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The EditorsMarch 03, 2016

When is the last time you heard good news coming out of Brussels? Between the Greek debt crisis and a resurgent Russia, ISIS-inspired attacks and an influx of refugees, it has been a rough few years for the European Union. Now many in the United Kingdom want out. Following marathon negotiations with European leaders in February, Prime Minister David Cameron, fulfilling a campaign promise, announced a referendum, scheduled for June 23, to decide the future of the country’s E.U. membership.

Mr. Cameron called for the vote only after winning a number of concessions from Brussels, including limits on the benefits that must be paid to E.U. migrant workers; fair treatment for countries that opt out of the euro; and, most significant, assurance that “references to ever-closer union do not apply to the United Kingdom.” While the prime minister is now campaigning to remain within that union, a number of his fellow Tories support the so-called Brexit, and the British public is almost evenly split on the question.

Many of the challenges facing Europe—from migration to climate change—do require a unified response. But E.U. leaders cannot combat growing euroskepticism, not just in Britain but in countries from Greece to Germany, by simply dismissing nationalist sentiment as a relic of the last century. If the future is not to be “ever-closer union,” E.U. defenders need to formulate a new vision for the European project—and they should not wait until June 23 to do so.

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William Rydberg
9 years 4 months ago
I seem to recollect that these are the same people that turned down Pope St John Paul II's request that they include a tiny reference to Europe's Christian Roots in their Founding Constitution. Considering that from a Catholic perspective, it is in God that we "live and move..." Acts 17:28. One can only wonder what the future holds in post-modern terms for the European Project ? For European Project philosophy in my opinion is summarized: To poorly quote John Lennon's song: "...imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try no hell below..." Just an administrative paradise... Just one Trans-Pacific Partnership away... Just wondering...
Adam Hochfelder
9 years 4 months ago
Europe has lost control of the migrant crisis.

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