European integration: What future prospects? Richard G. Whitman, Head, European Programme Overview z Two decades of change within the EU z Digesting an EU of 25 z Projects in progress • • • • Enlargement Building Europe’s economic governance and competitiveness Foreign, security and defence policy The Constitutional Treaty z What future for the EU? 2 A decade of change within the EU z Completing the blueprint • • • • • EMU and the euro Foreign and Security Policy Justice and Home Affairs Connecting with the citizen Enlargement z A developing Acquis Communitaire 3 Digesting an EU of 25 z From 15 to 25 • • • Copenhagen criteria Accession negotiations by chapter The transposition of the Acquis z More little, less big • • Population Economy z Institutional architecture remains the same z New sources of influence in the decision making process 4 Projects in progress z Enlargement z Building Europe’s economic governance and competitiveness z Foreign, security and defence policy z The Constitutional Treaty 5 Enlargement z Never off the agenda? z Enlargement z Change in the geopolitics of Europe z An end to the cold war limits of enlargement z Dealing with the consequences of enlargement 6 Building Europe’s economic governance and competitiveness z Stability and Growth Pact z Lisbon Agenda z Role of the Euro 7 Foreign, security and defence policy z Sustaining a Foreign Economic Policy z A developing Common Foreign and Security Policy • • • A greater range of instruments Security Strategy New states, new interests z A developing capacity for military action • • • Operational experience Headline Goal Battle groups z Common defence equipment procurement 8 The Constitutional Treaty z Convention, IGC and the Constitutional Treaty z What would the Treaty do? • • • • • Simplification and streamlining Changes to decision making New positions (European Council President and Foreign Minister) Enhance EU policies Connect with the citizen z The ratification of the Constitutional Treaty z Scenarios after the French and Dutch votes 9 What future for the EU? z Larger z More complicated decision-making processes z Less competitive? z More globally active 10