State of Play in European Integration: Challenges and Opportunities for German Policy

The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty was meant to take the process of constitutionalisation of the EU to a new level. At the same time, the customary practice of advancing European integration incrementally on the basis of a permissive consensus faces growing criticism.

Key questions such as what should be done to improve the EU's capacity to act and to reduce the Union's democratic deficit still remain on the agenda. What substantially and procedurally sound options exist for the future development of the EU? And how can these be translated into practice in different policy fields? What role should Germany play in this process?