Towards a More United and Effective Europe: Beyond the 2014 European Parliament Elections

As the unprecedented financial crisis and ensuing economic recession push Europe to the brink, a critical question arises as to what the foreseeable trajectories affecting EU governance and policy are in the decades ahead. The crisis has already accelerated policy and institutional evolution in key areas, but the integration project remains torn apart by centrifugal political and economic forces. The project aims at delineating what kind of model of governance the EU could head towards, and which of these models is best suited for the purpose of a more united and effective EU. In particular, the research sheds light on the degree and nature of integration at the “core” of Europe and the relationship of that core with those member states (current and future) which opt to remain outside it, assessing these questions against two benchmarks: political unity and policy effectiveness.

Publications: Series Imagining Europe