The Future of the EU

An EU fit for purpose in the global age

The EU originated after the Second World War as an inward-looking venture whose main rationale was to lay the foundations for European peace and reconciliation. In the 21st century, the main challenges facing Europe, from climate change to energy security, financial instability or terrorism, are global in nature. If the EU is to provide European citizens with the stability and prosperity they strive for, it will need to develop the capacity to think and act as a global player.

However, the obstacles along the way are numerous. There is no consensus on the measures needed to address global challenges, as the very idea of pooling further sovereignty is constantly scrutinised. The negative results of the French, Dutch and Irish referendums on the constitutional treaty point to an integration fatigue which European policymakers will need to overcome in order to render the EU fit for purpose in the global age. 

The project seeks to:

• Identify the key policy choices facing the EU in light of the new opportunities presented by the Lisbon Treaty.
• Explore areas of convergence and divergence in the interests and values of the member states on the major policy choices.
• Draw up a new socio-economic settlement for the EU after the crisis.
• Map out areas where further integration – or greater intergovernmentalism – is needed to make the EU an effective global actor.
• Frame a new narrative that can re-legitimise the European project in the eyes of its citizens.