Pro-European
Encyclopedia
Pro-European is a subjective term applied to a person who supports the idea of European unification (mainly through the European Union
(EU)) and generally supports further 'deepening' of European integration
, specifically in the context of political argument over the current and future status of the EU and its policies.
on the world scale. The individual countries, they argue, would then have limited geopolitical influence and would be unable to represent their own interests effectively. On the other hand, a united Europe, with a population and an economy larger than that of the United States, would make a viable partner, or competitor, whose opinion and interests would be taken into account on the world stage. Additionally, these small countries would loose all power.
Pro-European arguments often refer to what they see as the benefits of the EU to its member states. They argue that citizens enjoy benefits such as the right to free movement across the EEA
and social benefits such as employment rights, and consumers benefit from greater choice and guaranteed standards. Such 'cost / benefit' assessments are not generally the only arguments to motivate them, as they also feel they belong to a community
of people with common bonds. Further European integration
and cooperation is seen as a peacemaking
force.
Although pro-Europeans may not be satisfied with every aspect of the present organisation and workings of the EU institutions, they generally argue that the solution to any remaining problems lies not in destroying what has been built, but in pushing for improvements in terms of unity, transparency and democracy.
s are, while 'pro-EU' should be reserved for those who specifically support the broad political agenda involving a "deepening" of the EU. Both 'pro-EU' and 'pro-European' are nevertheless widely used interchangeably in informal speech to refer to someone who is positive about the European Union.
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU)) and generally supports further 'deepening' of European integration
European integration
European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...
, specifically in the context of political argument over the current and future status of the EU and its policies.
The Pro-European approach
Many pro-Europeans believe that strength in unity is particularly important in today's multipolar world. They argue that a united and independent Europe has become increasingly necessary, while a politically divided one would bring disadvantages in many areas, including the economic, cultural, political, social, scientific, diplomatic and military arenas. A major argument is the relative small size and importance of the individual European countries with respect to the current and rising powersSuperpower
A superpower is a state with a dominant position in the international system which has the ability to influence events and its own interests and project power on a worldwide scale to protect those interests...
on the world scale. The individual countries, they argue, would then have limited geopolitical influence and would be unable to represent their own interests effectively. On the other hand, a united Europe, with a population and an economy larger than that of the United States, would make a viable partner, or competitor, whose opinion and interests would be taken into account on the world stage. Additionally, these small countries would loose all power.
Pro-European arguments often refer to what they see as the benefits of the EU to its member states. They argue that citizens enjoy benefits such as the right to free movement across the EEA
EEA
EEA or Eea may refer to:* Eea or Electron affinity, the energy required to detach an electron from a singly charged negative ion* River Eea, in Cumbria, England* EEA Helicopter Operations, a Dutch subsidiary of CHC Helicopter...
and social benefits such as employment rights, and consumers benefit from greater choice and guaranteed standards. Such 'cost / benefit' assessments are not generally the only arguments to motivate them, as they also feel they belong to a community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
of people with common bonds. Further European integration
European integration
European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...
and cooperation is seen as a peacemaking
Peacemaking
Peacemaking is a form of conflict resolution which focuses on establishing equal power relationships that will be robust enough to forestall future conflict, and establishing some means of agreeing on ethical decisions within a community that has previously had conflict. In order to do so there...
force.
Although pro-Europeans may not be satisfied with every aspect of the present organisation and workings of the EU institutions, they generally argue that the solution to any remaining problems lies not in destroying what has been built, but in pushing for improvements in terms of unity, transparency and democracy.
'Pro-European' vs 'Pro-EU'
Some people have argued that it is too simplistic to conflate the terms 'Europe' and 'EU'. It is argued that the term 'pro-European' should refer to someone who is in favour of European co-operation and cultural interchange in the wider geographical sense, as many euroscepticEuroscepticism
Euroscepticism is a general term used to describe criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum. Traditionally, the main source of euroscepticism has been the notion that integration weakens the nation state...
s are, while 'pro-EU' should be reserved for those who specifically support the broad political agenda involving a "deepening" of the EU. Both 'pro-EU' and 'pro-European' are nevertheless widely used interchangeably in informal speech to refer to someone who is positive about the European Union.
See also
- European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
- European IntegrationEuropean integrationEuropean integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...
- Pan-European identityPan-European identityPan-European identity refers to the sense of personal identification with Europe. The most concrete examples of pan-europeanism are the European Union and the older Council of Europe...
- European Union as a potential superpowerPotential superpowersA potential superpower is a state or a political and economic entity that is speculated to be, or to be in the process of becoming, a superpower at some point in the 21st century. Previously, it was considered by many sources that only the United States fulfilled the criteria to be considered a...
- EuropeanismEuropeanismAlthough this term is occasionally used to describe support for European integration , it is more commonly used in relation to the idea that Europeans have common norms and values that transcend national or state identity, that have been promoted most actively...
- EuromythEuromyth#A euromyth is what the European Commission calls media stories about its policies which it claims are untrue. Such claims are usually seen as disparaging of the European Commission and its supposed bureaucratic absurdity....
- Federal Europe
- Europe United PartyEurope United PartyEurope United Party is a pan-European political party which aims to achieve stronger and more accountable European Union and especially a democratically elected European Commission, a more transparent European Council and a stronger, more representative and effective European Parliament.Europe...
- Democratic Party of FederalistsDemocratic Party of FederalistsDemocratic Party of Federalists is political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was founded in Sarajevo 2 May 1990 by Dragan Đokanović.The headquarters of Democratic Party of Federalists, is located in City of East Sarajevo since 2010....