Abstract
The European Union of today is the result of a process that began over half a century ago with the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community. From that time, a durable peace has existed in the European continent for about 70 years. As we can see from the remarkable successes of the process of European integration today is significantly affected by the legislative procedures that apply to different policy fields. In fact, there were some thorny issues and crises took place with various reasons, mainly were intergovernmental issues, in the way of integration. Indeed, some were setbacks and others were turning points. For instance, the ‘Empty Chair Crisis’ in 1965 and subsequent informal agreement, namely the Luxembourg Compromise, …show more content…
It was no doubt that the policy of the empty chair effectively immobilized Community decision-making and delivered a severe psychological body-blow to the advocates of closer European integration (Teasdale, 1993).
2.2 The analysis of the three causes
The reasons that caused the Empty Chair Crisis are complicated, which are the result of many elements. In summary, there are following three main causes: Charles de Gaulle’s ambition; France’s interests on CAP and budgetary power of the European Parliament; majority voting in decision-making procedure of the Council of Ministers. In author’s perspective, these three reasons are of progressive relations.
2.2.1 Charles de Gaulle’s ambition
Charles de Gaulle was one of the strongest and greatest of French leaders since Napoleon. As the president during the new Fifth Republic from 1958 to 1969, de Gaulle wanted to reshape France’s post-war image through his political means. For instance, he revised the constitution to provide for presidential control of foreign and military policy, granted independence to Algeria and the African colonies, stabilized politics, and restored the nation’s economic
The European Union of today is the result of a process that began over half a century ago with the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community. From that time, a durable peace has existed in the European continent for about 70 years. As we can see from the remarkable successes of the process of European integration today is significantly affected by the legislative procedures that apply to different policy fields. In fact, there were some thorny issues and crises took place with various reasons, mainly were intergovernmental issues, in the way of integration. Indeed, some were setbacks and others were turning points. For instance, the ‘Empty Chair Crisis’ in 1965 and subsequent informal agreement, namely the Luxembourg Compromise, …show more content…
It was no doubt that the policy of the empty chair effectively immobilized Community decision-making and delivered a severe psychological body-blow to the advocates of closer European integration (Teasdale, 1993).
2.2 The analysis of the three causes
The reasons that caused the Empty Chair Crisis are complicated, which are the result of many elements. In summary, there are following three main causes: Charles de Gaulle’s ambition; France’s interests on CAP and budgetary power of the European Parliament; majority voting in decision-making procedure of the Council of Ministers. In author’s perspective, these three reasons are of progressive relations.
2.2.1 Charles de Gaulle’s ambition
Charles de Gaulle was one of the strongest and greatest of French leaders since Napoleon. As the president during the new Fifth Republic from 1958 to 1969, de Gaulle wanted to reshape France’s post-war image through his political means. For instance, he revised the constitution to provide for presidential control of foreign and military policy, granted independence to Algeria and the African colonies, stabilized politics, and restored the nation’s economic