ABSTRACT
Before 2004, the idea that all member states of the European Union should move together at one speed and form a coherent bloc was a powerful ‘religion’ of European integration. Of course, there were always anomalies, such as the Schengen agreement, the Social Chapter, and monetary union, where sub-groups integrated faster than others. But all were presented as inclusive and open to all other EU states (who met certain criteria) and thus first steps towards truly common policies in a single, ever closer Union. Ultimately, agreement on a single European Security Strategy (ESS) in 2003 could be cited by true believers as demonstrating that the ‘single bloc’ thesis still lives.
