Transcript Document
Hopes and fears: attitudes towards the EU and its enlargement
Gabriel Bianchi Barbara L ášticová Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava
Interest in the unification of Europe
Interest in societal issues all study sites in one (N=3890) 78.8
Quality and content of education Unification of Europe Animal rights Discrimination ethnic minorities Terrorism Equality between sexes Poverty Public facilities and services Job and Training Opportunities Environmental Issues 45.4
54.9
63.1
67.0
71.0
67.3
65.5
66.1
86.5
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
Impact of the EU membership
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20
Estimated impact of the EU membership on self, region and nation (N=3890) 79.5
88.9
87.2
78.3
71.4
78.7
personal regional national
63.5
63.6
63.9
47.6
38.7
55.1
56.5
41.7
47.9
53.1
40.8
49.7
46.5
42.4
39.2
37.3
42.7
42.6
27.9
35.5
31.5
19.7
12.9
12.3
10 0
Vorarlberg Vienna Prague Bratislava Chemnitz Bielefeld Bilbao Madrid Manchester Edinburgh
2 Discourses
•
Hopes counterbalanced by fears: Structural aspects & functioning of EU Unity among EU states „New – old“ tolerance and differences Economy – pros and cons
•
„Genuine“ hopes and „genuine“ fears –not mutually counterbalanced Global position of Europe Political culture Mobility Identity
• • •
Subjective meanings of the EU enlargement (1)
HOPE for structural changes within the EU FEAR of the dysfunction of the EU institutions
Democratisation of decision making at the EU
level (Bilbao) and more
transparency
(Germany); Better
control of corruption practices
at the national level (Bratislava); Creation of
institutions with more power over national interests
and with general legislation competencies (Germany).
• • • •
Lack of democracy
making
transparency or
in European decision Obscure
bureaucratic structures; Excessive centralism
EU; within the
Senseless
Brussels;
instructions
from (Austria, Edinburgh, Bratislava and Prague)
.
Subjective meanings of the EU enlargement (2)
HOPE for more unity and cooperation FEAR of lack of unity
• • • More
strength and union
among EU members (Madrid); Intensification of existing connections, more
trade and cultural exchange
(Germany);
Strengthening of European identity
and togetherness - also thanks to the economic integration and the use of euro (Edinburgh, Germany).
• •
Impossibility of reaching understanding
in an enlarged Europe (Madrid).
Lack of unity within Europe, quarrelling
between European countries and
the lack of a “European opinion”
must be avoided in the future (Austria).
• • •
Subjective meanings of the EU enlargement (3)
HOPE for tolerance and openness towards the Other
Cultural exchange, openness and tolerance
(Madrid Edinburgh, Germany)
Overcoming of historical problems and conflicts
(Austria);
Less xenophobia
within CR (Prague); • • •
FEAR of substantial differences between new & old members
Are new member states prepared for joining the EU ?
- democracy, culture, mentality, historical experience, economy, standard of living (Germany);
No “full EU citizenship rights” for new member states ´ citizens
since the very beginning (Bratislava, Prague)
;
Deepening of differences between actual EU members and other European countries
(Bratislava, Prague),
danger of a European nationalism
(Austria).
• •
Subjective meanings of the EU enlargement (4)
HOPE for economic benefits FEAR of economic problems
Economic benefits
stressed mainly by Czechs and Slovaks
; The
“old” member states will benefit as well
because of the opening of new markets and fighting unemployment (Germany, Edinburgh). •
Transfer of EU subsidies
to new members (Spain, Germany).
•
Germany to finance the enlargement
(Germany). •
Competition for Czech enterprises
(Prague). •
Life even more expensive
Slovakia). (Germany, •
Cheap labour and highly qualified experts ’ competition
(Austria, Germany and Spain)
.
• EU
regulations in the food production
(Czech and Slovak).
• • • •
Subjective meanings of the EU enlargement (5)
„Genuine“ hopes (not counterbalanced by fears)
Global position of Europe -
common “defence” against mainly US global dominance (Manchester, Germany, Austria, Bratislava, Prague); security and less risk in case of military conflict (Germany);
Political culture -
a guarantee of respecting civic rights in their country and hope to benefit from the EU experience with democratic legislation;
Higher status
in European/global politics (Bratislava, Prague
)
.
Mobility -
free circulation, work and study mobility (in all the sites of study); appreciation of travelling freely without a passport (Bratislava, Prague).
• • •
Subjective meanings of the EU enlargement (6)
„Genuine“ fears (not counterbalanced by hopes)
Identity concerns
Possible
loss of national and cultural identity
and danger of
cultural homogenisation
(Bratislava, Prague, Germany, Austria). “Small” countries: fears of being
dominated by big countries
within the EU (Austria, Czech and Slovak republics). Some UK participants revealed their
reluctance to abandon the national currency
- a symbol of national identity.
...
• •
Subjective meanings of the EU enlargement (7) ... Identity concerns in Bratislava and Prague
- not central but recurrent, they are clearly a
matter of argument:
“
I’m not particularly against the EU, but I don’t like this unification. If I think of history, I find it strange… everybody fought for independence and sovereignty of their nation and it is simply disappearing now. It feels like as if everybody forgot about it.”
Pavla-Prague
“I don’t think there will be many costs. Many people say, that we won’t preserve our identity and that we will loose our pickled blue cheese and “svíčková”, but the current EU states have kept their character…”
Tomáš-Prague
Conclusions
Challenges for policy actions:
(1) Opening a qualified pan-European public debate on: (a) identity transformation in an enlarged EU (b) global position of EU, its limits and tools. (2) Providing support and empowerment to the democratization of "everyday politics" in the "new" member countries.
(3) Facilitating the work and study mobility.