About: Federalism

Does Brexit free Europe to seek closer union?

British politicians often speak of Brexit as an opportunity to escape Brussels' shackles but does the divorce also free Europe to go its own way?

German states claim sole responsibility for coronavirus regulation, sidelining federal government

At the weekend, the leader of Thuringia announced plans to end coronavirus restrictions in the eastern German state and replace them with local measures. Saxony voiced its support for the idea, while other states quickly condemned the move, possibly heralding the end the country's relatively harmonious federal coronavirus cooperation. EURACTIV Germany reports.

A manifesto for post-populism in Bulgaria and Europe

Bulgarians will be able to cast their vote for a new pro-European and pro-reform force in the European elections: ‘Way to the young’, led by London-based lawyer Rumen Cholakov, who contributed this op-ed exclusively to EURACTIV.

Catalan republicanism and European federalism

Republicanism in Catalonia is inseparable from both Catalanism and European federalism, writes Oriol Junqueras, who argues that Europe faces a crucial crossroads: on the one hand, an increasingly extreme right, and on the other, a modern European federalist left.

The Brief – Brok scores own goal in the federalist camp

If you've ever wondered what would be the equivalent of an own goal in EU politics, here is a recent example.

Varoufakis tells Macron to adopt the ‘empty-chair’ tactic

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis supports Macron’s federalist proposals on the euro single currency but believes only a real threat could make Germany budge on the issue. EURACTIV France reports.

EU grandees map trail for restoring citizens’ trust ahead of 2019 elections

Against the backdrop of yet another EU political crisis, this time with Catalonia seeking independence, opinion makers and decision makers in Brussels have tried to sketch a plan for rebutting populist pressures and restore trust in the European Union

Pick-and-choose populism and the EU elite

EU leaders cannot exploit populism when it suits them and then complain when things do not go their way. We need strong leadership from the political mainstream to turn things around, write Petroula Nteledimou and Nikos Lampropoulos.

The silver lining to the Brexit cloud

After a fairly restless summer, the mood on Brexit has shifted in Brussels. Initial disbelief that the UK could have voted to leave is now replaced by acceptance that, “Brexit means Brexit”, writes Andrew Duff.

‘Germany will always be the Hun that wants to subjugate Europe’

The gap between the denizens of the United Kingdom and the EU can be explained by a historic feeling of superiority over the mainland and Brussels bureaucracy's poor correlation with the British sense of democracy. EURACTIV’s partner WirtschaftsWoche reports.

Maystadt: Consensus quietly growing for eurozone budget

A consensus has emerged in Germany, France and Italy over the need to create a eurozone budget, according to Belgium’s former Minister of Finance, Philippe Maystadt. But the popularity of anti-European parties is blocking progress. EURACTIV France reports.

Andrew Duff: The eurozone crisis has accentuated the need for federalism

"I’ve always been a federalist," Andrew Duff told EURACTIV in a wide-ranging interview. "The eurozone crisis has accentuated the need for the federalist argument to be put."

Profile: Louis de Gouyon Matignon, the ‘Maastricht Generation’ in EU politics

Louis de Gouyon Matignon is a young French candidate in the EU elections and a self-proclaimed advocate of Roma and Traveller rights. He is profiled in the third part of a series looking at the French election candidates, by EURACTIV France.

Scholar: EU countries’ positions change very little since 1960s

Although the situation today is very different from 30 years ago, countries in favour of deeper European integration, and those against, remain very much the same, says Emmanuel Mourlon-Druol, fellow in Social Sciences at the Adam Smith Business School, in Glasgow.

Verhofstadt ‘is barking at the moon’, says fellow liberal Bolkestein

The Dutch liberal politician and former EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein has launched a scathing attack against Guy Verhofstadt, who leads the liberal and pro-European ALDE group in the European Parliament, highlighting tensions within the liberal family ahead of next year's EU elections.

French ex-president: EU needs to regain credibility among citizens

Former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing has called on EU leaders to put forward a vision for Europe to inspire citizens, boost confidence and develop a shared sense of belonging.

Goulard: German liberals were punished for abandoning the EU

French liberal MEP Sylvie Goulard said that the German liberal FDP party, which failed to pass the 5% threshold for returning to the Bundestag in last Sunday’s elections, had been punished for “having lost their European commitment”.

The current crisis the price for not having a European federal union

The division of Europe between creditors and debtors should have never happened and in fact it would not have happened if the European interest, initially present in the draft of the Maastricht Treaty, had prevailed over the national interests, argues Joan Marc Simon.

Barroso: More EU integration ‘indispensable for our economy’

The European Union and the eurozone have already taken important federalist steps to counter the debt crisis, which go beyond mere economic governance, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said yesterday (22 April) at the 2013 Think Tank Dialogue.

Forget the United States of Europe, French ex-minister says

EXCLUSIVE / The European Union will never receive enough public support for federalism and so should abandon the idea of a United States-inspired superstate, says the influential French Socialist former minister Hubert Védrine.

Reality check for the ‘euro-realists’

A new band of ‘euro-realists’ has appeared on the scene, composed mostly of Tory Britons. In the European Parliament, they cluster in the group of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), and are little aware of the true state of the Union, argues Andrew Duff.

Merkel preaches federalism to MEPs, warns Britain against EU exit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a strong federalist speech in the European Parliament yesterday (7 November) before leaving for London, where she urged Prime Minister David Cameron not to turn his back on Europe and work with her to avoid deadlock at European Union budget talks later this month.