Two-speed Europe: EU politicians split over the strengthening of the Eurozone

The proponents and opponents of strengthening the Eurozone measured their forces during a series of votes that took place during the February 2017 Plenary II session in the European Parliament on documents that set out the future of the European Union.

This report maps the positions of the political forces across the continent, showing who backed and who opposed a two-speed Europe and the pooling together of financial resources. Interesting observations were spotted especially among the German, Dutch and Central and Eastern European representatives.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 14.02.17: Visions of unity clash in ‘future of EU’ debate http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/visions-of-unity-clash-in-future-of-eu-debate/

ESO: Background information: Possible adjustments to the EU institutional set-up http://www.europeansources.info/record/possible-adjustments-to-the-eu-institutional-set-up/

ESO: Background information: Improving the functioning of the EU: Making fuller use of the Lisbon Treaty's provisions http://www.europeansources.info/record/improving-the-functioning-of-the-eu-making-fuller-use-of-the-lisbon-treatys-provisions/

European Parliament: Press Release, 16.02.17: Parliament sets out its vision for the future of Europe http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170210IPR61812/

Politico, 17.02.17: Damn the populists! MEPs back closer cooperation http://www.politico.eu/article/meps-finally-agree-on-eus-future-kind-of/

BBC News, 14.02.17: EU split over pace of reform as crisis bites http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38970265

European Parliament: Press Release, 24.02.17: Future of the EU: The European Parliament sets out its vision http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170219STO63247/

EurActiv, 06.03.17: Bulgarian MEP compares two-speed EU to apartheid http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/bulgarian-mep-compares-two-speed-eu-to-apartheid/

---