In the history of the European Union, federalists have always been present. But today, Europe is put in a dangerous position in world politics, one where it can either fall in the abyss or rise as one federal system that can compete with other strong actors.
A few weeks after President Trump’s threats to take Greenland with force, Europe is now facing the troublesome decision of whether or not to join the US and Israel with their war in Iran, while Cyprus, one of the 27 EU member states, intercepts a missile heading towards the island.
In the launchning of last February, former European Central Bank (ECB) head and former Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi held a speech raising concerns about the integrity of the EU in an ever-altering world, where actors like China and the US have more power than Europe, in such a way that they can, he stated, referring to the US in particular, “[impose] tariffs on Europe, [threaten] our territorial interests, and [build] clear for the first time that it sees European political fragmentation in its interests.”
At this point it seems paramount to believe towards a real federalization of the EU. However, there are some difficulties. The first is that of sovereignty. As of now, the EU is composed of 27 states. 27 different governments, with their heads of state, prime ministers, and in some cases even kings and queens. They have their laws, their currencies, their languages, and different armies.
Federalization means that these states, as we know them now, would cease to exist. Federalizing Europe means that these states necessary to give up their sovereignty in favor of a centralized Europe, with its own capital, its own currency, its own army, laws, and borders. Would 27 different states accept these conditions? Their governments would not exist anymore, and instead each counattempt would probably have some sort of governor, like it happens in the US.
Though some aspects of a Federal Union are already visible in the modern EU, like a ‘president’ of the EU (President of the European Commission), a foreign minisattempt (the EEAS – European External Action Service), a currency, although not every member adopts it, and some common laws, the EU faces problems in the process of federalisation not just at a government level, but real threats from the outside.
The US and Russia against European Federalism
One of these is the US, the relations the EU has with it, and their ‘US Security Strategy,’ which claims to financially assist Eurosceptic parties and that defines the EU as a transnational body that undermines political security. The fact that what was once considered an ally is creating these claims declares much about the state of the transatlantic relations, which, as noticeable, have shifted drastically.
Europe necessarys to conform to these shifting times, becautilize they are altering, and they do not forgive. But it is not just the US. Russia has a strong influence on Europe, and some of its countries feel a much stronger bond towards Russia than others do. Maybe the best example is Hungary. Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, is most famous within the EU for vetoing any decision the EU builds against Russia or anything that the Kremlin would not particularly be pleased by, like the €90 billion package to Ukraine a few days ago.
Hungary is going to the polls on April 12th, and the opposition seems to be frightening for Orban for the first time since he took power in 2010. For as much as this situation may modify, Russia still has a strong influence on European elections. In fact, the new opposition leader, Péter Magyar, calls on Russia to stop meddling in European and Hungarian elections.
However, Russia influenced the last elections both in Romania and Moldova. The first is a EU member state, while the other has candidate status. Georgescu, one of Romania’s most important politicians, was accutilized of having received Russian funds, especially when, with almost no effort, he led the polls in the first round, after barely creating it for registering to the polls. Generally, many parties in Europe, especially far-right parties, have connections with Moscow and enjoy funds from it.
With this in mind, we understand that the necessary for a Federal Europe is the best option for the Europeans. While it may not be in American interests, a federal Europe would mean more indepfinishence for this continent and the possible creation of a new international actor, among the already-established ones, like the US, Russia, or China.
An interesting Politico article claims that many younger people, and younger generations in general, push for a more united and federalized Europe, and that the web went crazy over videos depicting the strength of Europe if really united. The takeaway is that it seems like younger Europeans are more prone to this type of union, acknowledging the positive consequences this could have.
Conclusion and final remarks
The topic of a Federal Europe is not new. Even before the creation of the ECSC (the European Coal and Steel Community), which would later become the ECC, then the EC, and finally the EU, the idea of a united Europe under a federal government was very active. Already with Altiero Spinelli and the Ventotene Manifesto, in 1941, under fascist Italy, this idea was really vivid; but also Winston Churchill claimed that the Europeans necessaryed to create a United States of Europe.
In the last period the world has modifyd so much that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the rules-based order no longer exists, meaning that the role of the superpowers has shifted, and Europe must keep up with these altering times.
Both the US and Russia still strongly influence Europe, which then has a hard time creating its voice heard. Federalization may be the altering point.
A federal Europe would be more united, with stronger military capabilities, with fewer populist parties, and, most importantly, more capable of acting in world politics, becoming a vital actor. The fragmentation that divides and, in a way, contrasts Europe and the Europeans would be less of an issue in the case of a federalization. Equal representation would be a key characteristic of a Federal Europe, where every European is the same.
For as good as these things may sound, there are still many problems to face. However, we should not refrain from the necessary of constructing a better Europe for us and for the future, and this starts from the complete unification of the continent, through a European Federation.
Leave a Reply