About: Multi-speed Europe

In Belgium, Macron pleads for ‘two or three speed Europe’, treaty change

French President Emmanuel Macron escaped protests over fuel prices and tumbling approval ratings at home with a series of state visits that placed Europe at the centre of attention. 

Cohesion funds can stop Europe from moving at different speeds

Cross-border and inter-regional cooperation in cohesion and research & development spending is still limited, but very much needed to prevent a multi-speed Europe writes Lambert van Nistelrooij. To unlock Europe's growth opportunities, the MEP calls for smart regional specialisation and an Innovation Pact 2.0.

Oettinger wants ‘pact’ between net payers and net recipients

European Commissioner for the Budget Günther Oettinger arrives in Sofia on Friday (27 October), as part of a tour opening the debate on future EU finances.

Tusk proposes two-year EU reform blitz, new working methods at summits

EU President Donald Tusk on Tuesday (17 October) proposed an ambitious timeline of 13 summits over the next two years to reboot the European Union after the shock of Brexit and other setbacks.

State of the Union: Juncker snubs Poland, overwhelms Romania, Bulgaria

Pro-European EU members Bulgaria and Romania were overwhelmed with attention in Commission President’s Jean-Claude Juncker State of the Union speech today (13 September). In contrast, Poland, l‘enfant terrible of the EU, was not mentioned a single time.

Poland warns multi-speed Europe could spawn ‘more Brexits’

Polish President Andrzej Duda warned on Tuesday (5 September) that a multi-speed Europe could spawn "more Brexits" and the breakdown of the EU, after powerful eurozone members like France and Germany backed the model.

Slovenia says it would be ‘very funny’ if Croatia joined Schengen

Slovenia on Monday (4 September) warned fellow EU member Croatia that failure to implement the Piran ruling will amount to a breach of the EU's rule of law.

Merkel backs Macron’s call for multi-speed EU, ‘small’ eurozone budget

French President Emmanuel Macron called for a multi-speed Europe on Tuesday (29 August), arguing that a core of "avant-garde" countries should lead the way in deepening EU integration.

Dismissing the Three Seas Initiative is counter-productive for Brussels

The Three Seas Initiative is viewed with suspicion in Brussels due to its political implications. The best thing the EU can do to make it a success and counter anti-EU rhetoric in Central and Eastern Europe is by embracing this project, writes Łukasz Janulewicz.

Csenger-Zalán: A strong Europe is only possible with strong nations

There’s no mistaking his Fidesz credentials. Brussels needs to back off, and refugees remain unwelcome, Zsolt Csenger-Zalán, the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in Hungary‘s National Assembly, told EURACTIV Czech Republic.

Solidarity tops Juncker’s agenda for the future of Europe

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker moved solidarity up the ladder of EU priorities in a straightforward speech delivered in Florence today (5 May) during the State of the Union Conference.

The opportunity of ruptured nuptials

While the UK was an EU member, its partners had to humour its peccadillos and mood swings. Now that it’s not, they can look forward to a new, more free future, writes Tom Parker.

EU’s real problem is the lack of a ‘good driver’

Romania's real concern is not the prospect of “multi-speed Europe” but the lack of a “good driver”, of real leadership and of a valuable European vision, Vasile Pușcaș told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.

Slovenian president: We should be in fast lane of a multi-speed EU

If the European Union decides in future to become a multi-speed bloc, Slovenia would want to line up with nations in the faster lane, Slovenian President Borut Pahor said on Monday (27 March).

Prodi: Multi-speed Europe is an opportunity for France to step up

Sixty years after the Treaty of Rome, France’s role in Europe is more important than ever, former Italian Prime Minister and European Commission President Romano Prodi said in an interview with EURACTIV’s partner Ouest-France.

Czechs before Rome: No to multi-speed, yes to common defence

EU leaders are going to meet in Rome on Saturday (25 March) to discuss the future of European integration. The Czech Republic is still not sure what to do. EURACTIV.cz reports.

Hamon plans radical departure from EU ‘blabla’

Benoît Hamon said on Friday (10 March) that a multi-speed Europe is just EU “blabla” and tried to drum up intergovernmental support for a €1 trillion energy transition investment programme. EURACTIV France reports.

Polish PM Szydło fights back after EU summit defeat

Poland will not be blackmailed by Western Europeans threatening to take away millions in European Union funds for standing up for its interests, Prime Minister Beata Szydło said on Friday (10 March), a day after Warsaw was badly defeated over who chairs EU summits.

Commission hails downsized EU public prosecutor as victory for ‘multi-speed Europe’

EU leaders agreed to slice up a controversial bill to open the first EU public prosecutor's office, with some backers calling it a victory of “multi-speed Europe” because it will free countries that opposed the new set-up to drop out.

Maltese opposition leader: Further EU integration should not be blocked

If there are countries that want to proceed forward with further integration, no one should block them from doing so, Malta's opposition leader told EURACTIV.com.

The EU may bend to keep from breaking

The idea of protecting the European Union by making it more flexible appears to be a reasonable choice under the current circumstances, writes Stratfor.

Two-speed Europe highlights East-West divide

The consensus reached at Monday’s Versailles summit (6 March) on the need to construct a two-speed Europe risks reigniting tensions between the EU’s eastern and western member states. EURACTIV France reports.

Valcárcel: Europe must counter Putin and Trump’s ‘big lies’

The European Union’s institutions and member states must counter the "big lies" coming from countries such as Russia and the United States, which "destabilise" the bloc, European Parliament Vice-President Ramon Luis Valcárcel Siso said in an interview with EURACTIV Spain.

After Juncker, EPP mulls vision of a multi-speed ‘Europe that delivers’

The European People’s Party vowed on Tuesday (7 March) to turn the tide and mobilise people and means to avoid further divisions in the 27-country bloc after Brexit.