EU Political Influence on Portugal and Romania Essay

Most nations across the world subscribe to various unions and agencies as a way of enhancing trade relations. For instance, the European Union was formally formed to unify trade and related monetary issues among its members. The body comprises of 28 member states which relate to a total population of more than 500 million people (Bache, Bulmer, George & Parker, 2015). Initially, it was a body formed out of the collective agreement of 6 nations which had a common interest in carrying out various activities. However with time, countries like Romania and Portugal signed an agreement to be member states of the European Union (Barros & Athanassiou, 2015). The body, therefore, plays key roles to its members by intervening in different activities through policies which are passed collectively among the member's states. As a way of ensuring smooth activities to enhance its goals and objectives, the body is made up of four key institutions which work together. These institutions are the European Parliament, the court of justice, the European Commission and the council of the European Union (Hodson & Peterson, 2017).

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The member's states through the policies have a central monetary pool which supports their projects and developments. The contribution can be granted to the state members in case of any emergency need. EU acting at the benefits of its members has different vital functions though its primary function was to enhance economy among its members (Keating & Loughlin, 2013). EU has a scheme of laws and regulations which creates economic entity among its countries. Through this process, goods and materials can freely move across the borders of the members without any tariff or at ease of a common currency. The body, also, has a pool of financial resources which can be lent to any member country for investment purposes (Barros & Athanassiou, 2015).

Besides acting primarily on economic matters, EU has political implications or influence. For instance, the members are expected to adhere to the body's expectations about human rights and the environment (Barros & Athanassiou, 2015). The union through its legislation can exert heavy cost on its members upon giving aid which can lead to severe cutback thereby affecting the countries' leadership (Barros & Athanassiou, 2015). The political fallout in this regard can exist even to other countries, not members. Therefore the purpose of this essay is to highlight the political influence EU has on both Portugal and Romania.

Portugal and Romania joined EU in the last twenty years, and since then they have undergone massive and strong modernization process. The most benefit for instance that Portugal has achieved since joining EU is the end of the dictatorship that had taken root in Portugal (Magone, 2017). For example, EU led to the fall of the Salazar regime in Portugal in 1974 as well as the death of other state leaders in Romania that were exercising much power on their subjects. EU accession of both Romania and Portugal led to the establishment of democratic governments (Magone, 2017). Historically the Carnation period in Portugal which was a trigger of the military coup on April 25th, 1974 initiated a process that gave birth to the democratic regime through enforcement of new constitution on 25 April 1976 (Magone, 2017). Eventually, these were EU initiations which objectively were working through its policies in ensuring that the members' states were run out of fear nor any political pressure.

According to (Magone, 2017), since Portugal signed an agreement to be a member of the EU, the body has imposed various legislative directives covering taxation, environment, and government structures. These to some extent have been viewed by various scholars as signs of conquering because the initial participants are developed countries who were able to take control of any economic activities among the upcoming countries such as Portugal and Romania in that case (Magone, 2017). Despite various policies and regulations laid upon the members' state, EU main political function is unquestionable. EU policy since its formation ensure integration of uniform laws on immigration, labor and measures pose economic benefits (Makarovic & Rek, 2014).

Arguably EU has brought enormous benefits to both Portugal and Romania. County members enjoy trade and other transactions across borders with less or close to no taxation on some commodities. Removal of trade barriers by the body facilitates trade on various goods thereby boosting economies of various states (Makarovic & Rek, 2014). The condition of public roads as well as the development of various industries to a great extent has evolved due policies which ensure that the EU members significantly could trade among themselves without any political fear. EU funds have put into being better hospitals and doctors as well as help in solving any emergency issues such as economic crisis which had to befall Portugal at the time of its enrolment as a member state (Makarovic & Rek, 2014). People could spend holidays in Portugal and Romania to enjoy the cool breezes due to the good relationship which has been championed by EU body through its policies which does not inhibit immigration activities among the member countries.

Portugal and Romania continue to diverge in various developments due to EU political influences which fight against bad leadership. An amazing succession of incompetent politicians, bad governance rampant within Romania and Portugal, backed supporters and corrupt public enterprises and municipalities have anonymously led to best results in these two states. Initially states like Romania and Portugal were vulnerable to enter into competition in trading products due to their low productivity and low economic status; however, since the time of getting into agreement with other European countries, they have amassed massive development and wealth. In this context, the core business of the EU to its member's states of which Portugal and Romania subscribe is enshrined in the treaties, promotion of social, economic and territorial cohesion (Hodson & Peterson, 2017). The cohesion policy primarily aims at promoting harmonious development for the whole Union. Particularly it contributes to reducing disparities between development levels of various Regions. Persistence inequalities which existed among the member's states led to the creation of Community Regional policy which curbed differences between various regions (Hodson & Peterson, 2017).

However, despite the positive impacts which Romania and Portugal reap from the EU since the time of subscription, to some extent they have also undergone certain difficulties as well. For instance, the two countries have suffered increased competition both at the domestic and foreign market. For instance, competition for the labor market as well as in trading goods (Bache, Bulmer, George & Parker, 2015). EU political influences have led to Portugal losing its political powers since most of the governing policies are Unions stipulations. There has been fear within Portugal and Romania governments losing the massive aid which they used to enjoy from the Union due to the transfer of financial aid to other regions (Bache, Bulmer, George & Parker, 2015). Also, there has been fear of moving foreign direct investments and multinational enterprises to other Regions due to the new policies. Implementation of such policies will affect Portugal and Romania both economically as well as politically.

In addition, concerning most government elections, EU does take part in the electoral processes. Despite giving members state democratic rights to elect leaders of their choices, EU influence can result in either acceptance or rejection of some leaders (Bache, Bulmer, George & Parker, 2015). For instance, they do intervene in case of any electoral chaos where they can decide or bar someone from contesting in an election. This can, in turn, be viewed as a form of interfering with the citizens' democratic right to elect a person of their choice. For instance, in 1989 when Romania went into n election, the decision by the EU that prime-minister post was won contrary to the PSD proposal made the Romanians take fate in their own hands (Bache, Bulmer, George & Parker, 2015). That is they opposed EU decision on the matter which also raised the political temperature after quite some time.EU influence in various electoral decisions culminates into various political unrest.

Conclusion

In summary, EU is regarded as an effective body which facilitates various political and development among its members' states. The body comprises of 28 members states which abide by its rules, regulations, and policies upon subscription (Bache, Bulmer, George & Parker, 2015). Through its policies, the body sees various development agenda in member countries like Portugal and Romania which became members 20 years ago. Through funds which the body collects from its members, its aid various developments. For example, granting a loan to some members to facilitate various developments (Bache, Bulmer, George & Parker, 2015). However, the body also impacted negatively to its members through directly controls some electoral process which deprives the citizens of their democratic right.

References

Bache, I., Bulmer, S., George, S., & Parker, O. (2015). Politics in the European Union. Oxford University Press, USA.

Barros, C. P., & Athanassiou, M. (2015). Efficiency in European seaports with DEA: evidence from Greece and Portugal. In Port Management (pp. 293-313). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Hodson, D., & Peterson, J. (Eds.). (2017). Institutions of the European Union. Oxford University Press.

Keating, M., & Loughlin, J. (Eds.). (2013). the political economy of regionalism. Routledge.

Magone, J. (2017). The developing place of Portugal in the European Union. Routledge.

Makarovic, M., & Rek, M. (2014). Power and Influence-Based Political Participation in European Democracies. Sociologia, 46(6).