The democratic deficit of the EU and the European political integration from a French perspective

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

14 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

05/07/2009

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

European union

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Summary :

Introduction
EU at a turning point: New challenges and reflections about its future
1. The decline of neo-functionalism: A 'global turbulence'
2. The importance of current EU-linked issues implying stronger democratic requirements
3. Flexibility: A solution to conciliate enlargement and integration?
Transition
The French 'no front' against the nature of the European Union
1. The 'Commission of Brussels': A critic of EU legitimacy and 'democratic deficit'
2. Different argumentations within the 'no front' against the ECT
3. A redefinition of the French political spectrum regarding European affairs
The limited and maybe contradictory consequences of the French 'no'
1. Interpretations of the lack of consequences of the French 'no' on the French political scene
2. The limited solutions given by the main French political leaders
3. The French 'no' to the European Constitutional Treaty
Conclusion

Abstract

The european construction has always evolved through crisis and this is probably due to its ambitious project and nature. However, it worked successfully until today because it has been occurring through a "step by step process", to quote the Schuman Declaration. This neo-functionalist method made possible the transformation of the european construction from a utopia to a concrete reality. It has thus played an indispensable and very positive role in the elaboration of what is now called the "european Union". In the meanwhile, such a method -which implies to be patient- is frustrating for federalists and for all those who look forward to seeing a strong european polity emerging which would rely on a "european demos" and a real european political arena. The present situation of the EU is also irritating for them as it is the first economic power of the world but doesn't have the political voice corresponding to this economic weight in the international politics -except for commercial negotiations.