Stagnation, Tabula Rasa, Variable Geometry, Differentiated Solidarity: Four Scenarios for the Future of the European Union
Stagnation, Tabula Rasa, Variable Geometry, Differentiated Solidarity: Four Scenarios for the Future of the European Union

Author(s): Eckart D. Stratenschulte
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, International relations/trade, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: History of EU; Successes and Failures in the Integration Process; Scenarios for Future Development; Europe of Concentric Circles
Summary/Abstract: Development of the European Union is marked by many setbacks. Various attempts at integrating the continent of Europe have failed. The European Defence Community and the European Political Community, for example, never saw the light of day, the Constitutional Treaty was rejected. Nevertheless, the EU has developed further, one might say, it has grown from failure to failure. This historical perspective is an aid in categorising current challenges. The European Union is at the threshold of a reorganisation. Everything is pointing towards a “Europe of concentric circles” coming into being, in which there will continually be varying depths of integration – or, as the 2017 Declaration of Rome terms it: different intensity. Each Member State needs to decide for itself which circle it wishes to associate with.

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