The Future of Europe [What Think Tanks are thinking]

The tone of the debate on the Future of Europe and possible institutional reforms of the European Union has shifted from gloomy to more optimistic, thanks to a developing economic recovery, the easing of the migration crisis, the failure of anti-EU forces to make decisive gains in some recent elections, and the general progress of the Brexit talks.

Still, many analysts and politicians warned against complacency, as anti-establishment political parties continue to gain traction with some voters, as concerns grew over the rule of law in some EU countries, and as the policies of, and relations between, the United States and Russia had become less predictable. There was also no agreement on how to overhaul the euro area to minimise the risk of a repeat of the 2008 crisis and to strengthen economic growth.

This debate on the Future of Europe was set to intensify ahead of the 2019 European elections, the installation of the new Presidents of the European Commission and European Council, and the end of the EU’s current long-term budget in 2021.

This note offered links to commentaries, studies and reports from major international think tanks on the state of the EU and possible reforms.

Earlier think tank publications on challenges facing the EU can be seen here and here.

Brexit-related publications could also be found in separate editions of ‘What Think Tanks are thinking.’

More reports specifically on euro zone reforms are also gathered in another in the series from December 2017

Compiler: Marcin Grajewski