Future EU reforms [What Think Tanks are thinking]

Written by Marcin Grajewski.

Several simultaneous crises have put renewed pressure on the European Union to revise decision-making procedures and economic policies. Russia’s war on Ukraine, growing protectionism worldwide, technological rivalry with China and the US, problems with the rule of law in some Member States, post-pandemic issues and migration woes pose many challenges on the political side. On the economic front, many economists and politicians are calling for fiscal reforms, energy system overhaul and new EU funds. Those funds would finance the EU’s transition towards a green economy, and boost the bloc’s ability to deal with external shocks, such as the current energy crisis.

Among topics discussed are increasing the scope of qualified majority voting by EU Member States in the Council, creating more coherent unions for energy and health, improving rules for sharing the costs of immigration, and modifying enlargement policies. In the economic area, discussions focus on overhauling fiscal rules for the euro area and the wider EU, issuing more EU debt, countering unfair competition from abroad, increasing cooperation in the energy sector, and new industrial policies to foster growth of innovative and high-technology companies.

This note offers links to recent commentaries and reports from international think tanks on the EU and proposed reforms. Earlier papers on the State of the Union can be found in a recent edition of ‘What Think Tanks are Thinking’.

Economy

The European Stability mechanism is not ready for the next crisis
Centre for European Reform, November 2022

The EU’s trillion-euro question
European Policy Centre, November 2022

RePowering EU: Managing a tough energy transition
Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale, November 2022

European Union fiscal rules: is a better system feasible?
Bruegel, October 2022

Does the European Union need an energy crisis fund?
Bruegel, October 2022

European fiscal rules and the German debt brake: Reform options
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, October 2022

La stratégie industrielle de l’Union européenne: Concilier concurrence et défis géoéconomiques
Institut français des relations internationales, October 2022

The future of common borrowing
Jacques Delors Institute, October 2022

Monetary policy and central fiscal capacity in the euro area
LUISS School of European Political Economy, October 2022

Two large shocks in quick succession: How can Europe avoid another decade of growth disappointment?
Brookings Institution, September 2022

Should the European Union turn to financial markets to finance its programs?
Bruegel, September 2022

Politics

Europeans must prepare for the post-Biden era
Carnegie Europe, November 2022

Flexible ‘EU-centricness’ is the key ingredient to ensure the European Political Community’s success
Centre for European Policy Studies, October 2022

Can EU enlargement gain momentum?
Centre for European Reform, November 2022

Europe’s power is built upon its social contract
European Policy Centre, November 2022

After the storm: The EU in uncharted waters
European Policy Centre, November 2022

No power without values: Why the EU needs to embrace political leadership if it wants to safeguard democracy
European Policy Centre, November 2022

European strategic autonomy and defence after Ukraine
Real Instituto Elcano, November 2022

The European (geo)Political Community: More than meets the eye?
Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, October 2022

The EU and the creative and destructive impact of crises
Carnegie Europe, October 2022

Five takeaways from the European Political Community summit
Carnegie Europe, October 2022

The (sorry) state of EU defense cooperation
Carnegie Europe, October 2022

Analysis of the European Political Community misses the point
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, October 2022

A new generation of European Citizens’ Panels: Making citizens’ voices a regular part of policymaking
European Policy Centre, October 2022

Can Europe master its destiny through the European Political Community?
German Marshal Fund, October 2022

The potential implications of a proposed European Political Community
Institute of International and European Affairs, October 202

Towards QMV in EU foreign policy: Different paths at multiple speeds
Jacques Delors Centre, October 2022

More EU decisions by qualified majority voting: But how?
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, October 2022

The Commission v the member states: Who wins in court, and why?
Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies, October 2022

Enlarging and deepening: Giving substance to the European Political Community
Bruegel, September 2022

Five lessons on international rule of law support
Carnegie Europe, September 2022

European unity can endure the winter of discontent
Carnegie Europe, September 2022

The economic basis of democracy in Europe
Chatham House, September 2022

Science-based and evidence-based policy-making in the European Union: Coexisting or conflicting concepts?
College of Europe, September 2022

When founding member states look at the future of Europe: Benelux countries’ contribution to the COFOE
Egmont, September 2022

Mapping eco-social policy mixes for a just transition in Europe
European Trade Union Institute, September 2022

Strengthening the European Health Union
Federation for European Progressive Studies, September 2022

Is nationalism compatible with the European project?
Friends of Europe, September 2022

Divergence in the quality of political institutions in Europe
Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, September 2022

Putin vs Monnet: European resilience, energy and the Ukraine war
Istituto Affari Internazionale, September 2022

A new dawn for EU enlargement?
Peterson Institute for International Economics, September 2022

The Italian elections of 2022: What do they mean for the EU?
Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies, September 2022

EU subsidiarity as an antidote to centralisation and inefficiency
Wilfried Martens Centre, September 2022

Read this briefing on ‘Future EU reforms‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.