EU Politics:Showcasing the Emerging Power of the Member States (Li Jingkun)
Abstract:The European debt crisis ,whose influences and impacts have spilled over to the political realm, has brought about a number of changes in the following aspects. Firstly, changes have taken place in the geo-politics of the EU, with a new power shift among the member states, which may lead to a disruption of the existing balance of power in Europe. Secondly, the debt crisis has exposed completely the weaknesses and shortcomings of the EU decision-making mechanism, while the roles of individual member states have been further strengthened and confirmed. Thirdly, there are some strong indications that the current trend favours a “re-nationalization” in terms of the common foreign and security policy of the EU. Due to a series of factors, the EU’s diplomatic capability and external influences would be greatly weakened, and it appears difficult for the EU to live up to the objectives established in the Lisbon Treaty in the near future.
IES Innovation Project Briefing,No. 17, 2012.