EU Competence: A Precondition for EU Unity?

Abstract

Institutions, meaning here first of all the ‘rule of the games’, are likely to shape European Union (EU) unity in external representation. In this book, the focus is on EU competence, since it can be seen as a reflection of the division of tasks between the national and EU level and in principle defines whether EU Member States have to operate externally on the basis of a common position, whether voting is possible to take a decision and who will be the EU’s lead negotiator. It is therefore likely to increase the degree of unity of external representation but might also make EU Member States cautious about giving things out of hand. Preferences are likely to be shaped not only by the formal rules for decision-making but also by the environment and the processes of EU socialisation. EU socialisation in turn can be expected to be larger when institutionalised practices of decision-making have been established, such as regular EU coordination meetings to discuss EU positions, whose establishment is obligatory in case an issue is subject to EU competence.