The Future of the European Union: Conclusions from an Economic Analysis of the Integration Mechanism
The Future of the European Union: Conclusions from an Economic Analysis of the Integration Mechanism

Summary/Abstract: Debate on the future of Europe and the progress of integration within the European Union usually tends to rely on analyses and categories derived from political science.1 Simplifying, its participants can be divided into advocates of a federal Europe and proponents of a Europe des patries, a union of nation states. The former believe that the way to deepen integration is by strengthening supranational institutions, the Commission and the European Parliament. The latter contend that integration is best pursued through intergovernmental co-operation within the Council of Ministers and the European Council. Those who prefer to hedge or want to mask national self-interest with verbal pledges of support for integration maintain they favour building a “political Europe.”

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