Multi-speed Europe

The model of the Europe of two (or is it different ) speeds is a concept of flexible integration in Europe in the form of a model of European integration at the level of the EU Treaties ( primary legislation), after which a group of Member States within the European Union (" core " ) seeking greater integration in the area of ​​the old EC, while others, less integration willing States a wide-ranging cooperation, eg in the areas of monetary and defense policy reject ( permanently graded integration). As a result, not all states have always the same level of integration, but participate to varying degrees in the process of deepening integration through new policies.

Suggestions of a two-speed Europe within the EC or EU date back to the 1980s and have since been addressed in the various reforms of the EU Treaty and over again. A practical implementation they found with the Schengen Agreement, the European Economic and Monetary Union and the Agreement on social policy ( social protocol ), at each of which not all EU Member States are involved or have been.

• 5.1 Inner and Outer Six Seven
• 5.2 Affairs Europe
• 5.3 Participation of non -EU countries to EU policies

Models

There are several variants of the model of different speeds: A concept proposes a core Europe to further develop rapidly until the establishment of a formal European Federation ( as a " federation within the Confederacy "). The alternative is the concept of " gradual integration " over which laid the further development of multinational contracts, depending on the possibility of the integration field to take also other states in addition to the states of inner Europe. This used the model of a " Europe à la carte ", in which each state is only involved in those contract elements to which he is interested is ..

Core Europe

The term core Europe has been known primarily for a position paper of the German CDU politician Wolfgang Schäuble and Karl Lamers, who called for in September 1994 in advance of the Amsterdam Treaty, that a group of states within the European Union should press ahead through closer cooperation integration. Germany and France should it take a leading role, should also Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are involved in the cooperation. These countries should " act together recognizable community-minded than others and present joint initiatives ." However, Schäuble and Lamers demanded no formal institutionalization of core Europe countries and stressed that close cooperation should be willing to integrate all other EU countries remain open.

In the public debate, the concept of a core Europe but is often also associated with an institutional differentiation within the EU, in which a group of Member States become more integrated in different policy areas, while others permanently not participate in it. Such Union within the Union is introduced again and again in the debate, particularly in the core European states themselves. Other politicians refrain from such proposals, however, distance, since they split Europe rather than some. In particular, the former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who had called for in his famous Humboldt speech in May 2000, a nuclear- European federation as integration locomotive moved, later clear of this concept from.

The EU Commissioners Pascal Lamy ( France ) and Günter Verheugen presented in 2003 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty of 1963 named after them Lamy - Verheugen plan that much closer cooperation between Germany and France proposed (eg merger of the armed forces), but at least confederal structures that go far beyond the Treaty on European Union Intended. One aim being the creation of an efficient counterweight against the U.S. and its possibilities for international influence and military intervention. Prior to maneuver European countries had shown about the war in Yugoslavia as limited.

The experience of security restrictions, a group of States made ​​to merge their structures faster. From the Franco-German Brigade, the Euro Corps, which now are under brigades from Germany, France, Belgium and Spain emerged. Poland will participate for training purposes with a brigade, more states send personnel into the staff and support services. At this standing army of a European army of about 60,000 men, the multinational developed 1st German- Netherlands Corps and the European Air Group comes together with the European Air Transport Command as the core of European air forces - to the latter, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany are involved, Spain and Luxembourg show interest in participating. The Franco-German motor function, which is still subject to the Lamy - Verheugen paper is partially transferred to the G6 - including the Benelux countries formed a closely Tuning core of the interior of Europe.

Gradual Integration and " Europe à la carte "

Although the idea of ​​a core Europe is discussed especially from Germany and France over again, so is de facto the model of gradual integration realized. This has the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997 also found a formal basis in the form of the political instrument of enhanced cooperation.

Gradual Integration

About this political mechanism can adopt acts under existing contracts, which applies only in those Member States that have joined the enhanced cooperation at least nine Member States of the European Union. For this purpose, and to adopt the necessary implementing rules take the respective Member States, the methods and institutions of the European Union to complete. The only peculiarity is that the Council only those Member States are entitled to vote, participating in the enhanced cooperation. De facto, an existing EU agency then may interact with twofold legal basis in the Member States - with the general European legal basis or on the basis of the provisions of enhanced cooperation. Where a Member State other later to participate in the enhanced cooperation, he can join this.

Any enhanced cooperation should not be confused with the broader concept of gradual integration, which is located outside of this framework. Historical examples of such a graded integration are the Schengen Agreement, which was initially closed by some Member States outside the EU framework. This was incorporated in 1997 as a special kind of enhanced cooperation by a protocol to the Amsterdam Treaty into the legal framework of the European Union. This protocol had to be ratified by all Member States and contains deviations from the general rules on enhanced cooperation.

Other examples of the graded integration, the European Monetary Union ( introduced in 1993 with the Treaty of Maastricht) or permanent structured cooperation within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy ( introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon). An example of a graded integration, which now applies to all Member States, the social protocol to the Maastricht Treaty, which in 1997 with the Treaty of Amsterdam also joined the United Kingdom, after which it was incorporated into the regular text of the treaty.

The model of graduated integration creates greater flexibility in the integration process without parallel authorities must be established next to the authorities of the European Union, as would be necessary for a "core Europe". Instead, institutions for the implementation of individual agreements may be established as needed and be expanded as development progresses. The problem lies in the patchwork of legal stocks within Europe, the case of cross -border projects, an audit requires that law shall prevail.

Europe à la carte

Related to the model of gradual integration is the concept of a Europe à la carte, and suggested several particular less integration-friendly states such as Britain: The Member States should therefore only agree on a minimum of targets that are binding for all countries involved (z. example, in the Internal Market ); in all other policies (eg monetary union, foreign policy, defense policy, freedom of movement, refugee and asylum policy, internal security, justice policy ) are only the applicant countries take specific agreement steps, while the other continues to retain national sovereignty. Legally, this model using the enhanced cooperation would be feasible. However, while most attribute the representatives of the gradual integration of enhanced cooperation as icebreakers - the other Member States may join later - is usually understood to Europe à la carte, a state permanently unequal depth of integration.

Special case "Flexible cooperation "

By the Treaty of Amsterdam on enhanced cooperation in the EU / EC Treaty in 1997 included, which provides a solid method for integration steps at the level of the secondary right to send only one part of Member States so-called enhanced cooperation. However, little use has been made of it in practice so far.

Accruals

Without factual reference to the depth and intensity of cooperation between the EU Member States themselves are occasionally discussed:

Six Inner and Outer Seven

• Belgium
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands

• Austria
• Denmark
• Norway
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

Although some countries of EFTA in 1961 applied for membership in the EC, tensions with France repeatedly led to delays in the enlargement process.

Affairs Europe

Referring next to EU membership cooperation in the military (NATO, Euro Corps / European army ), monetary ( European Monetary Union) and security ( Schengen Agreement ) area to scale, so would currently Belgium, Germany, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain, part of a halfway rightly so call forming the core of Europe. In addition, Denmark and Lithuania are involved in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism II, which is the last step before accession to the euro zone. Denmark and the UK have indeed signed the Maastricht Treaty, which included the Euro, but they use the possibility of an opt - out clause. Although Sweden is not exercise this opt-out clause, it does not fulfill the purpose ERM II rules nevertheless. Ireland is to avoid not in the Schengen zone, but only an external border with Northern Ireland, because the UK is not Schengen member. However, both the United Kingdom and Ireland signed a cooperation agreement with the Schengen area since 1999, which allows them to participate in a subset of the Schengen system. Malta and Cyprus are considering NATO membership - namely Austria and Finland in military operations of the EU and some also include the Partnership for Peace NATO to, but which are not NATO members.

Participation of non -EU countries to EU policies

A number of countries have special relations with the European Union and take over in certain areas of their legislation. This is particularly true for Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the only remaining members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA ), while all other former EFTA members are now EU members. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (but not Switzerland ) form since 1994 together with the European Union, the European Economic Area. As a result of participation in the EU internal market, they must also implement parts of the legislation of the European Union. Formally, they however do not have to finance the EU, but in practice they take their share of the financing of the EU institutions, in so far as they are bound by the relevant EU law it. The financial contribution from Norway is in this respect since 2009 at the same level of EU funding of a full EU member. Norway and Iceland in particular are known to reject EU membership because of the fishing regulation. Both countries are part of the Schengen zone. Norway is a member of NATO and Iceland was it from 1949 to 2006. During the turmoil of the financial crisis, the membership in the Euro - zone was considered in Iceland and in 2009 a formal EU accession requested. Norway has been a party to all political EU treaties and had already repeatedly applied for EU membership, but although it has long met the requirements of membership, it was prevented from membership by a veto in referendums in 1972 and 1994 - the result is Norway Although the content fully integrated, but has lack of membership of the European Union no representation in the institutions. Turkey also takes in certain areas of European legislation, since it forms since January 1, 1996 with the EU Customs Union. Since this date, in Turkey there is the European economic law, the Ankara 's own trade relations with non-EU countries - has to adapt - " third countries ".

" Euro - bailout "

After the onset of crisis, often referred to in the media as " Euro - crisis " (see also the Greek sovereign debt crisis from 2010, Euro crisis ), it was agreed the creation of a euro bailout in May 2010. Here first was agreed with the European Financial Stability Facility ( " EFSF "); this was later replaced by the ESM. In the euro rescue packages are also aspects of integration for variable speeds, as not all EU countries participate in these euro rescue packages and the euro rescue packages to special contractual arrangements that are not available outside the law of the European Union.