How We Think of the EU: Theories Explaining the Fragility of the European Project: Supranationalism

Supranationalism

• Represents a united image of Europe with a decision-making forum above nation states.

• Creates a new political space for whatever citizens desire.

• This idea was particularly strong at the beginning of the EU's formation.

Historical Milestones

• Schuman Declaration (1950)

◦ Proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

◦ Suggested placing French and German coal and steel industries under the control of a High Authority, aiming for a 'European Federation.’

• European Defence Community and European Ministry of Defence

◦ Proposed under the Pleven Plan of 1950.

◦ Aimed to establish a European Political Community, but these plans were halted by France when the General Assembly refused to consent to the EDC Treaty, causing significant stagnation in European integration efforts.

• 1992 Maastricht Treaty

◦ Only 39 years after the initial proposals did states ratify another significant treaty, marking a renewal in integration efforts.

Key Figures and Ideas

• Altiero Spinelli

◦ Ventotene Manifesto

▪ The first document advocating for a European constitution.

▪ Argued that victory over fascist powers would be useless if it led to the continuation of the old system of sovereign nation-states.

▪ Called for connecting European states to make war impossible.

◦ Spinelli Plan

▪ The European Parliament’s proposal for a federal EU, adopted in 1984.

• Modern European Parties

◦ Volt! and DiEM25

▪ First parties solely focused on European issues.

European Parliament

• Every EU member state gets a vote.

• Judges issues based on European rather than national interests.

Pooling Sovereignty (Nugent)

• Member states collectively make decisions, allowing the EU to act in certain policy areas without necessarily giving up sovereignty.

• Sovereignty Components:

◦ De jure sovereignty: The right to be the ultimate authority.

◦ De facto sovereignty: The ability to control what happens.

◦ External recognition: Acknowledgement by other entities.

• Pooling sovereignty diminishes de facto sovereignty, but supranationalism moves 'beyond cooperation into integration.'