Europe and the Regions

Power of Integration:

European integration indicates a loss of power for Nation states.

European Union: Independent actor

Nations: Dependent actors

Globalization—causes loss of power of nation state and EU and regions take power.

European Committee of the Regions

http://www.cor.europa.eu

http://www.aer.eu

Loss of power of nation-states while regions and EU gain power and influence.

“Federation Europe”- “People´s Europe”

-Small political communities are more utilitarian.

- Moral and Political Necessity

In some cases...

• Regions are bigger in population than some EU states

• Regions claim historic nationhood status

• Regions are focused around an important city

Nation States as Protagonists

Decentralization and Integration are decisions controlled by Nation States.

Regional agreements strengthen the state

Example: EU Enlargement 2007 Sacrifice of National independence or

exercise of national choice?? Expression of Sovereignty ?? France and Germany= EU Project

Inter-Regional - Trends• 1960-1970

Regional impact of Cold War

Regional Institutions in Europe and Developing World

• 1990´s

New Regionalism Post-Cold War Era

European Union:

-most formal and wide ranging expression of regional interaction!!

Influence of Regions in EU

After 1988: Commission pushes for regions to be prime receivers of Structural funds.

Federalism in Practice!!!!! 1992: Maastricht and Committee of Regions “Europe of the Regions” Powerful Regions more desirable than nation

states?

Influence of Regions in EU

After 1988: Commission pushes for regions to be prime receivers of Structural funds.

Federalism in Practice!!!!! 1992: Maastricht and Committee of Regions “Europe of the Regions” Powerful Regions more desirable than nation

states?