Only transnational politics can break Europe’s deadlock

The authors contend that the EU suffers from diffuse accountability and a 'double deadlock' caused by a reliance on closed-door Franco-German agreements. They argue that Germany's role as a 'benevolent hegemon' is problematic because Berlin seeks to minimize costs and maximize control over debtor states while remaining reluctant to fully embrace its power. The text suggests that the only way to break this impasse is through 'transnational politics'—the creation of shifting alliances across national borders and the engagement of civil society—to replace the current 'constructive ambiguity' of European diplomacy.

• The European Union's current institutional framework, spanning from the Maastricht to Lisbon treaties, has failed to create a solidarity-based political union, resulting in 'diffuse accountability' where political failures cannot be punished via the ballot box.
• European sovereignty is effectively concentrated in Berlin rather than Brussels or Paris, as Germany has emerged stronger and more influential through successive crises, including reunification, the Eurozone crisis, and the refugee crisis.
• Germany's approach to EU integration is characterized by a strategy to 'minimise costs while maximising control over debtor member states' to limit contingent risk, which the authors argue creates a destructive political spiral.
• The authors criticize the 'constructive ambiguity' used by European diplomats to mask profound disagreements, arguing that true politics requires recognizing and resolving conflict without pretence.
• Transnational politics, defined as the construction of shifting alliances across national borders, is presented as the only mechanism to break the EU deadlock, citing the New Hanseatic League and environmental movements as examples of such dynamics.
• The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the extreme interdependence of European nations, suggesting that the only viable options are to either radically reduce this interdependence or increase solidarity through transnational political action.

APA

Gaudot, E., & Vallée, S. (2020). Only transnational politics can break Europe’s deadlock. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/only-transnational-politics-can-break-europes-deadlock/

Chicago

Gaudot, Edouard, and Shahin Vallée. Only transnational politics can break Europe’s deadlock. Green European Journal, 2020. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/only-transnational-politics-can-break-europes-deadlock/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gaudot |first1=Edouard |last2=Vallée |first2=Shahin |title=Only transnational politics can break Europe’s deadlock |publisher=Green European Journal |date=19 June 2020 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/only-transnational-politics-can-break-europes-deadlock/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gaudot2020only, author = {Gaudot, Edouard and Vallée, Shahin}, title = {{Only transnational politics can break Europe’s deadlock}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/only-transnational-politics-can-break-europes-deadlock/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }