Crisis-tested Europe — Towards a Patchwork Union?

Abstract Based on an insufficiently consolidated “European identity”, the European Union has recently been exposed to the challenges of globalisation, financial disturbances, migration and populistic nationalism, Brexit, and the COVID 19 virus. The negative consequences of these somehow interrelated...

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Main Author: Heinz Handler
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Sciendo 2022-02-01
Series:Wirtschaftsdienst
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-022-3112-9
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author Heinz Handler
author_facet Heinz Handler
author_sort Heinz Handler
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Based on an insufficiently consolidated “European identity”, the European Union has recently been exposed to the challenges of globalisation, financial disturbances, migration and populistic nationalism, Brexit, and the COVID 19 virus. The negative consequences of these somehow interrelated phenomena have to some extent been kept in check but are likely to be dwarfed by the looming threat of climate change. The present analysis underlines the added value of European integration, but also dampens illusions about the future of the Union. Although the crises seem to have strengthened the solidarity among the core of the EU, differences between member states have also become more apparent, as exemplified by the Brexit. The goal of a full-fledged political union is now a long way off, and it is therefore worth aiming for secondbest solutions, such as some form of differentiated further integration. The ongoing Conference on the Future of Europe offers the opportunity for an evaluation of such concepts.
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series Wirtschaftsdienst
spelling doaj-art-e1733ee31ec64ba8b7c23f5d462070972025-02-02T20:24:36ZdeuSciendoWirtschaftsdienst0043-62751613-978X2022-02-01102213914610.1007/s10273-022-3112-9Crisis-tested Europe — Towards a Patchwork Union?Heinz Handler0Wirtschaftspolitik, Technische Universität WienAbstract Based on an insufficiently consolidated “European identity”, the European Union has recently been exposed to the challenges of globalisation, financial disturbances, migration and populistic nationalism, Brexit, and the COVID 19 virus. The negative consequences of these somehow interrelated phenomena have to some extent been kept in check but are likely to be dwarfed by the looming threat of climate change. The present analysis underlines the added value of European integration, but also dampens illusions about the future of the Union. Although the crises seem to have strengthened the solidarity among the core of the EU, differences between member states have also become more apparent, as exemplified by the Brexit. The goal of a full-fledged political union is now a long way off, and it is therefore worth aiming for secondbest solutions, such as some form of differentiated further integration. The ongoing Conference on the Future of Europe offers the opportunity for an evaluation of such concepts.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-022-3112-9
spellingShingle Heinz Handler
Crisis-tested Europe — Towards a Patchwork Union?
Wirtschaftsdienst
title Crisis-tested Europe — Towards a Patchwork Union?
title_full Crisis-tested Europe — Towards a Patchwork Union?
title_fullStr Crisis-tested Europe — Towards a Patchwork Union?
title_full_unstemmed Crisis-tested Europe — Towards a Patchwork Union?
title_short Crisis-tested Europe — Towards a Patchwork Union?
title_sort crisis tested europe towards a patchwork union
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-022-3112-9
work_keys_str_mv AT heinzhandler crisistestedeuropetowardsapatchworkunion