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The article explores endogenous and exogenous effects of the Berlin wall collapse on European integration. Did the fall of the Berlin wall influenced European Union (EU) developments? Did, henceforth, the EU played a role at the international level? The schizophrenia of European integration is emphasised, i.e., the EU as an economic giant and a political dwarf. Whether this is instructive of failure of the European project, notably for the absent international role of the EU, is the issue addressed in the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the outset, the paper briefly addresses European Union (EU) citizenship as enshrined in the Treaty on the European Union. Attention is paid on its transnational nature. The political symbolism attached to EU citizenship is also emphasised, as it tries to emulate national concepts of belonging at the EU level. Despite some achievements, flaws are nevertheless a major setback on the EU ambition for supranational citizenship's limited scope.European Union citizenship is addressed through a twofold conceptual lens. On the one hand, it is measured in terms of the impact on citizens' loyalties. Eurobarometer and other statistical data are scrutinised to draw a picture on whether citizens drive their loyalties to the EU or to the national (or even regional) levels. Therefore, empirical data provide an assessment of EU citizenship outcomes. Fourteen years of EU citizenship is a considerable time span to make this assessment. On the other hand, the paper asks whether the attempt to forge a complementary citizenship is out of context, considering the common understanding that citizenship is connected with taxation and representation. Thus, a normative approach of EU citizenship is also a reason of concern. Liberal democracies are supported (among other things) upon the "no taxation without representation" principle. I draw an extension of the aforementioned principle and ask whether the absence of significant EU taxation powers is an obstacle to effective supranational citizenship. Thus, the research question is whether EU citizenship is credible and effective if citizens don't pay taxes to the EU? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the events that triggered the failure of the Constitutional Treaty. Particular emphasis is on the aspects of continuity and rupture between this treaty and the Lisbon Treaty. Since only a few things changed when both treaties are compared, and considering European leaders' decision to avoid national referendums on the Lisbon Treaty, an implausible similarity with António Vieira's book (Saint Anthony's Sermon to the Fishes) emerges: European integration developments fail to encompass citizens' voice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent enlargement is unprecedented for many reasons. One of the most visible implications is the sizeable heterogeneity that characterises the European Union (EU). Since income differentials between member states have widened, the question is whether the EU is affected by this intense heterogeneity. Therefore, the role of cohesion policy (especially regional policy) is at stake. The paper examines two alternative solutions: the preservation of the existing stow quo and the reform of regional policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]