Eurasia Diary interviewed Stefan Brune, a professor of Political Science and Social Geography regarding the future of German-French collaboration in the policy of the European Union.
Eurasia Diary: Newly elected French president Emmanuel Macron proposed radical reforms for the reinforcement of the European Union in the meeting with Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. He supported the creation of budget for 19 members of euro zone. From your opinion, does European Union need to face radical changes?
Stefan Brune: There is a need to embark on new paths to strengthen and revive the idea of internal European unity which has been increasingly put at risk over the past few years. This doesn´t necessarily mean radical reforms. However, there are different means and strategies as we prepare to mark the 60th anniversary of the EU. We look back on a peace spanning over seven decades and on an enlarged Union of 500 million citizens living in freedom in one of the world's most prosperous economies. At the same time, the EU has to look forward at how it will carve a vision for its own future at 27.
A recently published White Paper of the European Commission presents five scenarios for how the Union could be evolved by 2015:
Scenario 1: Carrying On - The EU 27 focuses on delivering its positive reforms agenda in the spirit of the Commission's new start from 2014 and of the Bratislava Declaration agreed by all 27 Member States in 2016.
Scenario 2: Nothing but the single market - The EU 27 is gradually re-centred on the single market as the 27 Member States are not able to find common ground on an increasing number of policy areas.
Scenario 3: Those who want more do more - The EU 27 proceeds as today but allows willing member states to do more together in specific areas such as defence, internal security or social matters. One or several "coalitions of the willing" emerge.
Scenario 4: Doing less more efficiently - The EU 27 focuses on delivering more and faster in selected policy areas, while doing less where it is perceived not to have an added value. Attention and limited resources are focused on selected policy areas.
Scenario 5: Doing much more together - member states decide to share more power, resources and decision-making across the board. Decisions are agreed faster at European level and rapidly enforced.
Eurasia Diary: From your point of view, will new French leader urge Angela Merkel to agree on the implementation of new economic policies?
Stefan Brune: They will discuss and they will be compromising. Today the Eurozone (officially called the euro area) is a monetary union of 19 of the 28 European Union (EU) member states which have adopted the Euro as their common currency and sole legal tender. Nine members of the European Union continue to use their own national currencies.
Eurasia Diary: MR Macron’s reforms demand changes in EU treaties. What kind of changes will be carried out in treaties if reforms are adopted by all members of the European Union?
Stefan Brune: Too early to say. There are different models
Eurasia Diary: Some experts claim that the new government of France should discuss comprehensive changes not only with Germany, but also with member countries of the European Union. What is your opinion about this?
Stefan Brune:The participation and active involvement of all EU-member states is a must. A good solution would allow different states and speeds of further integration (multi-speed or two-speed Europe). Different parts of the European Union should be allowed to integrate at different levels and pace depending on the political situation in each individual country.
