The European Integration: Some Food for Thought di Klaus Tuori – Leonardo Mellace
The last few years have probably caused a radical transformation of the European project, undermining our “certainties”. The Islamic terrorist attacks, the endless landings of refugees in the southern Mediterranean and the economic and financial crisis have resulted in creating the rise of populist and nationalistic movements, that opened a new era for the European integration. We stand at a crossroads for the future of our Continent and, even though it is hard to say, the Union is somehow in deep trouble.
If Brexit didn’t cause a “domino effect” on other EU Member States – without leading to an institutional crisis –, the fight against terrorism and the management of migration flows put Europe on the side of a slippery slope. Furthermore, the economic crisis has limited the political discretion of the European Countries and it restrained somehow the national welfare states pretences, creating an intense crisis of social rights. In addition, the new hegemony of the financial markets – or, I should say, of some financial players, which speculate on the financial health of those countries that are in distress – has increased the problem of the democratic deficit.
At a time when the focus is on the budgets rather than on the asylum seekers who are knocking on Europe’s doors, a “People’s Europe” must be built as a matter of urgency.
Klaus Tuori is one of the most prominent scholar of EU law and is mostly famous for his research on the topics of European Central Bank, financial markets, law and economy and EU constitutional law. In addition, Professor Tuori is the author of various books and articles on the Eurozone crisis. Nevertheless, the present interview takes cues from the seminar Professor Tuori held at Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, as part of the PhD Program in “Teoria del diritto e Ordine giuridico ed economico europeo”.