Is there an escape from ‘Ever Closer Union’? European Policy Brief No. 49 February 2018

De Ruyt, Jean (2018) Is there an escape from ‘Ever Closer Union’? European Policy Brief No. 49 February 2018. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

The EU Treaty objective of establishing ‘an ever closer Union among the peoples of Europe’ means that European integration is a step by step process requiring the use of supranational institutions. It has never been popular with nationalists and was strongly rejected by David Cameron in his quest for a EU reform deal in 2015-16. However, the Brexit negotiations demonstrate that renouncing it will only create harm, whichever ‘leave’ scenario is retained. Ever closer union is also required in the field of Economic and Monetary Union to help the Euro resist new potential threats. In effect, Europe has no choice but to integrate further if it wants to keep its place in an ever more competitive global world.

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