Is economic integration the motor of all European Integration?

The debate surrounding the Service Directive

Essay , 2009 , 15 Seiten , Note: A-Grade with Distinction

Politik - Thema: Europäische Union

The essay analyses the question how EU-legislation on economic integration has shaped policy and decision-making processes as a “motor of political integration”. Economic legislation, although on the first look restricted to one policy area and one “policy mode”, can influence other areas and policy modes. Mainly focused on the example of the “Services Directive” the distribution of power between the EC institutions is analysed. At the same time the limits of economic integration in overcoming other political interests of Member States or interest groups like Trade Unions becomes visible. The Directive is a kind of “model case” of how a legislative act on economic policy can engage other policy fields, like social policy issues, labour market issues etc. At the same time it shows how economic or structural interests shift the political positions of MS as well as of interest groups, with groups which otherwise would form a solid block suddenly pursuing different goals. Therefore the Directive proves to be a good example of the complex multi-layer decision-making process on EC legislation.

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• Economic Integration as the core of European Integration
• The Services Directive - an economic legislation and its consequences
  • Background
  • Deciding the Services Directive
    • The European Commission
    • The European Parliament
    • The Council
    • The hidden power of interest groups
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This essay examines the influence of European Communities' (EC) legislation on economic integration on policy and decision-making processes, exploring its role as a "motor of political integration". The essay focuses on the "Services Directive" as a case study to analyze the distribution of power between EC institutions and the limitations of economic integration in overcoming political interests of Member States (MS) or interest groups.

• The impact of economic legislation on other policy areas and decision-making processes
• The distribution of power between EC institutions in the context of the Services Directive
• The influence of political and economic interests of Member States and interest groups on decision-making
• The role of the Services Directive as a model case for understanding the complex multi-layer decision-making process on EC legislation
• The relationship between economic integration and other policy areas, such as social policy and labor market issues

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The essay begins by defining political integration in the European Union (EU) as the voluntary relinquishment of national policy-making autonomy by Member States in favor of common European policies determined through cooperative decision-making. It highlights the significance of economic integration as the foundation of EU integration, emphasizing the role of the "Regulatory Policy Mode" and the predominance of economic legislation in the EU's legislative agenda.

The essay then delves into the background of the Services Directive, highlighting the lagging development of the free movement of services compared to the free movement of goods and capital in the Single Market. It emphasizes the significant contribution of services to the EU's GDP and the potential for further economic growth through the liberalization of services.

The essay concludes by examining the decision-making process surrounding the Services Directive, analyzing the roles of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council, and the influence of interest groups. It highlights the complex interplay of economic, political, and social interests in shaping the Directive's final form.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include economic integration, European integration, the Services Directive, decision-making processes, distribution of power, Member States, interest groups, political interests, social policy, labor market issues, and the Single Market.

• Hochschule: South Bank University London (Faculty of Art and Human Sciences)
• Veranstaltung: European Policy
• Note: A-Grade with Distinction
• Autor: Andrea Daniel (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2009
• Seiten: 15
• Katalognummer: V131481
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640414802
• ISBN (Buch): 9783640413256
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: European, Integration, Service, Directive, A-Grade, Distinction