Towards a 'federal Europe'?

EPC Policy Dialogue

20.10.2011, Brussels

From left right: Andrew Duff, Richard Corbett, Janis Emmanouilidis, Pieter Cleppe

Chair of an EPC Policy Dialogue on Towards a 'federal Europe'?

Fuelled by the ongoing euro crisis, the debate about a further deepening of European integration has increased momentum in recent months. There are some who argue that a ‘federal Europe’ is the only way forward if Member States and, especially, the countries of the euro zone want to overcome the current crisis, which threatens, not only the common currency, but the European project as a whole.

Others are more sceptical arguing that EU governments and citizens are neither ready nor willing to accept a further transfer of sovereignty from national capitals to ‘Brussels’ and that the sovereign debt crisis has actually revealed the fundamental limits of European integration.

So, how much ‘Europe’ do we need? What kind of further deepening seems desirable and feasible? And how to deal with those who are not ready or willing to accept a higher degree of integration?

These and other questions were discussed by a panel of distinguished speakers, including Richard Corbett, Member of the Cabinet of the President of the European Council, Andrew Duff, Member of the European Parliament, and Pieter Cleppe, Head of the Brussels Office of Open Europe.

For more information about the event see the EPC website here.