Economic integration

In economic integration or integration processes are understood, the more markets (eg the German and French steel market ) to a wider market (eg, a European steel market ) merge ( integration as a process ). The term is also used to characterize the extent to which this unit is made ( as an integration state), further as a destination ( a target integration ). Integration, depending on the perspective to understand as a process, condition and target, illustrates the great ambivalence of the term.

Economic integration is an economic union of several countries for the promotion of interstate commercial traffic and consists of a global economic governance; clearest indicator of this merger, the creation of an ( international ) organization with its own organs dar. starting point is always an international treaty between participating Member States. Transfer the actors (Member States) Ideally, the contract needed for the integration step relevant competencies (themes, tasks = so-called policies ) to the new organs.

Economic integration can be aligned globally or regionally (on an adjacent group of states related). The EU is regarded worldwide as the most successful model of regional economic integration. From establishing the Coal and Steel Community ( ECSC) on 18 April 1951, the EU today has since various economic integration stages, starting as a free trade zone, then from 1 July 1968 Customs Union, hereinafter Common Market, later internal market, then go through in parts of economic union up to the monetary union.

Objectives

1 Economic objectives: promoting economic growth based on international division of labor. The focus is on the theory of comparative advantage by David Ricardo, with the States to focus on the production of the products in their production process, they have the ( relatively, but not absolutely necessary ) the biggest cost advantage. In return, they exchange these products for goods in which they have relatively the biggest drawbacks.

2 non- economic objectives: The focus is on the protection of the ( international ) peace, the increasingly inextricable from efforts of the creation (before ) federal connections ( political union ) is being overshadowed.

Levels of integration

Economic integration processes are typically divided into several grades, but are not necessarily pass through in integration processes in sequence:

These steps were gone in the EU through the agreement on policies. The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU ) are in Part Three: The internal policies and actions of the Union by Articles 26-197 TFEU currently extensive image from these policies, may be mentioned here only:

• Title I. The internal market, Article 26-27
• Title II Free movement of goods, Article 28-37

* Chapter 1 The Customs Union, Article 28-32   * Chapter 2 customs cooperation, Article 33   * Chapter 3 Prohibition of quantitative restrictions between Member States, Article 34-37 Title III. The Agriculture and Fisheries, Article 38-44 Title IV Free movement of services and capital, Article 45-66

Chapter 1 The workers, Article 45-48   Chapter 2 The right of establishment, Article 49-55   Chapter 3 Services, Article 56-62   Chapter 4 Capital and payments, Article 63-66 Title V. The area of ​​freedom, security and justice, Article 67-89 Title VI. Traffic, Article 90-100 Concerning Title VII Common rules competition, taxation and approximation of laws, Art 101-118

Chapter 1 competition rules, Article 101-109      Section 1 Rules applying to undertakings, Article 101-106      Section 2 State aid, Article 107-109   Chapter 2 Tax provisions, Article 110-113   Chapter 3 Approximation of laws, Article 114-118 Title VIII, the economic and monetary policy, Article 119-144

Chapter 1 Economic policy, Article 120-126   Chapter 2 Monetary policy, Article 127-133   Chapter 3 Institutional provisions, Article 134-135   Chapter 4 Special provisions for the Member States whose currency is the euro, Art 136-138   Chapter 5 Transitional provisions, Article 139-144 Title IX. Employment, Article 145-150 Title X. Social Policy, Article 151-161 Title XI. The European Social Fund, Articles 162-164 Title XII. Terms and berufiche Education, Youth and Sports, Art 165-166 Title XIII. Culture, Art 167 Title XIV healthcare, Article 168 Title XV. Consumer protection, Article 169 Title XVI. Trans-European networks, Art 170-172 Title XVII. Industry, Article 173 Title XVIII. Economic, social and territorial cohesion, Article 174-178 Title XIX. Research, technological development and space, Art 179-190 Title XX. Environment, Art 191-193 Title XXI. Energy, Article 194 Title XXII. Tourism, Art 195 Title XXIII. Civil protection, Article 196 Title XXIV administrative cooperation, Article 197

This list illustrates the almost 60 years sustained thematic filling in the step sequence of the stages of integration. What began as a common market for coal and steel in the Coal and Steel Community ( ECSC), sat down with the EEC starting from 1958 as a common market for all industrial goods and agricultural products continued. First was the real economic integration with the goal of highest possible convergence of the national economies of the Member States in the foreground, from the mid- 80s efforts were added to a monetary integration with the goal of EMU.

Other types of integration

Basically, one can distinguish between the functional and institutional method of economic integration.

• In a preference zone tariffs on certain goods are dismantled. This can also be one-sided. An example form the EU preferential tariffs for the African - Caribbean - Pacific Group of States (former colonial states of EU countries)

• In a common market organization sector specific uniform economic conditions are created (eg EU agricultural market )

• In a political union, there is also a common constitution, which includes a Europeanisation of the main policy fields, notably foreign affairs, defense, currency and foreign trade policy.