Introduction to Part I: International Relations and European Integration

Abstract

In the scholarly debate among lawyers and political scientists, the European Union (EU)¹ has come to be regarded as one of the most startling political experiments in world history. Some of the world’s oldest and for centuries warring states have voluntarily (or involuntarily?) given away and, it seems, continue to give away some of their governing power to supranational institutions. A strong controversy rages however not only about how this transformation came about in the first place, but also about the consequences the integration process has had and will have on national sovereignty and the member states’ ability to determine the overall direction of their joint project.