The report of the Future of Europe Group, released
on 17 September 2012, warrants careful consideration by E.U. citizens and their
state and federal officials. Beyond the various reforms proposed in the
document is the critical notion that not every state need be a part of the
enhanced integration (i.e., the additional governmental sovereignty being
shifted to the Union from the states). This assumption applies both to the
proposals themselves and to the application of a super-majority in place of
unanimous consent to future amendments to the E.U.’s basic law. It follows that
if the Czech Republic and Britain prefer the status quo, this would not prevent
other states from going on to closer union. From an American standpoint, this “dual
or multiple track” approach to federalism is quite foreign.
The
complete essay is at Essays on Two Federal Empires.
The E.U. flag at the European Commission.
