Commission presents White Paper on the future of Europe: Avenues for unity for the EU at 27

On 1 March 2017 the European Commission presented a White Paper on the Future of Europe, which would form the Commission's contribution to the debate and reflection leading up to the Rome Summit of 25 March 2017 marking the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome.

The White Paper set out the main challenges and opportunities for Europe in the coming decade. It presented five scenarios for how the Union could evolve by 2025 depending on how it chose to respond.

+ Scenario 1: Carrying On
+ Scenario 2: Nothing but the Single Market
+ Scenario 3: Those Who Want More Do More
+ Scenario 4: Doing Less More Efficiently
+ Scenario 5: Doing Much More Together

The White Paper was part of a process involving all the EU Institutions and wider civil society and stakeholders to decide how the European Union of twenty seven member states should develop.

The European Commission would further contribute to the debate in the months to come with a series of reflection papers on:

+ developing the social dimension of Europe (April 2017)
+ deepening the Economic and Monetary Union, on the basis of the Five Presidents' Report of June 2015 (May 2017)
+ harnessing globalisation (May 2017)
+ the future of Europe's defence (June 2017)
+ the future of EU finances (June 2017)

Like the White Paper, the reflection papers would offer different ideas, proposals, options or scenarios for Europe in 2025 without presenting definitive decisions at this stage.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker presented the White Paper to the European Parliament in Brussels on the 1 March 2017.

The European Parliament had adopted a number of reports during its February 2017 plenary session as its contribution to the debate on the future of Europe. The EU27 Member States would have a Political reflection on the future of the European Union at the European Council in Brussels on the 10 March 2017 and continue discussions at the Treaty of Rome EU60 celebrations at the end of March 2017.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Commission postpones release of its vision for a reformed European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-postpones-release-of-its-vision-for-a-reformed-european-union/

Politico, 01.03.17: Commission outlines 5 scenarios for future of EU in white paper http://www.politico.eu/article/breaking-politico-obtains-white-paper-on-eu-future/

EurActiv, 01.03.17: ‘Juncker’s real scenario’ is multi-speed Europe http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/junckers-real-scenario-is-multi-speed-europe/

Deutsche Welle, 01.03.17: EU's Juncker unveils post-Brexit vision for bloc http://dw.com/p/2YT8s

EUObserver, 01.03.17: Leaders to decide on EU future by end of year https://euobserver.com/political/137069

European Commission: DG Communication: SPEECH/17/424, 01.03.17: Avenues for unity for the EU at 27 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-424_en.htm

BBC News, 01.03.17: After Brexit: Jean-Claude Juncker sets five paths for EU's future http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39132141

European Parliament: Press Release, 01.03.17: Future of the EU: MEPs discuss five scenarios set out by Jean-Claude Juncker http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170228IPR64287/

The Guardian, 01.03.17: 'Stop bashing the EU', Jean-Claude Juncker tells European leaders https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/01/stop-bashing-the-eu-jean-claude-juncker-tells-european-leaders

European Commission: White Paper on the future of Europe http://europa.eu/rapid/attachment/IP-17-385/en/White%20Paper%20on%20the%20future%20of%20Europe.pdf

EurActiv, 02.03.17: [Opinion] (Re)defining Europe necessary to navigate stormy seas of globalisation http://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/opinion/redefining-europe-necessary-to-navigate-stormy-seas-of-globalisation/

Politico, 01.03.17: What Juncker said, what he meant http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-white-paper-what-jean-claude-juncker-said-what-he-meant-commission/

EurActiv, 01.03.17: Commission pushes for stronger defence, trade and border powers after Brexit http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/commission-pushes-for-stronger-defence-trade-and-border-powers-after-brexit/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 02.03.17: The EU’s Loss of Direction http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/68156?lang=en

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ECFR: Commentary, 03.03.17: Scenarios for Europe: Deciphering Juncker’s White Paper http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_scenarios_for_europe_deciphering_junckers_white_paper

Politico, 03.03.17: Finnish PM against Juncker’s two-speed EU scenario http://www.politico.eu/article/juha-sipila-finnish-pm-against-junckers-two-speed-eu-scenario-white-paper/

In Facts, 03.03.17: [Comment]: Juncker’s plan is eurosceptic-lite, not a power grab https://infacts.org/junckers-plan-eurosceptic-lite-not-power-grab/

EurActiv, 06.03.17: Juncker will fight for ‘more Europe’ in post-Brexit EU http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/juncker-will-fight-for-more-europe-in-post-brexit-eu/

Social Europe, 06.03.17: Commission White Paper Option Six: A Europe of Democracy And Social Justice https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/03/option-six-a-europe-of-democracy-and-social-justice/

Politico, 09.03.17: [Opinion] Juncker: No to nationalism, yes to industry http://www.politico.eu/article/juncker-jobs-summit-eu-steel-no-to-nationalism-yes-to-industry/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 08.03.17: The Commission’s White Paper on the Future of Europe – a case of what might have been… http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/03/08/the-commissions-white-paper-on-the-future-of-europe-a-case-of-what-might-have-been/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 10.03.17: The EU’s new white paper underlines why Europe needs to be more open to its citizens http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/03/10/the-eus-new-white-paper-underlines-why-europe-needs-to-be-more-open-to-its-citizens/

EurActiv: Tag: White Paper Future of Europe http://www.euractiv.com/topics/white-paper-future-of-europe/

European Commission: DG Communication: IP/17/2029, 17.07.17: Debate on the Future of Europe: 1,750 events so far with the potential to reach over 30 million Europeans http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-2029_en.htm

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