ࡱ> <>; bjbj 4  AAAAAUUU8$ U.$1!~AAAjjjRAAjjjj bo]U<jn0jQ"<Q"jQ"Ajj8.Q" : the state were in Baron Frankal The EU is more than an international organisation but less than a state; or is it ? Talk of a European state is strange, but if it walks like duck and quacks like a duck..? First reactions usually relate not to Europe, but to your Member State, with its language, Parliament, government, laws and courts. But many regions have such things: the Scottish Parliament, the Catalan language, the Bavarian tax code. Language is no determinant: look at the Belgian states two languages or Switzerlands four. The EU has the Commission as a quasi-government, a directly-elected Parliament, the Council as an upper house, laws in abundance and a powerful court system to enforce them. European regulations have direct effect on all European citizens, and European law is a full and indeed superior part of French law. The European Courts rulings trump any decision by any British court. Until recently though, as argued by David McKay, the policies dealt with at EU-level were rather dull, like trade, competition and fish. With Maastricht, however, came the euro. Now the monetary policy of fifteen states is set by the central bank of - well, its a good question. Usually only states have central banks and currencies. McKay argues that the euro tips the balance into statehood, albeit a decentralised, federal one. The EU can be compared to the US, with the great powers that until relatively recently its states kept: different criminal law systems meant suspects had to be extradited from one state to the other. Canada is another example, where states rights have been strengthened enormously, with powers to raise taxes they dont share with the federal centre. Yet, to Quebecoise irritation, Canada is still a state. Is the EU ? Probably, yes. Although most people clearly identify much more strongly with their nation. The two things are not contradictory. Policies, like the single market, world trade negotiations, stopping drug trafficking or starting a space programme, work at the European level where they could not operate at national level and where pooling sovereignty brings benefits for all. In fact, Europeanisation can also bring more national control: without european (or global) level co-operation, multinational firms increasingly choose where to locate, playing countries off against each other to find cheaper taxes and labour. Citizens of smaller countries can find their elected representatives powerless spectators. With EU-wide base lines, elected representatives can have more power. Ironically, and we need look no further than the Balkans for evidence, nationalism can harm a nations sovereignty, whereas letting go control can actually extend it. In constructing the EU, Europeans seem to have understood this. We cannot be reminded often enough. 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