A European model poised to expand?

Résumé du document

The European model of integration is highly developed when compared to other countries. European regionalism is the only regionalism in the international system where there is an attempt to democratize politics above the level of the state to enhance a decisive shift from diplomacy to politics. With single market, uniform (single) currency, co-operation among national governments has enabled the EU to achieve a high level of economic integration. The Union promotes values like justice and fair play, sustainability and subsidiary, transparency and democratic accountability. They are a part of Europe's distinctive political and ethical heritage. For the first time, Europe and the EU have been able to come up with modles like the model of integration (which can be subdivided in social, economic and political/governance models), a model of reconciliation between two countries (France and Germany), a model of human rights etc.

Extraits

[...] So to survive, the European model must expand. And expansion does not only mean enlargement. The example of Europe, who is certainly an outrider amongst other forms of regionalism, has been since its creation and is still inspiring many states on the world. For them regionalism” appears to be today the only card game in town to master globalization and for the political and economic survival. Is there a European model that's ready to expand, to be imitated outside Europe, in Central Europe and the rest of the world ? [...]

[...] The Enlargement issue: The European model(s) will expand ! The European Union will enlarge to the CEECS (and Malta and Cyprus) Since the Luxemburg (1997) and the Helsinki (1999) summits, the process of enlargement has been started and concerns thirteen countries (10 CEECs plus, Malta and Cyprus). For these countries, the European model is without any doubt highly attractive for the following reasons: After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the consecutive break down of the Comecon, the CEECS that were part of the Eastern block had to reorient their trade towards Western Europe. [...]

[...] Asymmetries in the NAFTA for instance are much more significant. In Africa, the European model of regionalism would not be operate because on this continent, it is mainly around a few hegemonies (South Africa, Nigeria ) that sub regional co-operation flourishes. The same with CACM (Central American Common Market) torn apart by tensions between El Salvador and Honduras. Second, the West European states are Weberian states which place a high premium on public law, codification and formal institutions. Third because integration was an experimental and pragmatic process, institutions were needed to socialise national actors to collective problem-solving, to channel ideas and to facilitate agreement on common programmes. [...]

[...] The EU system is still unsettled among five major dimensions: constitutional order, geographical boundaries, institutional balance, decision rules and functional scope. The EU seems to be unable to present a coherent vision of its place and its role in the world, a fact that makes the European model much less attractive. Today, Europe cannot find answers to its own questions, how could it for the rest of the world ? The Europeans don't believe in their own model any more. [...]

[...] European regionalism is deep in terms of scope, institutionalization and normative underpinnings. Perhaps the single most important difference between the EU and other regionalisms is the sophistication and intensity of its institutional fabric underpinned by an organic system of law. Institution building in the EU is far more pronounced than in either NAFTA or APEC, neither of which has extensive formal institutions. In fact, in APEC there is distrust of formal international institutions that might become to independent of the states. [...]