The Race Away from Brussels and Challenges to EU Cohesion

• In Event: Take On Me: Institutional Rejection in Europe

Abstract

Under what conditions to EU member states 'race away from Brussels'? By 'racing away from Brussels," I refer to conditions in which member states resist EU policy harmonization from Brussels in support of national policies and interests. What motivates this race away from Brussels in support for national interests? Further, under what conditions and in which policy areas do member states resist harmonization? I argue that member states are less receiptive to harmonization when there is significant harm to their respective economies, politics, and societies or the gains of harmonization are perceived to be poor relative to those of other member states. To develop this 'race away from Brussels' concept, I explore policy discussions around arms exports, vaccine and vaccine nationalism, and migration to under discern the difficulties in achieving solidarity in some policy areas over others.

Author

• Keith A Preble, Miami University