Barroso warns of declining support for EU ahead of election

The lack of support to European Union institutions may become a threat to European integration itself, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso warned in a speech called 'On Europe. Considerations on the present and the future of the European Union' delivered at Berlin's Humboldt University on the May 2014 as part of Europe Day 2014.

The speech was his contribution to the debate on the future of Europe, as set out by President Barroso in the State of the Union address in 2013 and based on his experience and key lessons drawn from heading the European Commission over almost 10 years.

Mr. Barroso also mentioned that the UK was Europe's 'special' case, and that EU leaders should find ways to accommodate its 'specificity'.

Mr Barroso made further comments on the challenges facing the EU as he came to the end of his 10 year time as European Commission President at the State of the Union Conference 2014 in Florence on the 9 May 2014, and also at a speech at the College of Europe, Natolin on the 9 May 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: European Parliament: Election, May 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-may-2014/

ESO: Background information: The rise of Euroscepticism across Europe has masked general apathy about the European elections among voters http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-rise-of-euroscepticism-across-europe-has-masked-general-apathy-about-the-european-elections-among-voters/

EUObserver, 09.05.14: UK is EU's 'special' case, Barroso says http://euobserver.com/news/124063

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/355: On Europe Considerations on the present and the future of the European Union http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-355_en.pdf

EurActiv, 09.05.14: Barroso draws back-to-the future vision for Europe http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/barroso-draws-back-future-vision-europe-302039

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/364: Moving towards a conscience of Europe http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-364_en.pdf

EUI: State of the Union Conference 2014 http://stateoftheunion.eui.eu/

European Commission: DG Communication: Audiovisual Service: 'Keeping our collective memory alive' presentation by José Manuel BBarroso, President of the EC, Florence, 8 May 2014 http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?ref=I089138

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