France and Germany at Maastricht: Politics and Negotiations to Create the European Union: 3 (Contemporary Issues in European Politics) - Softcover

Mazzucelli, Colette

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0815335938 ISBN 13: 9780815335931

Publisher: Routledge, 1999

Synopsis

First published in 1997. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

About this title

Synopsis

This volume analyzes French and German diplomacy during the intergovernmental conferences (IGCs) on economic and monetary union (EMU) and political union, and the subsequent national treaty ratification process in each country. It uses various approaches to explore the domestic-international interactions predominant during internal bargaining in Paris and Bonn, and external negotiations at different levels among working groups, personal representatives, ministers and political leaders in Brussels. The author argues that there are at least two reasons why this topic merits close examination. The historic importance of Franco-German relations in the European Union is an essential starting point. For over 30 years, the "privileged partnership" has launched initiatives in European construction. The European Monetary System (EMS) is one example. In the aftermath of German unification, the significance of the Franco-German tandem for European integration is even greater as both states adjust to the new Europe. A second point of departure is that the major initiatives on EMU came during the German and French Presidencies of the Council of Ministers in 1988 and 1989 respectively.

Chancellor Helmut Kohl and President Francois Mitterand sustained the momentum towards political union in a series of three Franco-German letters to the Irish, Italian and Dutch Presidencies during 1990-1991. In short, the IGCs were the culmination of an active period of development in the European Community, and Franco-German initiatives were the driving force at the time.

About the Author

Colette Mazzucelli is a senior lecturer and member of "Conseil Scientifique," Rotary Center for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution and a researcher at the "Centre Europeen," Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) Paris. A Da Vinci Laureate, Mazzucelli was cited as International Educator of the Year (2003) for pioneering work in technology-mediated learning. She is the author of "France and Germany at Maastricht" and the co-editor, with Derek Beach, of "Leadership in the 'Big Bangs' of European Integration" (2006, forthcoming). Mazzucelli is on faculty teaching ethnic conflict, international relations theory and diplomacy, the European Union, and peacemaking and conflict resolution at the Center for Global Affairs, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, New York University, and the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0815335938
• ISBN 13: 9780815335931
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 376