Future of EU

An interview with sociologist and freelance political writer Dick Pels and future Member of European Parliament Florent Marcellesi from the Spanish Green party Equo, in which they examine the issues at stake when trying to rethink the emotional case for Europe.

Since the outset, the ‘Franco-German engine’ has been the driving force in the European construction process.

There is a kind of nationalism in Europe that is not only progressive, but has the potential to reinforce European integration.

In order to regain momentum, a vision of European integration infused with bold notions of European sovereignty should be put forward.

The serious challenges confronting the European Union have placed the future course of its integration in doubt. Against this backdrop, young people have a central role to play.

A circulation of misinformation can have far-reaching implications, and can influence not only the European Union’s relations with Russia and its neighbours, but also its own internal process of integration.

The architecture of the European Union institutions is flawed.

The European Union is far from perfect – from a Green perspective – yet at times when it is threatened, we must rally to its defence as an idea and as a project.

Behind the sensational headlines and the obfuscating rhetoric, how can we explain the stark polarisation that seems to be taking hold, across Europe, between those who defend the idea of Europe and its institutions, and those who feel these do not enhance but rather hinder and threaten their aspirations?

The Green Observatory provides a round-up of perspectives on a current political issue from the Green European Journal’s partners around Europe. This first edition focuses its lens on Brexit: how is the referendum on UK membership being discussed in different countries? And what could be the potential consequences on the ground in the case of a vote to leave the EU?