9 - Conclusion

Summary

OVERVIEW

Europe has been tremendously successful in its integration, when one bears in mind the obstacles from a war-torn and decrepit Europe, still in the mould of the old fashioned nation state, but which today has turned into the European Union, a supranational construction.

In analysing the European integration, several key issues arise.

The first one is the decisive choice between the supranational model and the intergovernmental model. By tradition international cooperation has followed the intergovernmental model, respecting the full sovereignty of participating member states and applying unanimity in decision making. Weak institutions, if any, form part of this model. The Europeans chose the supranational model and acquiesced with the pooling of sovereignty to exercise it in common. Strong institutions and international rule of the law are part of this model.

It is difficult to escape the observation that the supranational model depends on a high degree of trust and mutual confidence among member states. It is also a projection of the fundamental characteristics of the political model in the nation state to the international level. Such a rules-based organization goes a long way towards emulating the national community founded on the rule of law. Some would add consensus and compromise to the characteristics.

To shape such a kind of international organization, which in many ways breaks the traditional mould, not only trust, but also a feeling of sharing the same destiny, must be at hand. This has so far been the case for member states of the European Union, even with the enlargement from the original six to twenty-seven in 2007. Many nation states around the globe would find it difficult, and in some cases, beyond reality, to allow international institutions such powers, in particular, when recalling that rivals, competitors, even traditional enemies, may sit around the table.

It is, however, encouraging to detect a growing interest in this model. Time will show whether some of its vital characteristics can be used outside the European geographical sphere. If so, nation states may be on their way to realizing how globalization changes the traditional pattern not only of economics, but also of politics.