ABSTRACT
The dynamics of integration have not displaced the state, and national governments are still the pivots of political activity, although the existence of multiple regional organizations has altered the external and domestic environments of Western European states. Participation in the process of integration represents an acceptance of limited sovereignty. The EC creates obligations that limit a state’s freedom of action. The voluntary pooling of sovereignty is a hallmark of the Community. An appreciation of the national or domestic dimension of the EC is necessary if one seeks to understand and explain the dynamics of integration. This chapter assesses the salience of the Franco-German axis for the development of the EC and gives an overview of the interests in and attitudes towards integration among the member states.
