Neill Nugent

The government and politics of the European Community

Part 1 The historical evolution: the post-war transformation the development of the Community. Part 2 The institutions and political actors of the Community: the Commission the council of ministers the European parliament Community Law and the Court of Justice the European council other institutions and actors. Part 3 Policies and policy processes of the Community: Community policies policy processes the budget agricultural policy and policy processes - a detailed study national influences and controls on Community processes. Conclusion: present realities and future prospects chronology of main events in the development of the European Community selected further reading.

At the Heart of the Union

The European Commission is commonly referred to simply as the Commission. Whether the full or the shortened version is preferred, usage of the name can create ambiguity, misunderstanding, and confusion. This is because the name can be, and frequently is, used in at least three different senses.

The leadership capacity of the European Commission

Abstract This article focuses on the leadership capacity of the European Commission. Two broad categories of factors are seen as shaping this leadership capacity: the resources of the Commission and the operating contexts of the Commission. The bulk of the article consists of an examination of these categories and of the linkages and interactions between them. A central theme is that there has been, over time, a general increase in the Commissions leadership capacity.

Developments in the European Union

PART 1: INTRODUCTION - Reconciling Theory and Practice L.Cram, D.Dinan & N.Nugent - PART 2: THE POLITICAL SYSTEM - The European Council and Council of Ministers F.Hayes Renshaw - The Commission L.Cram - The European Parliament K.Neunreither - The Court of Justice and the Legal System D.Wincott - Interests S.Mazey & J.Richardson - Decision-Making N.Nugent - PART 3: POLICIES AND POLICY OBJECTIVES - Creating a European Market: M.Calingaert - Promoting Solidarity and Cohesion J.Mitchell & P.McAleavey - Environmental Policy J.McCormick - Trade and Aid: The EU in the Global System F.Laursen - The Common Foreign and Security Policy M.Holland - Co-operation on Justice and Home Affairs Matters: E.Ucarer - PART 4: KEY ISSUES - Enlargement M.Baun - Treaty Change in the European Union: The Amsterdam Experience D.Dinan - The Political Synamics of Economic and Monetary Union K. Featherstone - Democracy and the European Union B.Laffan - PART 5: CONCLUSIONS - The Evolving European Union L.Cram, D.Dinan & N.Nugent - Index

Cyprus and the European Union: The Significance of its Smallness, Both as an Applicant and a Member

Abstract Cyprus’s smallness influenced its decision to seek EU membership and is now shaping its behaviour as a member state. Although Cyprus’s size limits what it can seek to achieve in the EU, strategies allow it partly to overcome these limitations. In important respects Cyprus is a ‘special’ small EU state because of the way in which ‘the Cyprus Problem’ dominates much of its political focus and because it is the member state most geographically distanced from Brussels.

Reconciling Theory and Practice

This book focuses on developments in the European integration process and, more especially, developments in the European Union (EU). The chapters which follow cover a wide variety of topics and issues. The purpose of this first chapter is to lay a foundation for these following chapters by outlining key underlying questions.

Is the European Commission Really in Decline

In the academic debate on the relative powers and influence of the EU institutions, it has become common to suggest – especially in the case of advocates of the ‘new intergovernmentalism’ – that the European Commission is in decline. In this article we show that while in some limited respects this is indeed the case, the Commissions overall position in the EU system is not one of having become a weaker institutional actor. The extent of the losses of its powers and influence tends to be exaggerated, while in some aspects its powers and influence have actually been strengthened. We show this by focusing on three of the Commissions core functions – agenda‐setter, legislative actor and executive – all of which are widely portrayed as being in decline. We incorporate into our analysis both the formal and informal resources available to the Commission in exercising the functions.

The EU's Response to Turkey's Membership Application: Not Just a Weighing of Costs and Benefits

Abstract In October 2005 the European Union opened accession negotiations with Turkey even though the governments of several member states harboured doubts about the wisdom of so doing. This article examines why the EU agreed to the opening of the negotiations, given the existence of reservations and the fact that the decision needed the approval of the governments of all twenty‐five member states. It is argued that whilst a rationalist approach goes a long way in explaining the decision, political pressures and rhetorical actions provide important additional dimensions of explanation.

Themes and Prospects

Running alongside the specific focus of individual chapters, a number of themes and issues have recurred through this book. Three of these themes and issues merit particular comment.

Introduction: Does the Size of Member States Matter in the European Union?

Abstract The size of member states is seen as one complex element in understanding their influence and role in the European Union. Both the EU treaties and the range of policy areas can work against the smaller members, but the EU also provides certain protections to counter the negative aspects of states’ size. Perceptions of size are important, not least those of the EU itself.