The EC presented scenarios of the development of the European Union without the UK
BRUSSELS, 1 Mar — news, Maria Knyazev. The European Commission (EC) presented a White paper in which he showed five possible scenarios for the development of the European Union without the United Kingdom, as well as their implications by 2025, according to the message of the EC.
In the European Union, currently 28 countries, including the UK, but last year in a referendum in a country where the majority of the participants voted for secession from the EU.
As stated by the head of the EC Jean-Claude Juncker, whose words are included in the press release of the European Commission’s White paper, the 27 countries of the European Union it is time to form an opinion on their future. According to him, Brexit should not stop the EU in its development.
A source at the European Commission, who explained to journalists the content of the White paper, said that with the EC it was necessary to St. a number of reasons. Among them Brexit, the choice of Donald trump as President of the United States, the upcoming election in the EU for 2017.
In turn, European Commission President Juncker in the European Parliament, representing to deputies a White paper, noted that every day the world is changing. Changes come quickly in this context, he listed such issues as globalization, terrorism, migration, the impact of new technologies on society and employment. “It changes the daily lives of Europeans”, — said Juncker.
He also believes that there are significant challenges, but no such can’t cope with.
We need to move forward. But where Europe consisting of 27 member countries, is moving? In fact, there is no better time than the present to conduct this difficult discussion.Jean-Claude Underglove Of The European Commission
Based on the reports of the EC, the document will be discussed by EU heads of state at the summit in late March. The European Commission in the coming months will also present additional documents for reflection, including on deepening of economic and monetary Union in the EU, globalization, the future of defence and Finance.
Scenario
Juncker said that the EU could be more opportunities of development than described in the five scenarios by the European Commission. “They (the five scenarios — ed.) are neither mutually exclusive nor exhaustive” — said in a release from the European Commission.
According to head EK, the scenarios in the White paper are not the proposals of the European Commission.
The first scenario, according to the press release entitled “the Sequel”. Juncker noted that we are talking about the continuation of the current policy of the European Union.
According to the EC, among the advantages of this scenario that the EU will continue to yield concrete results, and that the unity of the 27 EU countries will be saved. Among the negative factors, including the fact that the unity of the Union may still be tested in times of major disagreements.
The second scenario is “Nothing but a single market.” We are talking about the fact that 27 countries can focus only on the formation and management of the internal market, if the countries of the Union are unable to agree on a unified position on political issues.
Among positive factors, the EC notes that the decision-making process may be more easy to understand.
Negatively that guaranteed by EU law rights of citizens of the Union can be over time is limited.
Juncker believes that the EU is something more than a free trade area than a market, goods and money. However, there are those who want to reduce the role of the European Commission to control the single market. Juncker opposes this.
The third scenario named “Those who want more — do more”. “The EU continues (work — ed.) as well as today, but allows interested countries to do more together in specific areas, such as defense, internal security, social issues,” — said in a press release. Therefore, you may receive a voluntary coalition of EU countries.
As suggested by the EC, the positive side of this scenario is, in particular, what is the unity of the 27 EU countries, and also becomes possible to progress for those who want more. But such developments may raise questions on the transparency of the process of making certain decisions. In addition, the rights of citizens guaranteed under the laws of the European Union, will differ depending on where they live.
The fourth scenario is to do less, but more efficiently. Under this scenario, the European Union focuses on getting to do more and be faster in certain political spheres, making, however, less where there is an understanding that it provides no added value. “Attention and resources focused on selected policy areas”, — stated in the message.
As noted by the EC, the positive aspects: citizens of countries of the Union will feel that the EU acts only where it sees real added value, and that such a focus will enable the Union of 27 countries to act faster. The negative factor is that the EU would have difficulty in agreeing these priorities.
The fifth and last scenario is entitled “to Do much more together.” Among the positive aspects: acceleration of the decision-making process at the EU level, the more rights citizens have under EU law.
Negative — the risk of alienating parts of society, which considers, for example, that the EU took it from the national authorities of the countries of the Union too much power.
This “White paper”, according to the report of the European Commission, should serve as a direction for further discussions of the leaders of the 27 EU countries. It will also be used by the EC as a starting point for wider public debate about the future of the continent, according to the document.