Contending European Views on a New Post-Brexit Balance

Summary:

The article compares the dominant views held by Northern, Southern, and Central and Eastern Europe in the aftermath of Brexit. The authors argue that much of the debate on Brexit's impact on the future of the European Union (EU) has focused on the roles of France and Germany, and that it is worthwhile to also take into account the concerns of smaller Member States. In this context, these are adapting their own EU policies and are forging new regional groupings and ad hoc coalitions to influence the EU's orientation.

Though some of those groupings predate Brexit, their relevance and functions have expanded in its wake. The countries involved want to use these new formats to serve as a counterweight to the Franco-German duo - or to the other regional blocs.