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  • German Studies and the Euro Crisis
  • Thomas O. Haakenson

Introduction

Throughout the ten-day Fulbright German Studies Seminar 2012 (GSS) from June 12–18 in Berlin, Germany, and June 18–22 in Brussels, Belgium, fourteen US academics engaged the topic of “Nation-state and European Identity.” The seminar participants spoke with politicians, journalists, economists, and cultural figures about the eurozone crisis as well as the potentials for, and challenges of, European integration. There are neither easy questions about, nor easy solutions to, the problems currently facing the European Union—and in particular the debt-related issues facing member states participating in the euro area, the common currency project that oftentimes seems synonymous with the EU itself. The following essays by Fulbright GSS scholars from various academic disciplines represent a selection of perspectives on the relationship between the euro crisis and its implications for German Studies.

Thomas O. Haakenson
Liberal Arts
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
  • Institutional Barriers to European Identity
  • David Rossbach

Two common themes emerged during the 2012 Fulbright German Studies Seminar: the complexity of decision-making within the EU and the difficulties involved in forming a broadly European identity. These themes are closely related to each other. The difficulty in fostering a European identity is deeply rooted within the institutional framework of the EU; this framework encourages the public to focus on nation-state level politics. The centrality of German identity to European consciousness—whether in admiration or opposition—places German Studies scholars in a unique position to explore the tension between these competing identities.

The policymaking power of the EU is less than that of a state but greater than that of any other strictly intergovernmental organization we have seen in history. The fundamental logic employed by the architects of European integration is found in the theory of neofunctionalism. Neofunctionalism has a federal structure as its end goal, yet achieves this through the incremental assumption of competencies from state governments toward a high authority. As functions of government shift toward the supranational, so too would individual identities. Once the link between daily life and EU policies is clear in the mind of the public, European identity should replace national identity. However, as we have seen throughout the current euro crisis, national identities remain strong despite the deep levels of policy integration. [End Page 125]

While numerous institutions exist within the EU to create or influence policy, four institutions play the largest roles. The first is the European Commission, the body that exercises executive powers. The Commission represents the interests of the EU as a whole and has the sole right to introduce all EU law for consideration. Although studies have shown that EU Commissioners act to maximize the interests of the EU, their appointments are made with consideration to each member state receiving one Commission portfolio. President of the Commission is arguably the highest-profile position in the EU structure.

The most powerful body, the European Council, is made up of the heads of government of each member state. All major decisions are negotiated at the European Council level, and the body operates on the basis of unanimity. This gives each individual leader the power to grind the European agenda to a halt if he or she so desires. We have seen leaders do this throughout the history of the EU. The power of national leaders comes from the results of national elections, which are themselves decided based on national issues. National leaders who focus their attention on Europe with no consideration of the national mood do so at their own political peril.

The third institution is the Council of Ministers, made up of the national ministers in government. The exact configuration varies, depending on the policy issue under consideration. Together with the European Parliament, the Council performs the legislative functions of the EU, reacting to laws proposed by the Commission. The express purpose of the Council is to represent the interests of national governments in the EU. As members of the Council are first and foremost government ministers in their respective national legislatures, their positions are dependent upon national election results.

Finally, we have the other legislative body: the European Parliament. Seats in the Parliament...

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