Several challenges stimulate the debate on the future of the EU: globalisation, security concerns, the rise of populism, the impact of new technologies, Brexit. An underlying question concerns the prospects for legitimacy and democracy.
The 2019 European Parliament elections take place in a new political landscape in many countries across the EU. The expected results suggest unstable majorities and potentially changed dynamics between the EU institutions.
Cutting red tape is a popular message but fundamentally misleading. SIEPS’ Senior Advisor Daniel Tarschys, professor in Political Science, makes the case for an EU asset that is crucial for the survival and success of the Union.
The reconciliation of France and Germany has been central to European integration. Today, the two countries are seeking to strengthen the EU in a new context of external and internal pressures.
In November 2017, the European Pillar of Social Rights was adopted at a summit in Gothenburg. Caroline de la Porte, professor of European and comparative social policy, analyzes the interaction between the social pillar and the Nordic model and underlines the symbolic value of the initiative.
The three Nordic and the three Baltic countries cooperate informally within the EU. While the similarities are important, the differences should not be underestimated. One example is security in the Baltic region – an area where there are shared interests but policy responses based on different experiences.
The Swedish Riksdag is one of the most powerful parliaments in terms of engagement in EU affairs. It could however do better – by prioritising the most important issues and debating them publicly. Katrin Auel is Associate Professor at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna, Austria.
The goal of entering the EU used to unify the Visegrad countries. Today, they are increasingly critical of the EU, especially concerning migration. Behind the unity there are however key differences.
In the discussion about EU’s future, a euro area reform is one of the main priorities. Regarding the scope of the reforms, the position defended by Germany will be crucial, but the EMU members’ differing views of the Economic and Monetary Union also need to be considered.
The Member States should take greater ownership of EU agricultural policy. A co-financing model would also close the funding gap caused by Brexit, writes Professor Alan Matthews.