Lectures critiques

Discussions about a European constitution ought to focus on substantive policy challenges that cannot be met effectively within the present institutional framework of the European Union. The paper begins by discussing the characteristics of three distinct modes of European policy making – intergovernmental agreement, supranational centralization and joint-decision making. In all three modes, effective and legitimate European action depends on high levels of substantive consensus among member state governments. The paper goes on to examine the requirements of effective European responses to three novel policy challenges – Eastern enlargement, common foreign and security policy and the protection of European welfare states against the impact of economic integration and liberalization. In each case, it can be shown that politically salient conflicts of interest among member governments will prevent effective action within the present institutional framework. Arguing that these conflicts could not be legitimately settled by a move toward majoritarian institutions, the paper concludes with a discussion of differentiated policy responses that would allow European action in the face of legitimate diversity

French Urban and Social Studies · Philosophy