Member states’ strategies in the EU: striking a new balance between intergovernmental and supranational decision-making? Presentation of the project supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV at the meeting of four philosophical faculties: Bratislava-Prague-Lubliana-Cracow Bratislava March 8, 2007 Doc. PhDr. Darina Malová, CSc. Department of Political Science, FiFUK

Goals of the project The first goal is an empirical identification of member states’ strategies of the four new member states (NMS) from Central and Eastern Europe. The first goal is an empirical identification of member states’ strategies of the four new member states (NMS) from Central and Eastern Europe. Identify policy areas in which NMS support further integration and easily pass competencies to supranational EU decision-making institutions (SR: EU Constitutional Treaty, Enlargement, Euro); Identify policy areas in which NMS support further integration and easily pass competencies to supranational EU decision-making institutions (SR: EU Constitutional Treaty, Enlargement, Euro); (Or) prefer intergovernmental modes of decision- making and safeguard their own national priorities and sovereignty (Slovakia: tax, social, cultural, ethical policies). (Or) prefer intergovernmental modes of decision- making and safeguard their own national priorities and sovereignty (Slovakia: tax, social, cultural, ethical policies).

Goals of the project The second goal - the systematic research of factors that condition the priorities and the behaviour of the four new EU member states. The second goal - the systematic research of factors that condition the priorities and the behaviour of the four new EU member states. Size of the state Size of the state Timing of entry into the EU Timing of entry into the EU Economic conditions (net contributors or net recipients from EU budget, openness of the economy, type of market economy - coordinated and regulated or liberal) Economic conditions (net contributors or net recipients from EU budget, openness of the economy, type of market economy - coordinated and regulated or liberal) Domestic political factors (party system and ideology, domestic policy preferences, capacity of human resources, interest groups, prevailing public opinion) Domestic political factors (party system and ideology, domestic policy preferences, capacity of human resources, interest groups, prevailing public opinion)

Goals of the project The third, theoretical goal comes out of the empirical and comparative analysis of these factors and will lead to the build-up of typology of member states’ strategies and the types of membership among the NMS. The third, theoretical goal comes out of the empirical and comparative analysis of these factors and will lead to the build-up of typology of member states’ strategies and the types of membership among the NMS.

NMS similarities and differences Differing character of accession process framed by the start of accession talks; Differing character of accession process framed by the start of accession talks; Differing politicization of membership before EU entry; Differing politicization of membership before EU entry; Differing domestic structural political conditions (party politics, ideology, the power and the cohesion of both coalition and opposition and the executive-legislative relations in EU policy- making); Differing domestic structural political conditions (party politics, ideology, the power and the cohesion of both coalition and opposition and the executive-legislative relations in EU policy- making); Differing levels of domestic consensus on states’ strategies in the EU; Differing levels of domestic consensus on states’ strategies in the EU; Differing level of involvement of organized interests in EU policy-making. Differing level of involvement of organized interests in EU policy-making.

Sample: Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia Represent a very interesting sample of different countries. Represent a very interesting sample of different countries. Size and party politics Poland is the biggest country since 2005 elections Polish government has presented the most eurosceptic attitudes and used veto right to block several important issues. Size and party politics Poland is the biggest country since 2005 elections Polish government has presented the most eurosceptic attitudes and used veto right to block several important issues. Party politics in the Czech Republic has been as well dominated by the eurosceptic tendencies, mostly at the symbolic level. Party politics in the Czech Republic has been as well dominated by the eurosceptic tendencies, mostly at the symbolic level.

Sample: Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia The former government in Slovakia supported further EU integration in broad strategic issues (Constitutional Treaty, Hague’s process, Enlargement, Lisbon process), however it defended veto power in income taxation, social policy and cultural and ethical issues. New government’s priorities: to adopt Euro in 2009, enlargement, Lisbon process, tax harmonisation? The former government in Slovakia supported further EU integration in broad strategic issues (Constitutional Treaty, Hague’s process, Enlargement, Lisbon process), however it defended veto power in income taxation, social policy and cultural and ethical issues. New government’s priorities: to adopt Euro in 2009, enlargement, Lisbon process, tax harmonisation? Slovenia has already adopted Euro and behaves in a very cooperative and pro-integration way. Coordinated market economy, strong parliamentary control of legislative harmonization and implementation of EU legal norms, most consensual. Slovenia has already adopted Euro and behaves in a very cooperative and pro-integration way. Coordinated market economy, strong parliamentary control of legislative harmonization and implementation of EU legal norms, most consensual.

Capacity and organizations The Comenius University is a leading scientific, research and educational institution and its Faculty of Philosophy belongs to top academic workplaces. The Comenius University is a leading scientific, research and educational institution and its Faculty of Philosophy belongs to top academic workplaces. The Department of Political Science has participated in five Framework Programs of the EU. The Department of Political Science has participated in five Framework Programs of the EU. Seminars, workshops, publications. Seminars, workshops, publications.