Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research THE EUROPEAN UNION, WHY? AND HOW? Palestinian IP Training Seminar. Nicosia, November 2008 Project MIRA

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research

Why the EU? The perspective of the United States of Europe is an old humanistic idea of peaceful conviviality of the peoples of Europe, resulting from the tormentuous history of Europe which culminate in the murderous conflicts of the XX century. In the aftermath of the 2nd. World War a debate was opened in all the continent on the need of a pan- european organization able to cope with the national antagonist. The European Union, the European Communities, sprout out as a necessity in front of the nationalistic passions.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Some History… 1948, 7-11 May The Hague Congress: more than a thousand delegates from some 20 European countries discuss new forms of cooperation in Europe. They come out in favour of setting up a "European assembly". 1949, January As a result of the Hague Congress, the Council of Europe is set up. It is to be based in Strasbourg.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Some History… 1950, 9 May Robert Schuman, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, makes an important speech putting forward proposals based on the ideas of Jean Monnet. He proposes that France and the Federal Republic of Germany pool their coal and steel resources in a new organisation that other European countries can join. Since this date can be regarded as the birthday of the European Union, 9 May is now celebrated annually as "Europe Day". 1951, 18 April In Paris, six countries - Belgium, France, Germany (Federal Republic), Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - sign the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). It comes into force on 23 July 1952, for a period of 50 year. It ended in , 25 March In Rome, the six countries sign the treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). They come into force on 1 January 1958.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Some History… 1991, 9-10 December The Maastricht European Council adopts a Treaty on European Union. It lays the basis for a common foreign and security policy, closer cooperation on justice and home affairs and the creation of an economic and monetary union, including a single currency. The inter-governmental cooperation in these fields added to the existing Community system creates the European Union (EU). The EEC is renamed the "European Community" (EC).

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Some History… 1995, November The Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Barcelona launches a partnership between the EU and the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. 1999, 1 January Start of the third stage of EMU: the currencies of 11 EU countries are replaced by the euro. The single currency is launched on the money markets. From this point onwards, the European Central Bank (ECB) has responsibility for the EU's monetary policy, which is defined and implemented in euro.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Some History… 2000, March The Lisbon European Council draws up a strategy for boosting employment in the EU, modernising the economy and strengthening social cohesion in a knowledge-based Europe. 2002, 1 January People in the euro area countries begin using euro notes and coins.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research The process Till the end of 2nd.WW, the political life in Europe was based exclusively in national legislation. The wars and the economic and political decadence of the continent created the conditions for a renewed impulse for a new European order. The European integration in the post-war period is marked by the creation of several organizations without clear connection with each other: –OCDE (Organisatión de Cooperatión et Developement Económic), –WEU (Western European Union (military)), –NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), –Council of Europe and –European Union; based in the ECCS (European Community of Carbon and Steel), the AEEC (Atomic Energy European Community) and the European Community. The number of member states of these organizations range from 10 (WEU) to 40 (Council of Europe).

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research How the EU? THE EU IS A CREATION OF LAW AND A COMMUNITY BASED ON LAW. IT IS A LEGAL ARTIFACT NOT BASED ON “BLOOD AND IRON” BUT ON NEGOTIATION AND CONSENSUS. The political decisions processes of the EU has been steered for long time by the goverments of the member states because the EU does not reflects the existence of an “european people” The institutional evolution of the EU reflects two opposite tendencies: –The will of the national governments to obtain adventages in the european playground for their countries –The need of common laws and strategies at european level for a more and more integrated economic, social and political landscape. The slow emergence of the “european people”

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research How the EU? The member states accept the existance of an european power based on independent and democratic institutions able to handle those sectors where the action is more efficient at european level than at national or regional level, notably: –the inner market, –the common currency, –the economic and social cohesion, –the employment policy, –the defense and foreign policy –the creation of an space of freedom and security This is the base of the european added value concept. All other topics are competencies of the most efficient political level, national, regional or local (subsidiarity principle).

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research How the EU?

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EU 1.European Council:27 Heads of State or Government and the President of the Commission 2.Council of the EU:27 ministers 3.European Court of Justice:15 Judges 4.Committee of the Regions:222 members 5.European Parliament:626 members 6.Economic and Social Committee:222 members 7.Court of Auditors:15 members 8.European Commission:20 (?) members 9.European Central Bank 10.European Investment Bank

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research

EURO-MED PARTNERSHIP The three main goals of EU Mediterranean policy and partnership are set out in the Barcelona Declaration of 1995 and in the Common Strategy adopted by the European Council in Feira in June They can be summarized as follows : · The creation of an area of peace and stability based on fundamental principles, including respect for human rights and democracy. · The creation of an area of shared prosperity through sustainable and balanced economic and social development, and especially the gradual establishment of free trade between the EU and its partners and among the partners themselves (2010). This process should be accompanied by substantial EU financial support to help partners deal with economic transition and the resulting social, economic and environmental challenges. · The improvement of mutual understanding among the peoples of the region and the development of an active civil society.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Specific policy objectives for Euro-Med cooperation (EURO-MED PARTNERSHIP, Regional Strategy Paper ) –To achieve efficiencies through a regional approach, which can be used as catalyst to reinforce the effect of bilateral co-operation and promote a sustainable development –To tackle issues that have a trans-national dimension (e.g. infrastructure interconnection, pollution, environment protection, harmonisation of standards, etc) –To intensify “south-south” co-operation

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Objectives of the Regional Strategy Paper TRAINING OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES (1) training of experts from Partners’ public administrations (central, regional, and, where appropriate, local); (2) transfer of theoretical and practical knowledge on institution building, inter and intra-regional co-operation, EU affairs, management skills, drafting laws and regulations, etc.; (3) promotion of regional co-operation between Euro- Mediterranean public administration training institutes.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research The international dimension of the European Research Area (COM(2001)346 final): The Euro-Mediterranean Research area

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Fundamentals - cooperation must fulfill the Community's scientific, technical and socio-economic objectives and, at the same time; - cooperation must be firmly rooted in the Community's foreign policy and development aid programmes and must fulfill the European Union's overall interests (political and commercial interests, solidarity, etc.). The European Research Area has established a new political context in which to develop a new strategy of international scientific and technological cooperation based on the previous achievements of projects undertaken within the European Union.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Strategy This strategy should focus on the following key areas: · making the European Research Area more attractive to the best scientists and making it a world class reference centre; · enabling European researchers and industrialists to access the knowledge and technology produced outside Europe and also the experimental fields needed for European research; · developing scientific and technical activities useful to the implementation of EU foreign policy and development aid; · enlisting the scientific and technological resources of the European Union and of third countries in initiatives that provide a response to significant world problems of concern to the Community such as food safety, environmental safety (greenhouse effects, desertification, biodiversity and natural resources, seismic risks, etc.) or health and major diseases connected with poverty.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Mechanisms The European Union's ability to make effective use of forums for dialogue to develop cooperation programmes has been limited principally by the lack of a clear policy of international scientific and technological cooperation accompanied by adequate operational resources. Nonetheless, bilateral dialogue with the regions of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Process Monitoring Committee, MoCo), Asia (ASEM), Latin America and the Caribbean (ALAC and Mercosur) has provided the basis for developing a policy incorporating both RTD and foreign policy.

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Objectives Relations with the MPC cannot continue as purely economic relations and must evolve into a genuine co-development policy, which alone can ensure stability, prosperity and security in this region. The EU must put a great deal of effort into all areas of cooperation, particularly in the field of science and technology as well as innovation in order to enhance research capabilities This includes promoting exchanges of knowledge, personnel and technological innovations in order to foster socio-economic progress throughout the Euro- Mediterranean area. To that end, transferring technological innovations and knowledge and boosting the RTD capability of third countries should be promoted, encouraging the establishment of links between research centers and businesses as well as developing RTD infrastructures and potential. At the same time, research must contribute towards meeting fundamental needs, the priority objectives for sustainable development, and for partners in Europe and the Mediterranean (i.e. integrated management of water, agriculture and the agro-food industry, health and environmental protection, seismology, energy and transport, preservation of the cultural heritage, the digital divide).

Rafael Rodriguez, Prof. of Research Courses of action – coordinating appropriate activities undertaken within Member States; – opening up national programmes for international cooperation in research or networking national activities for international scientific cooperation, in line with the Commission proposal on the new Framework Programme (COM(2001)94 Final); – funding the required participation of third country researchers or institutions in the activities of the Networks of Excellence or Integrated Research Projects launched in the thematic areas considered priorities by the Community; – for specific countries, instigating specific EU scientific cooperation activities to generate synergies with the activities carried out under EU foreign policy or development aid policy. In addition, national and European international cooperation activities will benefit from the action taken to make the European Research Area more attractive to the best scientists based outside Europe, as the Commission proposes as part of the strategy to promote the mobility of researchers (COM(2001)….of……..2001).