About: two-speed Europe
Bulgarian MEPs discuss EU’s future, dissect Juncker, Macron speeches
The European Movement and the Union of European Federalists held a discussion on Friday (13 October) in Sofia on the EU’s future with three prominent Bulgarian MEPs from three different political forces.
Be strong or die: Why Europe must become a superpower
The European Union desperately needs power. Not only to push forward but to survive, write Piotr Arak and Greg Lewicki.
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.
Eastern Europeans bite back over ‘food apartheid’
It looks like Nutella, smells like Nutella and yet doesn't quite taste like the famous Italian chocolate spread. Eastern European leaders are fuming after tests suggested that big Western brands use cheaper ingredients in food products sold in former communist countries.
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.
Will the EU move at the pace of its slowest members?
Bulgaria is trying desperately to save its coal industry from tighter pollution standards at the last minute, explains Genady Kondarev.
Romania fears ‘two-speed Europe’ will be new Iron Curtain
The president of the Romanian Senate today (20 April) shared his concerns with Frans Timmermans about the idea of a ‘two-speed Europe’, insisting the EU should learn from the lessons of the communist period. EURACTIV Romania 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.
Two- or multi-speed Europe is a dangerous idea
Europe needs a plan for its future but it should be proposed by a new Commission president, writes MEP Victor Negrescu.
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.
‘Big four’ call for new European dynamic, multi-speed EU
Ahead of the EU’s 60th anniversary Rome summit on 25 March, the heads of continental Europe’s biggest economies endorsed the vision of a multi-speed Europe, in which some members could deepen their integration faster than others. EURACTIV France reports.
FTT blockage illustrates pitfalls of multi-speed Europe
As France, Germany, Spain and Italy meet to perfect their vision of a future multi-speed Europe, the stalemate over the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) raises the question of whether some states are capable of working together efficiently. EURACTIV France reports.
Bulgarian MEP compares two-speed EU to apartheid
Bulgarian MEP Peter Kouroumbashev (S&D) has compared ideas for a two- or multi- speed EU, advocated by the European Commission, to apartheid, arguing that such projects would ultimately destroy the Union.
The EU must uphold its fundamental values
The EU must recognise its shortcomings and remain united. Some member states want more integration, others don’t. Prime Minister of Finland Juha Sipilä proposes no new treaty change and a focus on cooperation in which the bloc moves forward at the same pace.
‘Juncker’s real scenario’ is multi-speed Europe
Of all five scenarios proposed by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for the way forward after Brexit, the real scenario is Number 3: “Those who want more do more,” which is another way of saying that the EU will be multi-speed, EURACTIV.com was told.
Future EU: Does Visegrád have a plan?
In the Visegrád Group, there is a desire to both strengthen the powers of member states, but also defend the Schengen area, and the four freedoms. Unsurprisingly, talk of treaty change is in the air. Euractiv's Central European partners report.
Piketty outlines eurozone assembly proposal to ‘democratise’ single currency
As Benoît Hamon’s advisor for European budgetary issues, Thomas Piketty hopes to construct a “democratic decision-making mechanism” within the eurozone, he told France Inter on Sunday (12 February). Euractiv’s partner Ouest-France reports.
Progressives accuse Merkel of pushing a North-South divide
Europe needs a radical change of its austerity-driven policies and not multiple speeds as Germany’s Angela Merkel suggests, high-ranking Social-Democrat, Green and leftist officials told Euractiv.com.
Poland’s Kaczynski warns two-speed Europe leads to ‘breakdown’
The powerful head of Poland's ruling party yesterday (8 February) warned that any moves toward a two-speed European Union would lead to the bloc falling apart.
Freedom of movement: Non-negotiable
The Bratislava summit yielded very little in tangible results. As the EU struggles to deal with pressures from all directions, freedom of movement of people, one of the four pillars, has come under scrutiny. Ulrike Guérot asks if the EU is still for people or merely for trade.
Ratings agency: EU ‘unsustainable in its current form’
Leading credit ratings agency S&P has warned that the current construction of the European Union is “unsustainable” and needs far-reaching reform.
Future EU-UK relations: Silver linings or rain clouds?
Now is not the time to get bogged down in what the EU treaties do and do not allow. We need a new vision for Europe that offers members the flexibility they need and can inspire future generations to embrace the European project, writes Tom Parker.