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Differentiated integration in the European Union: Institutional effects, public opinion, and alternative flexibility arrangements

Author

Listed:
  • Frank Schimmelfennig

    (Center for Comparative and International Studies, 111843ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Dirk Leuffen

    (Department of Politics and Public Administration, 26567University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany)

  • Catherine E De Vries

    (Department of Social and Political Sciences, 18982Bocconi University, Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Research on differentiated integration (DI) in the European Union (EU) has focused on the causes, conditions, and patterns of differentiation in European integration. By contrast, we know less about its effects on institutional outcomes and public support; moreover, alternatives to de jure DI in providing flexibility are still rarely accounted for. This introduction to the special issue takes stock of, and discusses omissions, in the current literature on DI. We propose an analytical framework, centering on efficiency and legitimacy, to study the effects of different types of DI. We use this framework to motivate the choice and assess the contributions of the articles selected for this special issue.

Suggested Citation

  • Frank Schimmelfennig & Dirk Leuffen & Catherine E De Vries, 2023. "Differentiated integration in the European Union: Institutional effects, public opinion, and alternative flexibility arrangements," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 3-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:24:y:2023:i:1:p:3-20
    DOI: 10.1177/14651165221119083
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francis Cheneval & Frank Schimmelfennig, 2013. "The Case for Demoicracy in the European Union," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 334-350, March.
    2. Marian Burk & Dirk Leuffen, 2019. "On the Methodology of Studying Differentiated (Dis)integration: Or How the Potential Outcome Framework Can Contribute to Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Opting In or Out," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(6), pages 1395-1406, November.
    3. Frank Schimmelfennig & Thomas Winzen, 2023. "Cascading opt-outs? The effect of the Euro and migration crises on differentiated integration in the European Union," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 21-41, March.
    4. Robert Zbiral & Sebastiaan Princen & Hubert Smekal, 2023. "Differentiation through flexibility in implementation: Strategic and substantive uses of discretion in EU directives," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 102-120, March.
    5. Thomas Winzen, 2023. "Does differentiated integration weaken parliamentary involvement? Evidence from the European Union's interparliamentary conferences," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 42-62, March.
    6. Ioannis Vergioglou & Sven Hegewald, 2023. "From causes to consequences: Investigating the effects of differentiated integration on citizens’ EU support," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 206-224, March.
    7. Ronja Sczepanski & Tanja A Börzel, 2023. "Two sides of the same coin? The effect of differentiation on noncompliance with European Union law," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 63-80, March.
    8. Lisanne De Blok & Catherine E. De Vries, 2023. "A blessing and a curse? Examining public preferences for differentiated integration," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 143-163, March.
    9. Benjamin Leruth & Stefan Gänzle & Jarle Trondal, 2019. "Exploring Differentiated Disintegration in a Post‐Brexit European Union," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(5), pages 1013-1030, September.
    10. Simon Hix & Clifton van der Linden & Joanna Massie & Mark Pickup & Justin Savoie, 2023. "Where is the EU–UK relationship heading? A conjoint survey experiment of Brexit trade-offs," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 184-205, March.
    11. Liesbet Hooghe & Gary Marks, 2023. "Differentiation in the European Union and beyond," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 225-235, March.
    12. Frank Schimmelfennig & Thomas Winzen, 2014. "Instrumental and Constitutional Differentiation in the European Union," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 354-370, March.
    13. Dominik Schraff & Frank Schimmelfennig, 2020. "Does differentiated integration strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the EU? Evidence from the 2015 Danish opt-out referendum," European Union Politics, , vol. 21(4), pages 590-611, December.
    14. Philipp Genschel & Markus Jachtenfuchs & Marta Migliorati, 2023. "Differentiated integration as symbolic politics? Constitutional differentiation and policy reintegration in core state powers," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 81-101, March.
    15. Julian Schuessler & Max Heermann & Dirk Leuffen & Lisanne De Blok & Catherine E De Vries, 2023. "Mapping public support for the varieties of differentiated integration," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 164-183, March.
    16. Jonathan Zeitlin & Bernardo Rangoni, 2023. "EU regulation between uniformity, differentiation, and experimentalism: Electricity and banking compared," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 121-142, March.
    17. Max Heermann & Dirk Leuffen, 2020. "No Representation without Integration! Why Differentiated Integration Challenges the Composition of the European Parliament," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(4), pages 1016-1033, July.
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    1. Frank Schimmelfennig & Thomas Winzen, 2023. "Cascading opt-outs? The effect of the Euro and migration crises on differentiated integration in the European Union," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 21-41, March.
    2. Ronja Sczepanski & Tanja A Börzel, 2023. "Two sides of the same coin? The effect of differentiation on noncompliance with European Union law," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 63-80, March.
    3. Jonathan Zeitlin & Bernardo Rangoni, 2023. "EU regulation between uniformity, differentiation, and experimentalism: Electricity and banking compared," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 121-142, March.
    4. Simon Hix & Clifton van der Linden & Joanna Massie & Mark Pickup & Justin Savoie, 2023. "Where is the EU–UK relationship heading? A conjoint survey experiment of Brexit trade-offs," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 184-205, March.
    5. Philipp Genschel & Markus Jachtenfuchs & Marta Migliorati, 2023. "Differentiated integration as symbolic politics? Constitutional differentiation and policy reintegration in core state powers," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 81-101, March.
    6. Robert Zbiral & Sebastiaan Princen & Hubert Smekal, 2023. "Differentiation through flexibility in implementation: Strategic and substantive uses of discretion in EU directives," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 102-120, March.
    7. Thomas Winzen, 2023. "Does differentiated integration weaken parliamentary involvement? Evidence from the European Union's interparliamentary conferences," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 42-62, March.
    8. Lisanne De Blok & Catherine E. De Vries, 2023. "A blessing and a curse? Examining public preferences for differentiated integration," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 143-163, March.

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