integration

Five years after the “EU-Turkey statement” it is time for a review. This statement of 29 November 2015 has defined a comprehensive roadmap for deepening EU-Turkey relations. It is perceived to represent an institutional shift from a rules-based...

The COVID-19 pandemic poses new challenges for the European Union (EU). It is not a repetition of previous crises of European integration. The expectations, but also the confidence of the EU citizens are higher. Divergences between Member States...

In March 2018, the European Commission introduced two Directive proposals to target tax challenges in the era of digitalization. The first Directive proposal suggests to introduce a digital services tax of 3 percent on gross revenues from digital...

Three months after the initially scheduled start of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) its design remains unclear. While the European Parliament proposed a rather ambitious concept of a “European Convention 2.0”, the European Council...

In an increasingly intergovernmental European Union (EU), minilateral formations can reduce the complexity of EU decision-making. However, block formation can also complicate it. Therefore, bilateral diplomacy has to build bridges between these...

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only putting European financial solidarity to the test, but also the common values of the European Union (EU). In Hungary and Poland, the governments are using the situation to undermine democratic principles and expand...

Although the euro area looks back at a phase of comprehensive reforms, its fiscal institutions still lack a consistent shape. The article analyses how the competition between two distinct models of a European Fiscal Union (EFU) has created the...

The Brexit negotiations constituted unchartered political and institutional territory for the European Union (EU). This analysis shows how a new institutional approach enabled the EU-27 to present an unusually united front. The “Barnier method”...

Based on a new anthology on the future of Europe in the light of Euroscepticism, this article examines how the increasing prominence of Eurosceptic and nationalist parties is affecting the thinking of mainstream parties, their representatives in...

Recently, there has been a renewed interest in infringement procedures as a tool against dismantling the rule of law and democracy in Member States of the European Union (EU). Against this background, this article analyses all seven rule of...

Gender equality is an essential component of the ambitious agenda of the new President of the European Commission. After years of stagnation, this policy field shall see a revival; the vision is a “Union of Equality”. As part of the working...

This article questions whether and to what extent the European Union’s (EU) regional and cohesion policy benefits the supported regions and particularly their citizens. It highlights three dimensions of the European policy: its goals, its modes of...

In view of the limited perception of Central Asia by the European public and the increasing importance of the region for Europe, the article outlines a communication strategy for the future promotion of Central Asia in Europe. The aim is to provide...

After years of crisis, 2019 has witnessed possible signs for a thaw in the relations between the European Union (EU) and Russia. The strongest proponent of a rapprochement between the two actors is the French President Emmanuel Macron. He believes...

Transformation processes at both the political and societal level are decisive factors for the future integration process of the European Union. Among the member states, highly variable causes for change are evident and particularly the...

In May 2019, the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted a new Central Asia Strategy. Drivers behind the strategic renewal were transformations in Central Asia, the new geopolitical context, lessons from the implementation of the previous...

Web-based data collections are having a growing impact on European integration research. However, analysing this type of data is becoming increasingly challenging for researchers. A so-called third methodological level can be identified, namely the...

The European Parliament and the European Council have been considered the two winners of the Lisbon Treaty reforms. Through their different structure and democratic legitimacy, the institutions can be understood as the antipodes in a bipolar system....