On April 18, 1951, six European nations came together to form the European Coal and Steel Community in an effort to mend the relationships World War Two had torn apart. The economic alliance of these six countries planted the seed for a growing movement towards a more peaceful and united Europe. Now, more than 50 years later, there are 27 members of the European Union and three candidate nations awaiting membership. Of the many regional organizations that have emerged over the past half-century, the European Union is the only one to have achieved successful economic and political integration, making it a model organization. However, the large number of member nations inhibits efficient change and quick responses on foreign policy issues, preventing the European Union from transcending its regional status. The economic success of the organization has established it as a global leader in a more nuanced way, giving it an important voice for democracy in Europe and around the world.

Slow but Sure
A number of inefficiencies are born from the number of member states, most prominently the slow passage of treaties. In 2001, when the European Union voted on the Treaty of Nice, only one country, Ireland, voted against it, and it was not until 2003 that a reformed version of the treaty came into effect. Similarly, in 2003, France and the Netherlands voted against a constitution that had been proposed the previous year, effectively stopping its progress. The European Union’s reliance on cooperation and its respect for sovereignty inhibit agreements to reform or enlarge the organization, and provide obstacles to policy unification efforts as well.

The European Union has undergone much difficulty in presenting a united front on foreign policy. Jonas Tallberg, author of Leadership and Negotiation in the European Union, told the HPR that member states have differing regional alliances on foreign policy issues. He pointed to the current turbulence surrounding Kosovo as an example of these allegiances coming into conflict. A stronger voice on foreign affairs, however, would require a centralization of power that would necessitate member states giving up a degree of sovereignty, which they hold very dear. In an interview with the HPR, Éamon Ó Cuív, Irish Minister for Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs, said that every member nation has a list of boundaries that they would not be willing to cross in relinquishing sovereignty. Ireland’s, he said, included military affairs, social issues, and taxation.

“Soft” Success
Even without coercion the European Union, using soft power, is able to maintain high standards for the democratic and humanitarian policies of its members. The economic prosperity of E.U. countries serves as an incentive to cooperate. Tallberg called the promise of membership “a carrot for states in the near regions, in terms of stimulating reform,” citing the central European nations as examples. Similarly, Ophelia Eglene, co-author of New Models of Collaboration for Delivering Government Services, told the HPR that in representing a desirable market of more than 500 million people, the European Union can require companies who want access to their economy to comply with their regulation. It has also, she said, become a strong leader on environmental issues, holding its member nations to stricter regulations than those required by the Kyoto treaty. The European Union, therefore, exerts global influence without a unified foreign policy though a commitment to democracy, and an ever-growing voice on global issues like the environment and development.

The European Union as a Model
In the short term it is unlikely that other regional organizations can exert influence in the way the European Union does. Organizations like the African Union and the Association of South East Nations are struggling to emulate the success of the EU, each with its own challenges to overcome. Cindy Courville, United States Ambassador to the African Union, explained that members of the AU “have different political histories and realities. Infrastructure, political institutions, taxation, and regulation of commerce are things that many African countries are still establishing,” she said. “The AU can benefit from looking at how the structures of the E.U. are set up and picking and choosing among them.” The exact structure of the European Union cannot function in every situation, but the organization can serve to inspire others as a coalition that has overcome differences to create a shared economy and voice. It is through this inspiration, and a firm message on democracy, that the European Union will wield its influence.]]>