Europe in the new millennium

Problems: European governance -- what kinds of institutions for an EU of 25-27 member-states? Distribution of burdens and benefits? Who gets what, when, and how? Who pays – and how much?

The European Constitutional Convention Made up of delegations from old and incoming member-states Attempt to find solutions to multiple problems

Governance Should the EU be a Centralized federation? Decentralized trade association? What kind of executive should the European union have? How much power should it enjoy? What role should member-state governments, parliaments, and European peoples play in governing Europe?

Executive power Should it be lodged in A commission responsible to the European Parliament? A rotating presidency? A president selected by the member-states? A directly elected President?

Controlling the EU Opt for new system of weighted voting – decisions to be made by dual majorities Member-states with weighted votes in the Council of Ministers And majority of the population of Europe Continued role for European Parliament Role for yearly Congress of delegations from national parliaments

Distributing benefits and burdens Reluctance of older member-states to give up benefits enjoyed under Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) or regional aid (structural funds) Consequence: Newer member-states to enter on less than equal terms

Broader problem: European Union as constituted makes major decisions – Lays out rules for economic activity Guarantees basic rights Yet Decision-making more opaque than transparent European publics have little affection or affinity for the EU Deep skepticism about transferring further powers

Future directions Need to move beyond intergovernmental disputes Need to form bases of identification and loyalty so that EU is more than a target of anger Present situation: EU is there, tries to act Has flag, anthem but scant loyalty and affection Scope of national government activity makes it difficult to emerge

National governments Britain: Under Blair and New Labour, increasingly governed from the centre rather than left or right Conservatives, with new leader, Michael Howard, moving back to the centre in order to compete

France Government from the centre-right under President Chirac, Premier Rafferin Left in disarray following defeat in 2002 Presidential and parliamentary elections Questions about viability of its welfare state

Germany Social Democratic-Green government under Schroeder Trying to cope with problems of Reunification Welfare state more generous than can population can sustain Politics increasingly less organized, more conflictual

Italy Collapse of First Republic in 1993, amid revelations of corruption End of Christian Democratic (and Socialist dominance Reorganization of party system disappearance of most pre-1993 parties Polarization into left and right clusters Government from the right under media magnate Silvio Berlusconi

Broader change: Transformation of European politics Still about nations and nationalism, but via discussion and argument, pursuit of business interests National governments are still major players But in an era of skepticism, increasingly sensitive to how their actions will play out among their citizens