Three main features

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Chapter 3. The deepening of the integration
process

• Three main features
• 1. Treaty development
• 2. Development of policy processes
• 3. Development of policies

2
Remark distinction between deepening and widening

• Deepening refers to the vertical integration,
  i.e. the integration between the states
• Widening (see Chapter 4) refers to the
  horizontal integration the addition (accession)
  of new member states in the EU

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1. Treaty development

• Base Amendments and supplementations of the
  Founding Treaties (see Chapter 2)
• Single European Act (1986)
• Strengthened capacity of the Council of Minister
  to take decisions by QMV
• Increased influence of EP via creation of the
  cooperation procedure for some legislative
  proposals

4

• B. Maastricht Treaty (1992)
• Three-pillars based organisation (EC, CFSP and
  cooperation in fields of Justice and Home
  Affairs)
• Extended QMV new co-decision procedure
• C. Amsterdam Treaty (1997)
• Policy increased power of EU in JHA
• Institutions co-decision extended to more policy
  spheres (cooperation virtually abolished)

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• D. Nice Treaty 2001 (see Chapter 5)
• Aim dealing with the Amsterdam leftovers by
  making changes in the compositions of the
  institutions and in the voting strength and
  procedure in the Council
• E. Lisbon Treaty (2007) (see Chapter 6)
• Above all, institutional advances
• Roots Nice Summit 2000, Laeken Summit 2001 and
  IGC 2004 ? insuperable ratification problems of
  the Constitutional Treaty
• Removing of the controversial aspects of the
  Const.Treaty

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2. Development of policy processes

• Theoretical pattern in decision making process
  Commission would propose, Parliament would
  advise, Council would decide and Court of Justice
  would interpret
• Additions and modifications since the 1980s
• 4 institutions are less compartmentalised
• Many participants, which have nothing to do with
  the 4 institutions, involved in the decision
  making processes

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1. New less formal decision making channels
2. Policy processes more efficient (QMV instead of
   unanimity) and more democratic (EP more
   influencial)
3. Policy processes are more supranational (approval
   of all member states not always compulsory
   non-governmental EU institutions are given
   independent powers)

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3. Development of policies

• Policies are usually related to the Common Market
  (now SEM)
• Main goal free movement of goods, services,
  capitals and people between the states EU as a
  trading actor with third countries
• Most policies are related to the market
• Some others are about social issues (still with
  marekt implications)

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• Influence of SEM in EMU macroeconomic,financial
  policies and a single currency are essential for
  SEM to fully realise its potential
• Need to launch a single currency system
• First trial 1997 ? premature
• 1999 system came into operation
• Qualifying conditions to enter it
• Nowadays 16 members of EU have Euro as currency
• European Central Bank

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• Except for agriculture, EU is not much involved
  with policies concerning public expenditure
• Other EU-policy areas
• Regional and social policies (ERDF, ESF)
• Security policies, defence policies, Justice and
  Home Affairs
• Advancements are seen in the Treaties
• Few areas where significant EU policies are not
  to be found

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Conclusion

• EU is still based on the 3 European Communities
  founded in the 1950s
• But some advancement has been noticed, mainly in
  the deepening of the integration
• 2 faces institutional integration and policy
  integration