The Europeanization of Politics in the Southern Members of the EU

The homogeneous level of socio-economic development within the EC changed dramatically in the 1980s with the membership of three new Mediterranean countries: Greece, Portugal and Spain. However, the enlargement to the south meant more than just greater disparities within the EC. These new members were in a process of accelerated transformation, and their economic dynamism and young democratic systems added a new dimension to the European Community. New issues came onto the European agenda, such as the cohesion or solidarity principle, and European citizenship; while old ones acquired renewed political direction, such as agriculture, fisheries and external relations. Conversely, the political and legal structures of the EC have had a profound effect upon the nature of Greek, Portuguese and Spanish domestic politics. The accession processes were based on the gradual but complete adoption of the principle of acquis communautaire, with important institutional and legislative implications at national level. On top of this, the special dynamics of the European integration process since the mid-1980s, with the SEA (Single European Act), the TEU (Treaty on European Union) and the recent Amsterdam Treaty have influenced decisively the autonomy of member states.