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G. Müller-Brandeck-Bocquet
What will remain of the European project –
Disintegration or Re-Start?
Gisela Müller-Brandeck-Bocquet
Abstract
At present, the European Union is suffering from an extremely severe crisis; one can no longer
categorically preclude a failure of the European project which up to now has consisted in a
constantly advancing process of deepening and widening of the integration community. Apparently,
the EU and the Euro Zone are drifting apart. This paper will argue that the numerous
and far reaching provisions undertaken so far to rescue the Euro will substantially strengthen
the Euro Zone. This piece will equally address the specific role Germany has been playing
within the ungoing reform process. Regarding the future, the question arises whether a “Euro
Zone core Europe” is to emerge which could secure the sustainability of the unification process.
Presumably, a re-start in the framework of a “Euro Zone core Europe” would confront
the EU of the 28+ Member States with a serious threat of disintegration engendering especially
dramatic implications for the so called Pre Ins. Such a re-start, however, might provide the
integration project with the sole prospects of survival – in any case it presents a challenge of
Herculean dimensions.