ABSTRACT
European integration has been essentially an economic pursuit. The European Coal and Steel Community, European Atomic Energy Community, and European Economic Community created common policies in agriculture, transportation and pooled resources for research and development. The necessity of administering these European institutions and policies has led to the establishment of an extensive bureaucratic structure leading some to argue that the EU has a democratic deficit. The EU democratic deficit combined with processes of globalization have left member states relatively helpless to control their national economies. However, this may not be an accurate picture of the helplessness of national governments. Rather, the EU bureaucratic structures leave enough flexibility for member states to make decisions in policy implementation, heavily influencing national economies. Furthermore, national governments have made political choices that contribute to the acceleration of globalization. Not only are member states not helpless victims, they are willing participants in the processes of economic and financial globalization. Furthermore, institutional structures of member states influence implementation of EU policy directives that have resulted in serious consequences for the future of the Lisbon Strategy and EU citizens.
