Menu of options for EU’s future

‘WHITE PAPER’: SCENARIOS AFTER UK’S BREXIT VOTE

Eastern European nations fear being frozen out by big guns like France, Germany.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday unveiled a menu of options for the European Union’s (EU) future in the hope of rebuilding unity after Britain leaves the troubled bloc.

Juncker’s “white paper” was presented to the European Parliament in Brussels, before it is given to national leaders to help prepare for a key summit in Rome in March marking the European Union’s 60th anniversary.

Resistance has already begun against some scenarios, including a plan for a “multi-speed” Europe that poorer Eastern European nations fear will be used by big guns like France and Germany to freeze them out.

But many leaders are convinced the EU needs new answers after Britain’s vote to leave, and with fears of populist parties making headway in elections this year.

“We see Juncker’s white paper as being the birth certificate of the EU at 27,” after Britain becomes the first state to quit the 28-nation bloc, an EU source said on condition of anonymity.

“We want Rome to be a birthday celebration but also to start a very organised debate on a number of specific options that we think bring unity and cooperation.”

Former Luxembourg premier Juncker’s plan will involve a handful of “pathways”, reportedly four or five, to build “unity and cooperation” in the EU after years of economic and political crisis.

One option will be to allow EU countries to integrate at different speeds, with like-minded nations choosing to cooperate more closely on areas such as the euro currency and defence.

Another would be to keep the status quo, with EU countries trying to stay more unified, but with the downside that it would mean more bitter arguments on issues like migration.