Differentiated integration: blessing and curse?

Abstract

How do European citizens think about differentiated integration in the EU? Public opinion research shows that EU citizens have become generally more supportive of differentiated integration, when it comes to multi-speed Europe, over time. This change is primarily driven by Euroskeptic and ambivalent citizens becoming less hostile towards the idea of a multi-speed Europe. Our results demonstrate the importance to consider multiple forms of differentiated integration. Opt-outs and a Europe a la carte are more popular among Euroskeptics, while more pro-EU citizens are more supportive of multi-speed Europe and building a core Europe. Left-right ideology matters. For right-wing Euroskeptics opt-outs are more popular, while this is somewhat less so for right-wing pro-EU citizens. Left-wing pro-EU citizens being much more supportive of multi-speed integration than opt-outs. An institutionalized decision-making process that is perceived to be fair and impartial plays an important role in gaining public support for differentiated integration.

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