A New Integration Era in the EU: Theory, Assessment and Main Challenges

Abstract

It is hard to re-create the edifice of a united Europe. It was based on substantial theoretical developments from integration theory, economics, international, political, cultural, social and other studies, layered at the top of economic, social, cultural and other existing foundations of nation-states. Their contribution in the unification is often disregarded, and has been overshadowed by problems encountered after the two most recent crises, the “Brexit”, the missing Eurozone components revealed and the realization that the European integration remains incomplete. After highlighting the most principal theoretical foundations and the recent, significant institutional and policy amendments at the common edifice, a long-term assessment of the EU integration process is attempted for the 1971–2015 period, by comparing GDP per head (in constant PPPs) and its change, for EU and non-EU states that are OECD members. Several points are raised on the unification and the mistakes made that risk harming it even further. It is suggested that a new, hitherto unidentified, integration stage has been formed that will require further use of economic theory and the setting-up of a common production union to advance competitiveness and co-operation, while espousing common European values and culture.