Opting Out of the European Union: Diplomacy, Sovereignty and European Integration

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Abstract

European integration continues to deepen despite major crises and attempts to take back sovereignty. A growing number of member states are reacting to a more constraining EU by negotiating opt-outs. This book provides the first in-depth account of how opt-outs work in practice. It examines the most controversial cases of differentiated integration: the British and Danish opt-outs from Economic and Monetary Union and European policies on borders, asylum, migration, internal security and justice. Drawing on over one hundred interviews with national representatives and EU officials, the author demonstrates how representatives manage the stigma of opting out, allowing them to influence even politically sensitive areas covered by their opt-outs. Developing a practice approach to European integration, the book shows how everyday negotiations transform national interests into European ideals. It is usually assumed that states opt out to preserve sovereignty, but Adler-Nissen argues that national opt-outs may actually reinforce the integration process.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherCambridge University Press
Number of pages266
ISBN (Print)9781107618343
ISBN (Electronic)9781107337916
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Faculty of Social Sciences
  • Brexit
  • EU
  • United Kingdom
  • Eurozone
  • Migration
  • Diplomacy
  • European Integration
  • International Relations
  • sovereignty
  • opt-out
  • Differentiated integration
  • flexible integration
  • national idenitity
  • Practice Theory
  • Political sociology
  • International Political Sociology

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