13 EU THE WESTERN EUROPEAN INTERGRATION Integration in Western Europe begun just after the end of WW2. Mainly as a result of the devastation caused by war and the realisation that economic, social and political recovery can be achieved by closer co-operation by member states.

13.1 The process of integration begun with the creation of European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951 by six members, Belgium, France, West Germany, Holland, Italy and Luxembourg- whose purpose was to coordinate coal and steel production under an independent supra-national authority which would be guided by collective interests rather than national ones.

13.2 Plans form European Defence Community failed but establishment of EEC and European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) came into force in 1958.  The rationale was to establish a co-ordinate economic policy and a customs union. The United Kingdom made two attempts to apply for membership 1961 and 1963 but failed because members were suspicious of Britain close relations with the United States.

13.4 Formally the E.C was in July 1967 bringing all the institutions under a central organisation. The number of member states grew with the eventual acceptance of U.K in 1973, + Denmark, Ireland, Greece 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986. INSTITUTIONS. The main decision – making body is council of ministers – consists of representatives drawn from the of the separate member states.

13.5 European Commission – which is chosen by the council, is the secretariat. Initiate Community PolicY. To propose the annual budget. European Parliament – the legislature body with powers to dismiss the commission or reject the budget but it’s the weakest institution as it can not veto laws drawn by the commission. The Court of Justice – functions as the arbitrator of community laws takes precedence over national laws.

13.6 Major achievements In the field of agriculture has seen the harmonisation of policy hence the birth of the Common Agriculture Policy which has the highest budget allocation..

13.7 Aims of CAP are: - To increase agricultural productivity. -To increase earnings of persons engaged in agriculture -To stabilize markets - Guarantee regular supplies - Ensure reasonable prices to farmers

13.8 The establishment of European political cooperation process in 1970 has witnessed an attempt to provide a co-coordinated foreign policy. On Israeli-Arab conflict On East west relations In 1975 it also established special trading arrangements with 46 developing countries.

13.9 However, national interests seem to hamper a well-coordinated European foreign policy. For example there was failure to agree on comprehensive package of sanctions against South Africa. But with the end of cold war, disintegration of USSR there is hope that political union might take shape and consensus being reached on a number of issues.

13.10 1.     Actors: above (EC,ECJ,CoM,etc) and below(businesses, people bringing governments to court.) the state. The state becomes responsive to these actors. Haas mainly focused on role of elites.

13.11 1.     Motives: self-interest. Nobody is striving for “Europe.” Each is striving for self-interest. Economic and others actors for particularistic interests. Court and Commission to expand its jurisdiction.

13.12 Process: spillover – economic and political. Economic as good place to start because not politically charged. Then,as can’t integrate in one integrate in one economic sector by itself because interdependence (coal and steel lead to transportation).Shift from quasi-technical tasks to political union.

13.13 1.     Context: normally apolitical. Technocratic or economic but not political. Judges making judicial decisions, not political ones. Bureaucrats making decisions about administrative regulations not shaping the economy. But technocratic decisions led to major political and economic changes.

13.14 Conditions for integration according to Haas: 1.    Ideological fragmentation regarding the value of international integration. 2.    No strong international policy conflicts during 1950s 3.    No strong cultural divisions across countries

13.15 Look at data reveals/confirms the importance of economic difficulties as background conditions of integration. Mattli argues for two key ones: A) Important gains available from integration b) Uncontested regional leadership (Germany in the EU case)

13.15 Solution processes leading to integration: functional linkage of tasks; cultivated linkages and political coalitions; elite socialisation; group formations to use new forum as source of power if possible; ideology and identity appeal; over time, fewer alternatives.