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On the threshold between national and
federal politics
Sometimes we are unable to see something
even when it is right before our eyes. This often
appears to be the case with analysis of the Eu-
ropean Union (EU), which is treated as an au-
tonomous entity, ignoring the obvious fact that
its decisions, its institutional development, and
its competencies are all directly related to
changes within each of its member states.
The 60-year history of the EU provides count-
less examples of this relationship. And yet, para-
doxically, when the Union’s political roots are
deeper than ever and the first outlines of a fed-
eral structure are beginning to emerge, the
volatile political situation in the EU’s member
states is being felt more strongly than ever, and
the impact is far from positive.
There are a number of possible explanations
of this state of affairs, including the following:
– �����������������������������������������
The trend towards intergovernmental nego-
tiations during the crisis has meant that
states now seek to play a more active role in
EU decision-making processes.
– The number of member countries (28) is so
large that it inevitably produces greater dis-
parities with regard to recent history, the op-
eration of the state, the party system, eco-
nomic structure, culture and public opinion.
– �������������������������������������������
The lack of a European leadership whose au-
thority is recognised by all the member states
and the proliferation of posts within the EU
hierarchy is not associated with greater una-
nimity.
– Phenomena to which the response is initially
national –whether economic and social (the
crisis, unemployment, inequality, insecurity,
immigration) or political (nationalism, pop-
ulism)– ultimately influence the stance of
individual governments
vis-à-vis
Brussels.
– The impact of the gradual downgrading
by national governments of concepts such
as solidarity and cohesion is amplified by
the persistence within the EU of constitu-
tional zones in which shared decision-
The political situation
in Europe: threats
and opportunities
José Manuel Albares, Carlos Carnero and Antonio Villafranca