The Future of Europe blog is an academic blog run by EU3D. Our aim is to debate the EU's current and future challenges and to enhance the understanding of the democratic potentials and the dominance pitfalls of differentiation in today’s EU.
Differentiated integration is a political reality in the EU. However, public opinion remains divided, both across countries and among individual citizens. Jana Gómez Díaz, Julian Schuessler and Dirk Leuffen argue that this fact highlights important challenges for the workings of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Future of Europe Blog, January 2021
The EU relies on networks of representatives from national institutions to assist in the implementation and enforcement its policies. Studies by Dorte Sindbjerg Martinsen, Reini Schrama, and Ellen Mastenbroek find that the differences between national institutions condition the patterns of interactions on these networks.
Future of Europe Blog, October 2020
Despite the centralisation envisaged by the Lisbon Treaty, informal groups of member states shaped EU’s policy on Kosovo and Ukraine, Maria Giulia Amadio Viceré argues.
Future of Europe Blog, October 2020
The EU recovery fund needs clearer objectives, sustainable growth criteria and close monitoring so that spending achieves its goals and is free of corruption, Guntram Wolff warns.
Future of Europe Blog, September 2020
The EU’s legitimacy depends on institutional procedures that respect democratic principles – both in cases of uniform and differentiated integration, Max Heermann argues.
Future of Europe Blog, September 2020
EU researchers have been rather silent about rhetorical action in recent years. The current Brexit and Corona reconstruction negotiations show why they shouldn’t be, Dirk Leuffen and Pascal Mounchid argue.
Future of Europe Blog, September 2020
The coronavirus measures implemented by the EU and member states have had differentiating effects, which ultimately may lead to further fragmentation of the European political system, argues EU3D researcher Filippa Chatzistavrou on the Future of Europe Blog.
Future of Europe Blog, July 2020.
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the euro area slowdown was the result of EMU-induced domestic deflation. EU3D researcher Simona Piattoni offers a different reading of Italy's disappointing economic performance on the Future of Europe Blog.
Future of Europe Blog, June 2020.
The Franco-German Covid-19 recovery plan marks a shift in Germany’s EU policy, but the German public might not be on board, argues EU3D Researcher Dirk Leuffen.
Future of Europe Blog, June 2020.
The German Constitutional Court is stuck on an ideological position that prevents it from understanding the substantial difference between the German situation and European integration, argues Sergio Fabbrini and takes a closer look at some of the court’s rulings over the last decades.
Future of Europe Blog, June 2020.
The socio-economic effects of the coronavirus requires a massive and coordinated response from the EU. So far, the EU has not been up to the challenge, argues Marco Dani and Agustín José Menéndez.
Future of Europe Blog, April 2020.
Given the ravages of the coronavirus crisis, the future of Europe cannot be one of permanent division between its northern and southern states, argues Sergio Fabbrini.
Future of Europe Blog, April 2020.
While the European Parliament (EP) is the only EU institution that is directly elected by EU citizens, its legal power to set the legislative agenda is still limited. A commitment by President von der Leyen combined with the EP’s strong calls for reform, might change this, explains Tatjana Evas.
Future of Europe Blog, April 2020.
So, Brexit got done. The UK is no longer a member of the European Union. What happens in the next 11 months will dictate the UK’s economic landscape for decades to come, explains Maria Demertzis, Deputy Director of Bruegel.
Future of Europe Blog, February 2020.
If Boris Johnson can negotiate agreements that are better than the EU system, it would be a serious challenge for the 27, argues Jean Pisani-Ferry.
Future of Europe Blog, January 2020.
A multi-speed or multi-tiered Europe has often been presented as a solution to Europe’s current challenges. But this kind of differentiation can generate democratic problems, argues EU3D Scientific Coordinator John Erik Fossum.
Future of Europe Blog, January 2020.