Economic Integration within the European Union - Essay Example

Economic Integration within the European Union Name Course Name and Code Instructor’s Name Date Introduction Economic integration is the system of interaction of trade between various different trades’ states through the full or partial eradicating of the customs tariffs imposed on trade being carried out within the borders of these countries (Dalimov, 2010 and Dalimov, 2008). The main aim for this is to minimize the prices for consumers and distributors since no custom duties are paid and in return lead to an increase in trade (Dalimov, 2010). Furthermore economic integration stimulates effects that are a part of the modern-day economic Theory of the Second Best which implies that free trade that has competition and no barriers is the best option whatsoever (Dalimov, 2008 and Dalimov, 2010). According to economists, economic integration is the second best option for the global market where hindrances to complete free trade exist. There are two types of integration which are; the positive integration which purposes standardizing worldwide economic policies as well as laws and the negative integration which entails the breaking down of protective barriers as well as trade barriers which include tariffs and quotas (Dalimov, 2010). On the other hand, European Union is a political and economic union of 27 independent member nations mainly located in the Europe. European Union traces its roots from the European Economic Community and European Coal and Steel Community formed by six nations in the year 1958 (Barnard, 2007). In 1993, after the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty by the European Community members, it has expanded to include a number of Eastern and Central European nations (Barnard, 2007 and Shaw and More, 1995). It is apparent that the establishment of European Union greatly expanded the political scope of the European Economic Community, especially in the area of foreign and security policy, and provided for the creation of a central European bank and the adoption of a common currency; the Euro (Shaw and More, 1995). This paper seeks to discuss the extent to which economic integration within the EU has been subordinated to the achievement of political objectives. Apparently the importance of the global economic integration is well known universally (Dalimov, 2008). Economic integration is felt by most of the countries across the world and it has become am very vital issue in this nation’s economic policy decisions. As a matter of fact many countries across the globe integrate with others (Dalimov, 2008). However the biggest economic integrations achievements have been largely experienced among the industrialized nations especially the member states of the European Union (Dalimov, 2008). This is due to the fact that integration rapidly widened as well as developed in this region. The underdeveloped countries have made an attempt to copy these integrations achievements that are a common phenomenon within the European Union. These attempts include the use of economic integration as a way of securing themselves access to the global market as well as enhance development with the aim of achieving high level of national welfare (Dalimov, 2008). These achievements of the economic integration however vary across regions (Dalimov, 2010). As evidenced by studies, the abolishment of quotas as well as tariffs in the year 1968 resulted to the deepening of the integration that covered the areas for instance public procurement, competition as well as services. As a result it preceded multilateral agreements as well as negotiations on these issues (Dalimov, 2010). Besides, the under developed countries have been seen to change their inward integration strategies of the year 1960 with the aim of achieving economic ties in 1990s with the north (Dalimov, 2010). The European Union is believed to have a unique responsibility to ensure a right operation of the competition in the European Union since it deals with various firms as compared to any other member nation (Garden, 2011). However its attempts to achieve its objectives have been slowed down by the political and economic disagreements between its members. For instance regarding the expansion of the Union, with respect to the 2004 expansion, it seemed unique in terms of the various acceding nations, the comparative low level of economic development, the size of the nation, their communist past as well as their predominance of agrarian sector Garden, 2011. It is apparent that some member states feel that decision making within the Union will not be taken up easily due to the large number of members (EP, 2006). In addition a number of the member states feel that when the Union is enlarged it will get very big and be remote to people, EP, 2006. Moreover it is argued that with the enlargement of the European Union, there will be a great detachment of the European Union institutions from the local populations (EP, 2006). Besides it will also lead to a more cumbersome decision making process within the Union (EC, 2006). However, a number of member states felt that the expansion of the Union would lead to a positive gain within the Union and greater achievements for them (EC, 2006). These intense disagreements greatly slowed down the development of the European Union and its achievement of the goals as well as the objectives. There are several political reasons that hinder the entrance of new members into the European Union. These reasons, which are deemed as a prerequisite for entrance, have prevented certain countries such as Turkey to enter and enjoy the benefits of EU. For instance, Turkey has to do with the balance of power in the European continent (European Commission, 2010). Significantly, Turkey has to adopt a sequence of requirements which novel member states have to satisfy, referred to as the ‘Copenhagen Criteria’ (European Commission, 2010). The first criterion puts forth that interested nations must have attained ‘stability of institutions which guarantee human rights, the rule of law, democracy, and respect for and respect of minorities (European Commission, 2010). Research has indicated that Turkey already has problems with various parts of this criterion, especially stability of institutions. For instance, if new entrants like Turkey might erode the influence of other powers like Germany within the EU congress due to its vast population. Such a political consideration forces the union to forego the economic benefits of having turkey within the union (European Commission, 2010). In Turkey, Human rights have been the subject matter of international condemnation and much controversy (Resat, 2008). For instance, European Courts of Human Rights in the period between 1998 and 2008 made over 1600 judgments against the country for the violations of human rights, especially freedom from torture and the right to life (Resat, 2008). Other concerns such as press freedom, women rights and Kurdish rights have as well attracted much controversy. The country’s human rights records have remained to be a major barrier to joining the European Union (EU) (European Commission, 2010). The united states have wide concerns regarding the intimidation of journalists with Turkish Journalists Association revealing that, around 58 Turkish journalists have been imprisoned (Resat, 2008). In the view of some scholars however, enlargement of the European Union enhances intergovernmental tendencies within the European Union, which become heterogeneous and diverse with respect to the interests, economic situation, the nature as well as configuration and the ideological perceptions of its member states (EC, 2006). On the other hand, certain scholars contrast in their analysis that the potential effects of the particularly the Eastern enlargement will necessarily entail far-reaching institutional reforms within the EU, further limiting the national autonomy and sovereignty of old and new member states alike (EC, 2006). In a much recent study, the potential effects of the Eastern enlargement from the view of bargaining power as well as emphasizing the importance of the relative bargaining power of old and new member states, EC, 2006. It was reported that the expansion of the European Union would lead to slower legislative as well as reform output, greater budgetary conflict over structural funding; more pressure to reform the CAP. In addition to greater ‘pillarization’ of governance; a stronger Council vis-a-vis the Commission; more recourse to flexibility and coalitions of the willing; a shift in focus from deepening to widening; and above all, an emergent ‘constitutional compromise’ in which the regulation of much of the economy is internationalized but social, cultural, educational, and other policies remain largely national (Garden, 2011). According to studies the availability of litigation channels is a very important aspect for the penetration as well as the development of the judicial politics (Albi, 2005). It is evident that an effective access to justice in the area of gender equality enhances the mobilization of law. With regardless of the litigation measures within the European Union member states, it is evident that some of the national states are more open as well as equipped to provide easy and effective access to justice as compared to others. Having the access to justice is a vital aspect for domestic dimension for it influences the effects of judicial politics on the state modes of governance within the field of gender equality (Albi, 2005). Of importance is the attitude as well as position of national judges to and the ECJ and the nature of the conversation of the national judiciaries. Moreover the empowerment of the national judiciaries necessarily does not lead to the agreement between them as well as the judiciary community. It is apparent some state judicial systems portray more resistance than others (Albi, 2005). A number of conflicts as well as much resistance mark the relationship between the ECJ and some European Union member states. These kinds of conflicts have been seen to hinder the attainment of the set objectives by the European Union (Albi, 2005). Conclusion Apparently, the importance of the global economic integration is well known universally. Economic integration is felt by most of the countries across the world and it has become am very vital issue in this nation’s economic policy decisions. In fact, many countries across the globe integrate with others. However the biggest economic integrations achievements have been largely experienced among the industrialized nations especially the member states of the European Union. This paper has aimed at evaluating how the politics as well as the achievement of the political goals of the political class has hindered the economical ideals of the European Union. A number of reasons have been discussed. They include the political reasons against the expansion of the Union whereby different views such as the expansion of European Union would lead to slower legislative. Other factors include greater budgetary conflict over structural funding; more pressure to reform the CAP; and an emergent ‘constitutional compromise’ in which the regulation of much of the economy is internationalized but social, cultural, educational, and other policies remain largely national. Others include the problem facing new entrants in the EU. As evidenced in the essay, it is argued that decision making within the Union will not be taken up easily due to the large number of members. In addition a number of the member states feel that when the Union is enlarged it will get very big and be remote to people. Moreover, it is apparent from the essay that the potential effects of the particularly the Eastern enlargement will necessarily entail far-reaching institutional reforms within the EU, further limiting the national autonomy and sovereignty of old and new member states alike. In conclusion, the European Union needs to derive strategies that will ensure they attain stability as well as prosperity and attainment of their goals and objectives. References Albi, A. 2005. Implications of the European constitution,. EU enlargement and the constitutions of Central and Eastern Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Barnard, C. 2007. The Substantive Law of the EU: The four freedoms, 2nd Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Dalimov R.T. 2008. Modeling international economic integration: An oscillation theory approach. Victoria: Trafford. Dalimov R.T. 2010. Dynamics of international economic integration: non-linear analysis. London: Lambert Academic Publishing. European Comission. 2010. Accession Criteria. Accessed October 18, 2011. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/enlargement_process/accession_process/criteria/index_en.htm European Commission (EC). 2006. Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges , COM, 649 final European Parliament (EP). 2006. Report on the institutional aspects of the European Union’s capacity to integrate new Member States. London: European Parliament. Garden, T. 2011. The Politics of Economic Integration in Europe. Accessed on October 18, 2011, http://www.tgarden.demon.co.uk/writings/articles/2001/010226emu.html Resat, K. (2008). The Cambridge history of Turkey: Turkey in the modern world. Cambrige: Cambridge University Press. Shaw, J. and More, G., 1995. New Legal Dynamics of European Union. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Read More