Claims of a ‘new intergovernmentalism’ in European integration have been overstated

Several authors have argued that European integration is becoming characterised by a form of ‘new intergovernmentalism’, with increasing numbers of decisions made through intergovernmental forms of decision-making such as those in the European Council. Frank Schimmelfennig assesses how accurate this perspective is. He argues that intergovernmental policy coordination of the kind described by these authors is a far from novel phenomenon and originated in its present form during the 1970s. As such the ‘new intergovernmentalism’ appears to be more about a specific set of policies rather than European integration as a whole.

In a response Christopher Bickerton writes (see related url hyperlink) that a number of authors have debated whether European integration is becoming characterised by a form of ‘new intergovernmentalism’, with increasing numbers of decisions made through intergovernmental forms of decision-making such as those in the European Council. In response to criticism of the approach, the author writes that new intergovernmentalism can shed light on current issues at the European level, such as the UK’s attempts to negotiate EU reform. He argues that recent statements by Frans Timmermans, the First Vice-President of the European Commission, illustrate the relevance of the approach, notably the principle that supranational institutions do not always want ‘more Europe’.

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 28.05.15: Frans Timmermans’ views on the integration process highlight the relevance of Europe’s ‘new intergovernmentalism’ http://bit.ly/1JVXLFA

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 26.08.15: What the ‘new intergovernmentalism’ can tell us about the Greek crisis http://bit.ly/1fFQYE2

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