How leaders perceive it: European integration in central political speeches in the UK and Germany

Abstract: The European integration process has been a relevant topic since the creation of the European Communities. Member states of the European Union have often formed its projections on the development of the institutions, either favoring further integration or disagreeing with it. In this study, the establishment of the perception of European integration will be analyzed. This will be done through a critical discourse analysis on four speeches by four different conservative leaders of Germany and Britain. Speeches selected from German political leaders are by Helmut Kohl, a speech from 1991, and Angela Merkel, a speech held in 2012. The two British leaders’ speeches, which will be analyzed, are by Margaret Thatcher, a speech from 1988, and David Cameron, a speech held in 2013. After the analysis of each speech, a comparison will be made in order to consider a development in perception of the two countries. Two relevant European integration theories, supranationalism and intergovernmentalism will be applied, as well as the concept of Euroscepticism. These have helped to come up with the results: Germany has developed a clear supranational, pro- European stance towards the EU and British leaders the opposite, a clear Eurosceptic, intergovernmental perception. Both stances have developed increasingly towards both poles.