Author: Dr. Craig S. Fleisher (Edited by AALEP)

Positive (Driving Forces)

In January 2017, Member States will examine the option of extending, tightening, easing or lifting some of the sanctions adopted against the Russian Federation. Beyond this short term deadline, general election in France and Germany will give rise to a potential turning point in the EU’s relations with Russia.

The Slovak Presidency comes at a time when the European Union finds itself in an unprecedented situation. The negative outcome of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU has presented us with a new challenge; for the first time in history, we are required to concern ourselves with the practicalities and political ramifications of a Member State leaving the EU. At this juncture, it is vital that the EU engage in self-reflection.

In this post-satire political landscape, the British Prime Minister quit because he didn’t want Brexit, the two most vocal Brexiteers have decided not to continue on either, and everyone is up in arms about why the Leader of the Opposition won’t quit as well. Remember when taking responsibility for one’s actions was part of the job description of politicians – particularly prime ministers? Cameron, Farage and Johnson collectively crafted one of the most tumultuous weeks in the history of modern British politics.

As EU leaders in Brussels and the Member States struggle to come up with solutions following the Brexit, old disputes about proper economic and fiscal policy as well as the form and depth of European integration are bound to re-emerge. European leaders  are  the actors best placed to change prevailing ideas underlying policy-making and incite necessary reforms. During periods of unexpected sudden crisis dominant ideas can become vulnerable and challenged by alternative, competing ideas.

The European project faces the most difficult period in its post-war history. The Member States of the European Union are grappling with challenges and dangers which have forced them to revisit the principles that have traditionally underpinned thinking about the nature of European integration. In the face of growing crises, many citizens and social groups across Europe feel distant from and even outright hostile to the EU in its current form.

Apart from Switzerland, European countries do not frequently include their citizens in the law- and decision-making process. Since the 1970’s, referendums on the European integration have occurred in several member and non-member states. Three different types of referendums can be distinguished: accession referendums, treaty-ratification referendums, and European issues related referendums. Forty-one referendums have been conducted on European issues in almost twenty countries.

Britain's vote to leave the European Union has fired up populist eurosceptic parties across the continent , giving fresh voice to their calls to leave the bloc or its euro  currency.

Right-wing and anti-immigrant parties in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and France demand referendums on membership of the union, while Italy's 5-Star movement says it would pursue its own proposal for a vote on the euro.

Author : Bruno Lemaire, Discours à Berlin on 9 May 2016, Journée de l'Europe

"Europe devrait rimer avec puissance économique, avec démocratie, avec solidarité. Europe rime avec crise, avec montée des extrêmes, avec repli sur soi. En Pologne, en Hongrie, en République tchèque, en Finlande, mais aussi en France et en Allemagne, le populisme progresse, sous des masques différents, mais avec la même grimace de dégoût devant la construction européenne. Chacun le voit : nous sommes dans une impasse européenne. Nous devons en sortir au plus vite. 

Britain has spoken – and it has voted to leave the European Union: 52% of voters elected to Leave the European Union, while 48% opted to Remain.

Despite Euroscepticism in other countries, leaders may see this decision gives the EU a chance to redouble its efforts towards further integration and to restore a greater level of coherence to key policy areas. The fears in Brussels will be that the unity of Europe starts to unravel, putting economic stability and security at risk.