This document provides an overview of the key concepts that will be covered in a module on theory and the European Union. It introduces the notion of the state and how that relates to the history and development of the EU. It then discusses characteristics of states, interstate cooperation through international organizations and regional integration associations. Theories of European integration are presented, including functionalism, neofunctionalism and spillover. The document notes that the EU now sits between an international organization and a state, with aspects of both federalism and confederalism. It concludes with an assignment asking students to identify pros and cons of the EU based on their reading.

1. HREF6, European Union
Chapter 1

2. Theory and EU II
• Introduction
– Place in module
– Overview of classes
– Book to be studied

4. Theory and EU II
• Introduction
– Place in module
– Overview of classes
– Book to be studied
• Notion of the state  history European
Union
• International organization (Int. Relations)
• EU political system (Public policy)

5. Theory and EU III
• Characteristics of State?
1. Fixed territory and movement control
2. Sovereignty over that territory
3. Legally and politically independent
4. Legitimacy, recognized by people and other
states
• Netherlands a state; Bavaria; Canada; Turkish
Cyprus; East Ukraine?

6. Theory and EU IV
• Interstate cooperation
– International organization e.g. UN, WTO, but also
NGOs, profit-based or non-profit-based
– Regional Integration association
• Transfer of authority to other body
• Intergovernmental and/or supranational!
• Idealism (federalism; states could not give
protection) Realism (states fight and talk)

7. Theory and EU V
• Functionalism: building specific organizations,
with the aim of integration, e.g. ECSC
• Neofunctionalism: preconditions are
necessary for functionalism to work, like
change in public attitude
• Spillover
– Functional, technical, political
• Contrast is intergovernmentalism

8. Theory and EU VI
• EU now?
– In between international
organization & state
• Federalism 
Confederalism (p.20)
• Confederalism 
federalism

9. Theory and EU VI
• Assignment about pros and cons:
– Read page 6
– Highlight what is important for you
– Choose the most important 2 pros and 2 cons for
your group of 3 students (international!) and give
some reasons for that