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Klkl. Is the European Union an empire?. > The EU is an empire enlarged by negotiation and consent > The EU is an empire without an emperor > The EU is an empire governed by indirect rule. What did European integration bring?. > Cooperation instead of conflict; Europe a global player.
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Is the European Union an empire? > The EU is an empire enlarged by negotiation and consent > The EU is an empire without an emperor > The EU is an empire governed by indirect rule
What did European integration bring? > Cooperation instead of conflict; Europe a global player. > Prosperity through free markets and free trade > Free space to travel at affordable prices > Monetary stability through the Euro
What does the EU lack? > Connection to the people. Public view is hostile or distant: > EU: Brussels is a monster, a behemoth > Top EU leaders are unelected; Mandarins call the shots > EU is felt as a bureaucratic occupation force
Constitution did the wrong thing > to put the EU on a federal footing > Political elite far ahead; public did not follow > Constitution strengthened perception of ‘imperialist empire’ > Constitution turned EU into threat to national identity
New Treaty, does it improve? > Does the text re-connect European integration to the people? (not a constitution, but unreadable and elusive) > Does the Treaty streamline the institutional framework? (size of Commission, European Parliament, duplicity, agencies) > Is mission of EU concentrated on limited policy-areas? (CAP, Regional Policy, Energy Policy, Immigration Policy)
Conclusion > Bureaucratic machinery: streamlining too slow; mission unfocused > Enlargement: enlarge economic concept EU, not EU itself. > Estrangement from people: some leading positions should be elected, like EU President, Commission President and Commissioners.