More Union for the EU

The political culture of European integration has changed because its communitarian roots have been neglected. Today’s EU appears to be a quasi-federation governed by confederate spirits.

The EU’s underperformance stems from three trends, which seem to reinforce each other: a hybrid deepening, a utilitarian widening, and a fragmentation of the political centre.

Nowadays, the major issues facing the EU always end up in the European Council and in intergovernmental bargaining because the prevalence of diverging national interests does not allow for a community approach.

Jean-Claude Juncker was right in his 2015 State of the Union Speech. The levels of 'Europe' and 'Union' in the EU are running dangerously low. So low that Europe might not emerge from the refugee crisis stronger.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Judy Asks: Is This Europe’s Time for Political Union? http://www.europeansources.info/record/judy-asks-is-this-europes-time-for-political-union/

ESO: Background information: Claims of a ‘new intergovernmentalism’ in European integration have been overstated http://www.europeansources.info/record/claims-of-a-new-intergovernmentalism-in-european-integration-have-been-overstated/

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