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.
Pernille Rieker and Mathilde Tomine Eriksdatter Giske make sense of and evaluate the state of European strategic autonomy using a novel framework of differentiated integration in their forthcoming PIVOT-book. They present the framework in this blog post.
Over the last fifteen years, EU leaders have frequently resorted to emergency measures in response to periods of crisis. But while these measures may have helped bring order to unstable situations, have they come at a cost for the EU’s legitimacy? Jonathan White argues that instead of bolstering the EU’s fire-fighting capacity, we would be better served by designing a ‘normal’ regime that is able to handle extreme circumstances.
In her master’s thesis, Silva Malin Hoffmann investigated how the European Union and European Economic Area are portrayed in the Norwegian media. This blogpost draws on her thesis, showing that membership to the EEA is framed as less negative and as entailing more national sovereignty than membership to the EU — which, Hoffmann argues, is an illusion.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent war that followed, the idea of Europe is once again in question argued Gerard Delanty in his speech at the 15th Ecumenical Social Week organized in Lviv.
Future of Europe Blog, October 2022
In her EU3D-funded master’s thesis, Marte Christophersen Haugen explored how Brussels offices representing regions work and interact at the European level. The results show that being from a non-member state or a geographical periphery does not hinder regions’ activity in Brussels. What matters, Marte argues, is a proactive presence and active networking as well as continuity, long-term thinking, and specialization in the work.
Future of Europe Blog, October 2022
In the aftermath of the Conference on the Future of Europe, member of the EU3D Advisory Board Andrew Duff argues that only a reformed EU can shoulder its serious responsibilities for the wider Europe. He explains what a reformed EU should look like in this blog post.
Future of Europe Blog, September 2022
As the attention of the European public opinion has turned to Ukraine, it is our duty and responsibility not to leave the accession plans for the Balkans fall into oblivion, writes Marilena Koppa.
Future of Europe Blog, August 2022.
In his EU3D-funded master’s thesis, Simon Zemp analyses how Swiss newspapers have referred to Brexit as a benchmark when evaluating the recent attempts of the Swiss government to (re-)negotiate its bilateral relations with the EU. The results show that Brexit references were important in the public debate about the Swiss EU relationship and were often referred to as a ‘role model’.
Future of Europe Blog, June 2022.
In a time of growing political complexity and differentiated integration, the role of high-quality journalism on the EU is more important than ever, argue EU3D researchers Asimina Michailidou and Hans-Jörg Trenz.
Future of Europe Blog, March 2022.
It is often believed that spending more time on social media makes citizens more skeptical of the EU. EU3D researchers Martin Moland and Asimina Michailidou argue that this assumption is too simplistic. They find that there is little to suggest that social media use decreases support for European integration.
Future of Europe Blog, January 2022.
With the new ‘traffic light’ government in Germany, one could have expected a game changer in Germany’s approach to fiscal integration. Instead, Tiziano Zgaga argues, the coalition agreement is a compromise between maintaining the old fiscal regulatory framework and showing some moderate opening towards new European spending powers.
Future of Europe Blog, January 2022
The next steps in the EU’s constitutional development must involve greater care for the wider Europe, Andrew Duff argues. He proposes the introduction of a new category of EU affiliate membership, allowing the EU’s western and eastern neighbours alike to become stable and reliable partners.
Future of Europe Blog, January 2022
Although the new Norwegian government appears more willing to discuss EU-related issues than previous ones, the question of Norway’s EU policy remains ambiguous, argues John Erik Fossum in this blog post.
Future of Europe Blog, November 2021
The indebted states need to spend their fresh Recovery and Resilience Facility funds wisely. The frugals need to acknowledge how they benefit from the euro and single market. Then mutual trust can be built.
Future of Europe Blog, October 2021
It was naïve to believe, mid-pandemic, that austerity had been “buried” in Europe. Like a zombie, the idea has risen from the dead. Ingrid Hjertaker explains why it should be re-buried.
Future of Europe Blog, July 2021
Nordic governments frequently broadcast their ambition to do more together on the international stage.Kristin Haugevik and Ole Jacob Sending explain why we still shouldn’t expect to see any profound increase in joint Nordic foreign policy positions and actions – and especially not when it comes to relations with greater powers.
Future of Europe Blog, June 2021
The approach of the EU’s institutions to the Conference on the Future of Europe is muddled, with risks for the outcome. Sergio Fabbrini, John Erik Fossum, Magdalena Góra, and Guntram Wolff examine the different visions of the conference.
Future of Europe Blog, June 2021
Brexit may expose the special arrangements that EFTA states have to the EU. John Erik Fossum and Joachim Vigrestad explain Brexit from the Norwegian side of the fence.
Future of Europe Blog, June 2021
Will Berlin finally acknowledge that economics is a social science and not theology? Sergio Fabbrini explains the stand-off that will define the future of the European Union.
Future of Europe Blog, May 2021
Elinor Ostrom provides the ideal framework to understand the European Union. Jan P. Vogler explains why.
Future of Europe Blog, May 2021
The Next Generation EU superfoods are on their way. Can they save a starving Italian patient? Read Simona Piattoni's take on the EU economic growth model in light of the pandemic.
Future of Europe Blog, March 2021
The UK’s push for the frictionless market of the Norway option, while accepting only the obligations of the Canada option, was not viable. It was a delusion, either due to ignorance or self-deception, Jean-Claude Piris argues.
Future of Europe Blog, February 2021
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
