The EU's Future Role on the Global Stage

Abstract

What role will the EU play on the global stage? The struggle of some of its members in the current economic crisis, its apparent inability to punch its political weight in international negotiations (e.g. the climate summit in Warsaw in 2013) or play a dominant part in international crisis management (the Arab Spring, Syria) cast doubt on the capabilities of the EU as a global player. In order to regain its strength, the EU has to deal with pressing economic and political questions. It has to provide a credible and feasible road map for economic recovery and social cohesion. At the same time, it has to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of European governance without risking its legitimacy. To preserve its actor capacity, the EU must make sure that the (presently unequally distributed) growth potential stemming from research and development serves the economic recovery of the union as a whole. At the same time, successful efforts to make European governance more efficient must be accompanied by additional safeguard measure to ensure its legitimacy. Policy Implications• From technocratic to democratic federalism: Governance reform has increased the efficiency of European economic governance. Strengthening intergovernmental decision making and surveillance and sanctioning has damaged the legitimacy of European governance. Menaced by a looming currency crisis, policy recommendations concern all aspects of domestic politics (especially social politics) and are more likely to interfere with national sovereignty. Restoring legitimacy is vital for the European project. Power should be transferred from the European Council (where strong members can impose their will on weak ones) to the European Parliament.• Towards a European research union: The 'Europe 2020' strategy provides a useful economic road map for some member states. It demands investment in research and development (R&D) education and high-tech industries but promises considerable medium-term growth in return. Findings indicate an 'innovation gap' between middle and Northern European member states and those in the South. Countries that are able to invest and spend on product and process innovation will gain the economic capabilities to generate growth, while those members that are currently unable to do so are threatened with falling behind even further. Structural funds of the EU should be used to replace shortcomings in domestic investment in R&D and help to develop tailored, country-specific road maps for sustainable growth.• Increasing the EU's actor capacity: In order to re-establish itself as a global player the EU must increase internal cohesion (autonomy) on key topics and communicate its key agenda in international relations (authority). The EU as an actorIt is now over five years since the Lehman bankruptcy triggered a global economic crisis. Political reaction within the EU culminated in the agreement on 'Europe 2020' (EC, 2010). This strategy should provide a road map for economic recovery and guarantee the EU a strong position in ...

The implementation of the Strategy Europe 2020 objectives in European Union countries: the concept analysis and statistical evaluation

“…It seems reasonable to say that both the US and the EU by means of the mutual competitiveness in the areas of investments, services and trade significantly contribute to the development of the global economy and thus to the betterment of people’s living conditions (Ruser and Anheier 2014 ).…”

“…This strategy should provide a road map for economic recovery and guarantee the EU a strong position in international relations. It is essential that five headline targets are met and have been agreed for the whole EU (European commission 2010 ; Ruser and Anheier 2014 ): 75% of the population aged 20–64 should be employed, 3% of the EU’s GDP should be invested in R&D, The “20/20/20” climate/energy targets should be met (including an increase to 30% of emissions reduction if the conditions are right), The share of early school leavers should be under 10% and at least 40% of the younger generation should have a tertiary degree, 20 million less people should be at risk of poverty. …”

“…In order to raise effectiveness in implementing the strategy, the individual member states can support themselves by creating their own policies, such as: action plans and defining goals and short-term, mid-term and long-term actions; preparing qualitative and quantitative measures allowing to make comparisons between the individual member states, between an individual country and the whole Europe or the United States, or any other highly developed country; translate strategic objectives and schedules into national action plans; periodic reviews of the strategy implementation in terms of realisation its objectives and exchanging experiences (Barder et al 2013 ; Booth 2013 ; Ruser and Anheier 2014 ).…”

R&D Investments, EPO Patent Applications and the Economic Heterogeneity within the EU

“…On the other hand, even the modification of the targets to make them national does not mean they are fulfilled. As Ruser and Anheier (2014) state, "meeting respective national targets is not a question of financial capacity alone. Instead complex political issues, like forging mutually beneficial research alliances between the public and the private sector, arise".…”

By the Markets, of the Markets, for the Markets? Technocratic Decision Making and the Hollowing Out of Democracy

“…In the wake of the sovereign debt crisis technocrats have gained influence in the Southern European member states. Reform of European economic governance also resulted in a strengthening of automated expert decision making at the EU level (Alonsos, , p. 17; Hopkin, ; Kaldor, ; Ruser and Anheier, ). The global financial crisis turned into a sovereign debt crisis which has arguably acted as a catalyst for what Mair describes as ‘acceptability and legitimation of nonpolitical, or depoliticized, modes of decision making’ and ‘the greater weight accorded to (…) supranational and international agencies, including the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund’ (Mair, , p. 19).…”