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.
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
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.