Page 21 - AEI Insights 2018 Vol 4 Issue 1

AEI Insights, Vol 4, Issue 1, 2018

well for certain periods but today in wholesale crisis we struggle to latch on to any the European
models of understanding which can answer the crisis being felt and that the economic and
social crisis are essentially the causes for the disaffection and Euroscepticism. As other scholars
have noted: “Somewhat remarkably, however, integration theories have not put too much
emphasis on the implications of crises and exogenous shocks… and the crisis would be
expected to be an obstacle rather than an opportunity for further integration” (Tosun et al 2014:
199).

European integration and more specifically European jurisdiction of responsibilities until the
1990s did not extend to ‘core state powers’ (Gentschel & Jachtenfuchs 2016). Much of the
responsibilities in the hands of Brussels were aspects of governance which interfered little with
the important day to day matters of member states. EU affairs played out in both the European
domain as well as within the member states seemed quite innocuous with little interference
with member state political priorities. This changed with the Single Market (1992) and
especially with the Maastricht Treaty and new areas of sovereignty deficit for member states.
This was most felt with the enormous step taken by the EU with the achievement of the single
currency and the Economic and Monetary Union.

As Brussels now emerged as a real facet of political direction so too would the concern about
sovereignty of the nation states, and with growing levels of “Euroscepticism” also saw the end
of the ‘permissive consensus’ (Lindberg & Scheingold, 1970) which had been the modus
operandi give way to ‘constraining dissensus’ (Hooghe & Marks, 2005). As this consensus
was evolving a political disconnect also emerged. Bellamy and Kroger (2016) noted that rather
than a democratic deficit in operation of the EU institutions, the concern was more of a political
disconnect between the politics and institutions of national parliament and the those of the
European Union (2016, p. 125). Of equal concern and development was another feature of
European integration or its lack of, was the notion of “differentiated integration”. Again EU
scholars such as Bellamy and Kroger in another work recognised that not all states could move
in the same direction at the same time – differentiated speed meant some do more while others
do less. In European integration code, this had another expression known as “Two speed” or
even “Three speed” Europe.

From the 1990s, despite moments of “honey moon” respite, the European project proceeded
along a” two steps forward one step back” trajectory. A reunified Germany, a Maastricht Treaty
and the Economic and Monetary Union while major milestones in the development of the
European Project were also those that would differentiate between the member states bringing
out the cracks in the union. These were the measures, which brought out the different Europe’s
and their respective economic positioning. This included the southern Mediterranean flank. At
the same time in different portions, certain features of the European Union played their divisive
role. These included the concern over sovereignty, economic decline back in the member states
and the rise of right wing concern over growing levels of inward migration. At the same time
Germany’s assertiveness became more noticeable as Germany’s financial prowess became
discernible in the EUs monetary policy and approach towards economic management.

The 2004 accession of the Central and Eastern European states was a daring leap into expansion
of the European Union as it had never done. This growth to the east however also triggered
strong reactions within the existing European community. As the EU moved towards a stronger
governing framework, the proposed Constitution, it received aftershocks when the proposed
constitution was voted down in France and The Netherlands. It was a warning to the EU
community that a step too far had been made and that backtracking was in order. Some level

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