María del Carmen Sandoval Velasco

The discussions about the creation of a Euro-Latin American common space for higher education, science, technology and innovation have been widely developed within the framework of the bi-regional relations between European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in recent years, since it is considered as an important
instrument for strengthening international cooperation and the linkages between both regions. This document compiles the state of play of the discussions and reflections of the academic community on this matter, particularly in the context of the Second EU-CELAC Academic Summit that took place in Brussels in mid-2015. It highlights a series of proposals and initiatives regarding the construction of this common space on key aspects and the main policy recommendations made by the academic sector to the chiefs of State and government of both regions.

Resumen: En la presente nota se hace una reflexión y análisis en torno al desarrollo y construcción de la Política Exterior y de Seguridad Común de la Unión Europea, así como sus características, poniendo especial interés en la recuperación de ciertos enfoques teóricos de Relaciones Internacionales y de la integración europea para abordar su estudio y explicación. Palabras clave: Unión Europea, Política Exterior y de Seguridad Común, Estado Nación, teorías de Relaciones Internacionales, teorías de la integración europea.


Abstract The following paper analyzes and describes the development and construction of Eu-ropean Union's Foreign Common and Security Policy and its characteristics. It offers a theoretical explanation based on the rescue of some concepts and main thesis of International Relations and European integration theories.

The aftermath of the financial crisis has seen a wide variety of social, economic and political changes in the European Union (EU) and its Member States. These have led to big debates about the future of the European integration project, the need to rethink its direction and course and how to deal with the main problems that are undermining it. Nathaniel Copsey's book addresses the main challenges and questions that characterize the state of the European integration project since the emergence of the Eurozone crisis and what the author calls 'the Great Recession', referring to the global financial crisis. He follows two main objectives: first, to analyze the impact of the crises within the EU; second, to explain why the economic, political and social situation in EU Member States has remained somewhat negative and unsolved. While his idea of considering the EU as a polity in the making is not new at all, he presents an analytical approach based on four main dimensions of the crisis: identity, legitimacy, solidarity and sustainability. He distinguishes the existence of 'two Europes': the elite and the rest. The first one recognizes a European identity, benefits from solidarity and acts as the direct beneficiary of the EU in terms of the allocation of resources. The second one does not identify with the European project and appears isolated from its benefits.

The concept of asymmetric intergovernmentalism seeks to explain the nature of intergovernmental policymaking in the European Union (EU). This paper elaborates on the main characteristics and theoretical foundations of this conceptual framework and highlights the existence of asymmetries and differences between the member states within the decision and policymaking processes in the EU, particularly in terms of their capacity to define, shape and frame decisions and policies at the European level. It mainly focuses on the performance of asymmetric intergovernmentalism within the framework of responses to the Eurocrisis, and analyses two cases studies relating to fiscal discipline in the EU and the role of Germany in this matter.

Key words: Asymmetric intergovernmentalism; EU economic governance; Eurocrisis; Germany; EU crisis management.