The EU and Territorial Politics Within Member States: Conflict Or Co-Operation?Angela K. Bourne "The EU and Territorial Politics Within Member States" examines whether European integration helps or hinders the resolution of domestic territorial conflicts, including conflict between national groups, between territorially-based political parties or communities and different levels of political authority. The research draws on a wide range of case studies - from Germany, Belgium, Spain, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Ireland and Italy. The studies suggest EU institutional rules altering the balance of power between central and regional elites (as in Germany) and/or different national elites (as in Spain) and particular EU policies, such as enlargement in Cyprus and EU anti-terrorism policy in Spain, may create new or aggravate existing tensions within member states. However, the same EU institutional rules in different states (such as Belgium) and different policies, such as cross-border programmes in Ireland may have the opposite effect. Similarly, opportunities for re-imagining territorial identities and redefining ambitions for control over territories may in some ways help the search for means to accommodate conflicts, while in others they may help entrench territorial cleavages or reproduce old tensions. |
Contents
The Europeanisation of Intergovernmental Cooperation and Conflict | 19 |
European Integration and IntraState Relations in Germany and | 51 |
The Case of Catalonia | 79 |
European Integration and Conflict Resolution in the Basque Country | 101 |
British and Irish Conceptions | 127 |
and CrossBorder Cooperation in the Island of Ireland | 157 |
Changing Allegiances in | 185 |
The Politics of the Northern League and Italys Changing Attitude Towards | 211 |
Conclusion | 231 |
Common terms and phrases
actors affairs Agreement agriculture areas argued Assembly authorities autonomous communities Basque Basque Country become Belgian Belgium border British Catalan Catalonia central government claims co-operation Commission Committee competencies concept conflict constitutional context Council created cross-border co-operation cultural Cyprus debate decisions demands democratic devolution direct discourse domestic economic effectively election established EU’s Europe European integration European policy European Union example exclusive executives existing federal framework funds German groups identity impact important influence institutions interests INTERREG involvement Irish island issue Italy Länder League legislative majority matters Ministers minority nationalist nature negotiations networks Northern Ireland official Parliament participation parties political political parties position powers programme question reform regional relations remains representation representatives Republic role Scotland Scottish seen shared significant Spain Spanish structures Studies suggests tensions territorial tion unionist United University views Wales Welsh