Werner Weidenfeld and Wolfgang Wessels in conversation about Euroscepticism, populism and the future of the EU
As part of the democracy campaign “Quo vadis, democracy?”, we conducted an insightful interview with Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Werner Weidenfeld (pictured right) and Prof. Dr Wolfgang Theodor Wessels (pictured left), the editors of the Yearbook of European Integration. On the occasion of the upcoming European elections on 9 June 2024, the two political scientists shed light on the current challenges and opportunities facing the European Union. From the threat of increasing Euroscepticism and populism to the opportunities for strengthening European integration, Weidenfeld and Wessels provide an in-depth analysis of Europe’s political landscape.
Challenges and opportunities of the 2024 European elections
What challenges do you see for the 2024 European elections, particularly with regard to the rise of Euroscepticism and populism?
“Europe is under threat from outside and from within. There is more than just a major crisis looming.
Let’s remember that the unification of Europe was the great historical response to the world wars and the many millions of deaths. The unification of Europe was intended to protect peace and freedom. And it did so for many decades. Now, however, a scenario of discord is once again present. Europe is now threatened by wars (Russia against Ukraine, Middle East wars) and by nationalist erosion from within. The anti-Europeans are speaking out ever more loudly. Europe’s message of peace is being eroded from within.
In stark contrast to this, the European Union is attractive to many countries that were not previously part of it. They are now desperate to join: Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo. The attraction for the desirability of future members stands in sharp contrast to the internal crises, self-doubt and distancing within the EU. Against this background, the structure of the EU needs to be changed.
It is no coincidence that the pursuit of strategic autonomy and the ability to act strategically is now at the centre of conceptual reflection. Current reform activities have been largely inconclusive, such as the experiment of the ‘Conference on the Future of Europe’, where many thousands of Europeans were given the opportunity to put forward reform proposals. It was a really great initiative – but so far it has not resulted in any significant reform steps. Populism with strong forms of Euroscepticism pose particular challenges for pro-European parties, which must be met with convincing arguments and effective policies.”
What opportunities does the 2024 European election offer to strengthen European integration and ensure the future viability of the EU?
“The foundations of an integration policy must be presented to voters once again and in a timely manner.”
Topics and trends in the 2024 European elections
Which issues do you think will dominate the 2024 European elections?
“The dominant topics of the European elections will be Migration, social security, environmental protection, defence.
Germany is not the only country where far-right forces are experiencing a political boom. Just look at France, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands and several other countries. The fight against the right will also determine the European election campaign.”
The future of European integration
What is your vision for the future of European integration after the 2024 European elections?
“Europe must develop strategic perspectives. It must not simply drift into situational crisis management. Crisis management has now become the actual content and appearance of politics.
The core elements of the European narrative include not only its hegemonic crises but also its impressive historical successes. Again and again, the question of the principles that shape Europe needs to be clarified and this raises the question of the governance structure. This is also the key to ending the era of confusion. The management structure must be clarified in order to provide strategic clarity. It is therefore not a question of daydreaming about a new historical era. It is about shaping interdependence for the future. This requires strategic minds.
What else needs to be done? Security must be reorganised in a new and effective way – from a European army to European cyber security and the transnational organisation of internal security. In addition, the political framework of economic and monetary union requires a stronger capacity to act. All of this can only be realised through ‘differentiated integration’. It is not necessary to wait for a ‘Europe of 26’ with every new departure, but rather to focus on the respective circles capable of co-operation. All of this should be conceptually steered by a strategic future council.
A look at history shows that crises have led to learning processes and then to solutions to problems. A lack of answers to the question of meaning has led to disasters. The orientation of the next Europe is therefore the intellectual contribution to avoiding catastrophe. This orientation must also offer solutions for the elementary problem categories of the unification of Europe:
- the question of legitimacy
- ensuring transparency
- the clarification of leadership structures
- global political co-responsibility.
How have such difficulties been successfully tackled so far? The prospect of success was offered by close strategic co-operation between Germany and France. This was the case in the 1950s with the start of the Treaty of Rome and the subsequent conclusion of the Franco-German Friendship Treaty. So it was in response to the great economic decline in the 1970s and 1980s, which was called ‘Eurosclerosis’. French President Mitterand and German Chancellor Kohl turned their attention to this almost incurably ill continent. Together they created the Economic and Monetary Union. This approach also offers the prospect of a solution for the present. Germany and France must work together to develop and implement the solution.”
Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Werner Weidenfeld is a German political scientist, university lecturer and political consultant. From 1987 to 1999, he was the German government’s coordinator for German-American cooperation. He is Director of the Centre for Applied Policy Research at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and co-editor of the Yearbook of European Integration.
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Theodor Wessels is a German political scientist. He holds the Jean Monnet Chair ad personam for Political Science, is a retired professor at the University of Cologne and Director of the Centre for Turkey and European Studies (CETEUS) at the University of Cologne. Wessels is co-editor of the Yearbook of European Integration.
