Written by Marcin Grajewski,
Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, delivers his annual State of the Union speech to the European Parliament on 14 September 2016, at a time when the EU faces several crises that are testing its ability to offer solutions to citizens. Britain’s recent vote to leave the EU, the migration crisis, continued economic stagnation, the rise of populism and xenophobia, and Russia’s assertive foreign policy are all major challenges prompting serious debate about future policy options.
This note offers links to commentaries, studies and reports on the topic from major international think tanks on the state of the EU and possible reforms. Publications on euro area reforms can be found in a previous edition of ‘What Think Tanks are Thinking.’ More papers the future of the EU-UK relations are available in another recent edition of this series.

Europe after Brexit: A proposal for a continental partnership
Bruegel, September 2016
A flexible Europe after the Brexit vote
Carnegie Europe, September 2016
Comment rendre l’Europe à nouveau populaire? Fondation Robert Schuman, September 2016
Future of the EU27: What to expect from this summer’s period of reflection
Centre for European Policy Studies, July 2016
Juncker’s weakness? His lack of vision for the future of the EU
Clingendael, July 2016
The need to re-engage Europe’s youth
European Policy Centre, July 2016
The state of the European Union 2016: Europe at the political crossroads
Fundación Alternativas, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, June 2016
No time to waste in crafting a new narrative for Europe
Friends of Europe, July 2016
The EU, despite everything? European public opinion in the face of crisis (2005-2015)
Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute, June 2016
Europe and the people: Examining the EU’s democratic legitimacy
Foreign Policy Centre, June 2016
The EU Global Strategy: Going beyond effective multilateralism?
European Policy Centre, June 2016
Extrémismes, populismes et nationalismes à l’assaut de l’Europe
Fondation Robert Schuman, June 2016
Europe’s wake-up call
Friends of Europe, June 2016
Message to and from the European political leadership: Agreeing to disagree on strategy is a luxury the EU can no longer afford
Egmont, May 2016
Community: Discovering ties that bind
Policy Network, May 2016
Making sense of Europe’s cohesion challenge
European Council on Foreign Relations, May 2016
Participatory democracy in the EU: Obstinate or obsolete?
College of Europe, May 2016
A proposal for Europe
LUISS School for European Political Economy, April 2016
The parliamentarisation of the EU’s economic policy
Clingendael, April 2016
Differentiated integration: Different routes to EU cooperation
Advisory Council on International Affairs, April 2016
Democracy and legitimacy in the EU: Challenges and options
Istituto Affari Internazionali, February 2016
Deutschland und Frankreich. Der Neustart des europäischen Motors
Stiftung Genshagen, January 2016
2015: “Annus horribilis” pour l’Union européenne ?
Terra Nova, January 2016
A multi-speed EU? An institutional and legal assessment
Istituto Affari Internazionali, December 2015
Euroscepticism and europhobia: The threat of populism
Fondation Robert Schuman, December 2015
Blocked for good by the threat of treaty change? Perspectives for reform in the European Union
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, November 2015
The state of Europe 2015: Addressing Europe’s crises: Policy crossroads
Friends of Europe, November 2015
Centripetal forces in Europe: Cartography
Foundation for European Progressive Studies, November 2015
What do the people want? Opinions, moods and preferences of European citizens
Bertelsmann Stiftung, October 2015
The EU and referenda: Structural incompatibility?
Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute, September 2015
What government for the European Union? Five themes for reflection and action
Istituto Affari Internazionali, September 2015
Europe behind (mis)understandings
Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, September 2015
Faith in European project reviving: but most say rise of eurosceptic parties is a good thing
Pew Research Centre, June 2015
2014 European elections: an upsurge in Europhobia or business as usual?
Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute, May 2015
More integration, less federation: the European integration of core state powers
Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies – European University Institute, May 2015
Which federalism for Europe? Centre Maurits Coppieters, April 2015
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These think tanks & their experts simply don’t have a clue about what we voted for. We voted to leave the EU, to leave the Single Market & all it’s tentacles. We wan’t to draw a line under this sorry experience. If the EU wants to trade with the UK it must meet British Standards just as we must meet EU standards when trading with the continent. We should leave the continent to those on the continent & they must keep out of our sovereign interests. If a Simple Free Trade Agreement can’t be achieved then WTO is just fine.