ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL: EUROPEAN
INTEGRATION BY DIFFERENTIATION
SEPTEMBER 2018
THE ISSUE
Reforming the governance of the European Union has become urgent for three reasons:
to better deal with politically-sensitive topics, to manage greater external challenges
and because future EU enlargement will increase the diversity of the bloc’s membership.
The answer to disagreement typically has been qualified majority voting, but on
sensitive topics, the EU has increasingly moved to unanimity and heavy European
Council involvement, which has often not delivered results. The alternative answer has
been a Europe of multiple speeds of integration with one shared goal for all, increasing
political tensions. A different approach is now needed to move Europe forward.