’ comes from the Latin verb ‘frangere’,
to break, thus referring to the risk of disintegrating the sense of
unity. Due to the crises that have affected the EU on several fronts, most
recently the Covid-19 pandemic, the Union has come to terms with
the precariousness of the European project. In particular after Brexit,
European integration has lost its teleological implication, losing the
conviction of a predetermined progress. Therefore, there is the growing
awareness that the lack of political will to pursue unity in Europe might
jeopardise the very existence of the EU. This leads to the question of
what ultimately guarantees unity in the Union or, vice versa, what is the
real cause of its disintegration.
The modern popular discourse in favour of European integration
largely considers intergovernmentalism in the EU as the main cause
of its disintegration. Intergovernmentalism refers to the method of
integration that bases Member States’ decisions on unanimity and
not on majority voting. In particular, at the European level, the intergovernmental
method takes shape in those EU institutions that
gather representatives of national governments, such as the European
Council. The decisions by consensus taken by heads of state
and government in the European Council are often criticised as ineffective,
de-constructive, and short-sighted. Moreover, due to intergovernmentalism,
the Union cannot aspire to any reform, as it is
trapped in dead-end unanimous decision-making mechanisms with
no apparent way out. According to this narrative, it would be preferable
to take decisions always by majority voting within the Community
method, in order to avoid possible vetoes by individual Member
States. This would be the only path in Europe to preserve unity, which
depends on one method of integration (Community) rather than another
(intergovernmental).
The aim of this thesis is to refute this argument, by demonstrating
that intergovernmentalism is not, per se, a cause of European disintegration.
On the contrary, quite paradoxically, today, the inter-state
bargaining represents the only catalyst for possible EU progress. The
basic thesis will be supported through three sub-arguments. First, in
order to understand the functioning of the EU at present, intergovernmentalism
fits better with reality, offering useful theoretical and
intellectual tools. Second, intergovernmentalism is not a random malfunctioning
mechanism in the integration process. It is the ontological
expression of a Union of Member States and their changing nature
within a multilevel political system like the EU. The concepts of
Core State Powers and sovereignty are the two pillars underlying the
rationale of intergovernmentalism in this regard. Third, intergovernmentalism
cannot be both the cause of disintegration and the only
way to reform the EU and move forward with the European project.
This paradox is the ultimate proof of how the conceptual connection
between intergovernmentalism and disintegration in the EU needs to
be re-examined.
This is not to say that intergovernmental decision-making
method cannot result in ineffective solutions, slow or create tensions
within the EU. For many years the Union has been struggling to respond
effectively to crises, although the EU response to the Covid-19
pandemic might represent a positive exception in this sense. However,
accusing intergovernmentalism of being the root cause of European
disintegration is simplistic and therefore it is necessary to take
into account the complexity of the European integration process as a
whole. In particular, it is important to pay attention to the role and
raison d’être of the Member States, which are the agents of European
integration. Too often, commentary about the European Union
underestimates the process of state-transformation in Europe, disregarding
the foundations underpinning the Member State as political
construct. Too little thought is given to concepts such as sovereignty
and Core State Powers, which are two key factors for better comprehending
the ratio behind Member States’ political choices at the
supranational level.
By diving into European integration theory, this work offers a
qualitative analysis of intergovernmentalism and its implication on
the political preferences of the Member States, with a particular focus
on the EU reform process. Despite innovations in the quantitative
research of European integration, it is crucial to simultaneously carry
on the qualitative investigation of integration that offers a comprehensive
understanding of the phenomena from multiple perspectives.
Moreover, together with the study of EU policy, European integration
theory is still an effective tool for understanding many of the dynamics
driving European integration. In addition, the recent emergence in
Europe of political events such as populism or new nationalism calls
for a return to the study of the state and its transformation in multilayered
political systems.
