Mit dem Auslaufen des BWU-Vertrages im Jahr 2010 befinden sich die Benelux nun am Scheideweg und müssen sich mit der Frage auseinandersetzen, wie sie die zukünftigen legalen Rahmenbedingungen für ihre Zusammenarbeit gestalten wollen. Mehrere Punkte sind hier wesentlich: die veränderte Staatsform Belgiens, die Geschwindigkeit der europäischen Integration, die zukünftige Rolle der Benelux, deren Kernbereiche ihrer Zusammenarbeit, verstärkte politische Zusammenarbeit, etc. Der niederländische Außenminister Pieter Kooijmans bemerkte im Jahr 1994, dass „der Zug der Europäischen Union den LKW der Benelux eingeholt habe“, und meinte dass mittlerweile viele ursprüngliche Benelux Domänen auf Europaniveau exportiert wurden. Die Benelux müssen neuen Antrieb finden um die Funktion, die sie in den frühen Jahren europäischer Integration ausübten, erneut zu übernehmen. Deshalb ist es notwendig, den Benelux LKW in fünf Schritten zu frisieren um seine Vorreiterrolle zu sichern. Dies beinhaltet eine neue Karosserie (neue legale Rahmenbedingung), eine neue Lackierung (Sichtbarkeit), GPS (politische Führung), zusätzliche Achsen (Benelux Plus) und das wichtige Motor-Tuning (Kernbereiche der Kooperation).
The expiration of the BEU-Treaty in 2010 puts the Benelux at crossroads and the three countries have to come to grips with the question of a new legal framework for their cooperation. Here, numerous aspects have to be kept in mind: the modified setup of the Belgian state, the speed of European integration, the future role of the Benelux including its core domains of cooperation, enhanced BPC, etc. In 1994, the Dutch foreign minister, Pieter Kooijmans, once said that ”the train of the European Union has taken over the truck of the Benelux” meaning that many initial Benelux domains have been exported to the European level. The Benelux have to create a new drive to take over the role they had in the early years of European integration. Therefore, five steps are necessary to tune the Benelux truck in order to ensure its outrider role. They include body tuning (new legal framework), new lacquering (visibility), GPS (political steering), additional axles (Benelux Plus) and most importantly engine tuning (core areas of cooperation).
Table of Contents
1. HISTORIC OVERVIEW
The Gauls
Catholicism - Protestantism
War and Independence
BELGIUM
French Domination
Post 1815
20th Century
THE NETHERLANDS
Golden Age
War and Peace
French Domination
Final Break-Up
20th Century
LUXEMBURG
Passed around
Loss of territory – Gain of independence
20th Century
CONCLUSION
SIMPLIFIED ABSTRACT OF BENELUX HISTORY
2. BENELUX COOPERATION
19TH CENTURY
IDEAS TO ESTABLISH A FREE TRADING AREA
COMMON EXPOSITION
BELGIUM-LUXEMBURG ECONOMIC UNION (BLEU)
OSLO AND OUCHY
MONETARY AGREEMENT
BENELUX CUSTOMS UNION
The name “Benelux”
BENELUX ECONOMIC UNION TREATY
CONCLUSION
3. TWO STREAMS OF COOPERATION
BENELUX ECONOMIC UNION (BEU)
Organization of the BEU
1. Committee of Ministers
2. Committees, Special Committees and working groups
3. Council of the Economic Union
4. Secretariat-General
5. Common Services
6. Benelux Parliament
7. Economic and Social Advisory Council
8. College of Arbitrators
9. Benelux Court of Justice
BENELUX COOPERATION EVOLVING OUT OF THE BEU FRAMEWORK
Schengen
Senningen
Euro Contrôle Route (ECR)
Convention on Intellectual Property
OVERVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT BENELUX COOPERATION
BENELUX POLITICAL COOPERATION (BPC)
CONCLUSION
4. SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Benelux image
Engine for European integration
Benelux added value
Benelux Secretariat-General
WEAKNESSES
Caducity of exclusive Benelux tasks
Visibility of cooperation
Predictability of cooperation
OPPORTUNITIES
Laboratory function
Benelux Plus
Bundling of energies
THREATS
North-South differences
CONCLUSION
5. BENELUX COOPERATION BEYOND 2010
THE TOPICALITY OF THE BENELUX ISSUE
KEY ISSUES
Institutionalization of BPC
Restructuring the BEU
Future core activities
FIVE STEPS TO TUNE THE BENELUX TRUCK
Body tuning
New lacquering
Get GPS
Add more axles
Engine tuning
CONCLUSION
6. CLOSING WORDS
Objectives & Themes
This thesis examines the current state and future of the Benelux cooperation at a turning point: the expiration of the Benelux Economic Union (BEU) treaty in 2010. The research explores how this regional cooperation can remain relevant in an enlarged European Union by analyzing its historical development, organizational structure, and performance through a SWOT framework, ultimately proposing a "tuning" of the Benelux cooperation model to maintain its role as an outrider for European integration.
- Historical context of the Benelux countries and their cooperation.
- Institutional analysis of the Benelux Economic Union and its effectiveness.
- Political cooperation (BPC) as an essential, yet non-institutionalized, pillar.
- SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to evaluate future prospects.
- Strategic recommendations for a new legal framework post-2010.
Excerpt from the book
Benelux cooperation evolving out of the BEU framework
By means of the BEU-Treaty, the three Benelux countries initially followed a policy to decrease economic hindrances at their borders and enhance the free movement of persons, capital, goods and services. Over time, new fields of cooperation were added to the Benelux in order to meet the changes in the social and political context. The countries cooperated in areas like town and country planning, environmental protection, infrastructure, and energy and tourism – all of them being areas that were not mentioned in the initial BEU Treaty. An audit in 1995 which focused on the future of the BEU reorganized the Benelux Secretariat-General and pointed out five key areas of cooperation:
• political cooperation on European dossiers
• cross-border cooperation
• completion of the internal market and continuation of economic cooperation in suitable areas
• free movement of persons and consultation on juridical affairs, police and immigration
• culture, research and education (AIV, 2007, p.12)
In connection with the audit, some existing – but inactive – ministerial working groups and committees were dismissed and new committees were established. The Benelux have proven their flexibility in the aftermath of 9/11. Security, an issue that was not mentioned in the BEU-Treaty, moved up the agenda and the countries extended their fields of cooperation to areas related to internal and external security. Other areas of cooperation that have developed over time are mirrored in the achievement of the Schengen Treaty, Euro Contrôle Route, the treaty following the memorandum of Senningen, and cross-border cooperation in the event of disasters or the Treaty of Prüm.
Summary of Chapters
1. HISTORIC OVERVIEW: This chapter traces the historical development of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, focusing on their shared paths and differences prior to their formal cooperation.
2. BENELUX COOPERATION: This chapter analyzes the evolution of economic and institutional cooperation from the 19th century through the establishment of the Benelux Economic Union treaty in 1958.
3. TWO STREAMS OF COOPERATION: This chapter details the institutional structure of the Benelux Economic Union and explores the distinct, non-institutionalized stream of political cooperation among the three states.
4. SWOT ANALYSIS: This chapter evaluates the current performance of the Benelux through a SWOT analysis, identifying the internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats facing the organization.
5. BENELUX COOPERATION BEYOND 2010: This chapter discusses the necessary future steps and legal framework transitions for the Benelux organization after the expiration of the original treaty.
Keywords
Benelux, Benelux Economic Union, BEU, European integration, SWOT analysis, BPC, political cooperation, legal framework, internal market, cross-border cooperation, regional integration, 2010, European Union, institutions, Benelux Parliament.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The work focuses on evaluating the state of Benelux cooperation as it approaches the expiration of its foundational 1958 treaty in 2010, analyzing how the organization can modernize to remain a relevant actor in European integration.
What are the core themes addressed in the work?
The core themes include the historical evolution of the three countries, the institutional framework of the Benelux Economic Union, the dynamics of political cooperation, and a strategic SWOT analysis of its future.
What is the central research question?
The central question is how the Benelux countries should "tune" their cooperation—through legal and structural adaptations—to ensure their continued relevance and outrider role in an enlarged European Union.
Which scientific methods were used?
The author utilized literature reviews, analysis of legal documents, and expert interviews conducted during an internship at the Austrian embassy in Brussels, alongside participation in professional Benelux seminars.
What is the structure of the main section?
The main part covers historical development, institutional and political cooperation streams, a SWOT analysis of the current state, and strategic steps for a new legal framework beyond 2010.
How would you describe the key characteristics of the Benelux?
The key characteristics are its "laboratory" function for new policy initiatives, its role as a forerunner for EU integration, and its ability to act as a unified block in international settings.
How does the author characterize the relationship between the EU and the Benelux?
The author uses a metaphor of the EU as a "train" and the Benelux as a "truck," suggesting that while the train carries more capacity, the truck is more flexible and can explore uncharted terrain.
What challenges does the Benelux currently face?
Key challenges include declining visibility, the absorption of many Benelux domains by the European Union, and the need for new, clearly defined core activities to maintain legitimacy.
- Quote paper
- Marcus Hitzberger (Author), 2007, Benelux cooperation now and beyond 2010, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/74824
