In 1957, the European experiment had been based on convergence and each time it faced a challenge, the clear solution was ‘more Europe’. Today, the new answers are being described as ‘a Europe at different speeds’ or ‘Europe with a variable geometry’ which struggles to accommodate the inevitable divergences among the increasingly heterogeneous 28 members. Sentiment has turned against the EU and its institutions and therefore ‘more Europe’ is no longer the acceptable answer. A crucial French electionNow, 2017 is a crucial year with elections in key European states. The 2017 elections will need to produce a new generation of European leaders like Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman if a remapping of Europe is to be prevented.

Source: The Hindu April 16, 2017 18:32 UTC