Wanting Europe, Doubting Europe: Can We Close the Gap?
Most Europeans want a stronger, more united Europe, yet few believe their leaders can deliver it. This is one of the key findings of Future Nostalgia: Europe’s Unfinished Song, a recent study by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) based on around 5,800 interviews in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom. Despite the rise of anti-European parties, especially in France and Germany, nearly three quarters of respondents call for a strong European vision, while a majority see Europe in decline and doubt that it is responding effectively to today’s challenges.
Taking this report as a starting point, the discussion will explore the gap between what citizens expect from Europe and what they believe it can achieve.
- Why does support for European integration coexist with such deep pessimism?
- How can the EU be explained better to those who feel disconnected from it?
- And what does this mean for those who argue for a more federal Europe?
Speakers
- Lambertus Robben, Founder and CEO of EU Made Simple
- Camille Chenaux, Political scientist and university lecturer, Author of the book "The Crisis of the Nation-State and European Populisms" (in italian)
Moderator
- Luca Lionello, Professor of EU Law, Chair of UEF Policy Commission 1