The European constitutional settlement

This paper argues first that a synthesis of the theories of endogenous policy formation, non-coercive interstate bargaining theory, and international regime theory provides a plausible account of the path of European integration, with little role for explanations stressing geopolitical or ideological factors, international mediation, or political entrepreneurship. Moreover, these theories - which embrace economic fundamentals as driving factors - help explain the 'sequencing' of the European Union, especially in regard to successive enlargements. However, the paper concludes that the process of European integration appears to have reached an 'institutional plateau', for which incremental change based on the current 'constitutional compromise' appears to be the only plausible equilibrium.