A Certain Idea of Europe
Henri Beunders
What is Europe?
- Geographically: where does it begin, where does it
end? (link to 1st video)
- Politically: how many nationstates? (now 28).
- Who is the boss? Council? Commission?
Parliament? Nation-states?
- Economically: multinationals? Trade-unions?
European Central Bank?
- Cultural: Alle Menschen werden Brüder?
Unity in Diversity?
What is the political system?
• Confederation, ánd Federation.
• That is:
-The Council of the EU is confederal:
meeting of heads of governments
-The European Commission is Federal:
acts as one Board of Executives with a CEO
- Parliament is like US Senate (every country
proportionally nr of seats, acc to population)
Video’s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O37yJ
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• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0diZ4
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European Parliament
• Between 1952 and 1979: members appointed by
national parliaments
Began as the ‘Common Assembly’ of the
European Coal and Steel Community, in 1958
European Parliamentary Assembly, 1962
European Parliament
• Since 1979 every five year elections; 2014: 8th
Elections; Turnout ever less since 1979, now 40%.
• 700+ members, ca 8 political coalitions
• 24 languages
EP
• Does not formally possess legislative initiative
• Can amend proposals of the Commission
• ‘Elects’ President of the Commission, approves
the Commission as a whole
• Since Lisbon Treaty (effective 2009) EP has
powers over the entire EU budget
• MEP’s vote along party lines, more than national
lines
• EP has 20 Standing Committees (28-86 MEPs)
Council - Parliament
• The Parliament and Council can be regaderd as
two chambers in a bicameral legislative branch of
the European Union
• But: EP had more indirect than direct powers,
through non-binding resolutions and committee
hearings
• EP can send amendments to Council, then
negiotions
• EP has richgt to set up Committee of Inquiry (e.g.
mad cow disease)
What happens when the media
coverage on the EU increases?
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
The EU in the media
Lack of EU coverage
• Almost no television coverage
• No prominent stories in newspapers
• Blogs follow the regular news agenda
• Attention is focused on summits
and referenda
There once was a European newspaper:
The European. Doesn’t exist anymore
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
The EU in the media (2)
Characteristics of EU coverage
• National focus
• Only politicians from home country
• National politicians talking about the EU
• Negative tone
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
Some plea for EU coverage
Ideal of informed citizenship
• Cornerstone of democracy
• Information about the EU should be available
• Citizens should inform themselves
• This should lead to informed political decisions
• Impossible because a lack of media coverage
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
European Commission and media
•
•
•
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Largest website on earth
Websites for different target groups
Information offices
Support for public education
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
European
EuropeanParliament
Parliament(1)
(1)
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
European Parliament (2)
What would people learn?
• National parties do not play a big role in Brussels
• National representatives are a small – or very small group
• National members are mostly represented by other
nationalities, in political coalitions
• The leaders of European parties are unknown
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
European Parliament (3)
What would people learn?
• Brussels is more important than most national
capitals
• Political issues are detailed and technical
• Many compromises behind closed doors
• Interests of small nations do not play a big role
• A lot of MEPs are not present in major debates
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
European Parliament (4)
What would people learn?
• There are no great differences of opinion
• Many decisions made by large majorities
• Do these represent the opinions of national parties?
• Opinions of citizens are not a major factor
• Citizens can not have a direct influence in Brussels
• Citizens, lobbyists, can wield indirect power in
Brussels
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
Summary
More media coverage makes people more aware of
• The amount of political decisions taken
• The consensus about integration in Brussels
• The influence of other countries on each other
• The neglect of particular national interests or
opinions
• The (im)possibility for citizens to have a real and
directy influence
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
Conclusion
•
•
•
•
Media coverage on Brussels is important
Democracy suffers from the lack of coverage
Media coverage was an issue of Europhiles
Media coverage now is an issue of Eurosceptics
• All recorded votes, along with minutes and
legislation, are recorded in the Official Journal of The
EU, can be accessed online
Media and the EU
www.chrisaalberts.nl
Questions
• Why is the EU getting less and less
popular?
Question:
What would be interesting questions for
the digital research on the
Europarliament Hansard?