#2017: All roads lead to Rome - #12DaysofChristmas

The EU has never been more challenged and at the same time more needed. European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, said earlier in 2016 that the EU faced an “existential crisis”. We think it is important to distinguish between an existential crisis and a right old mess, writes Catherine Feore.

The UK is in an existential crisis, a crisis that is almost certainly going to become more deep and divisive as we find out what a “red, white and blue” Brexit actually means. 2016’s 'binary choice' will look like child’s play compared with working out what the EU-27 has in store and what influence the UK has over its destiny – and, please note, it is the EU-27 that holds all the cards. Our prediction is that a lot of Brits will find themselves googling: ‘WTO’, ‘free trade agreement’, ‘customs union’ and ‘Brexit – what were we thinking!’

While the rest of the EU has its own problems, the UK’s one is very much about how it defines itself and its raison d’être– we are talking about a full-blown existential crisis – good luck with that!

The EU, on the other hand, is in a bit of a mess rather than an existential crisis – there are no easy solutions to the problems that the EU-27 faces. All solutions mean 'more Europe', at a time when Europeans are wary of deeper co-operation. Sixty years on, the spirit of 1957 and the Treaty of Rome will need to be revived.

In another of our ’12 Days of Christmas’ series, we look back at our videos from 2016. This short video highlights the profound challenges that the eurozone may face in 2017 and its possible knock-on effects. If we don’t get this right, the EU will face an existential crisis.

We interviewed Eurointelligence Director and Financial Times columnist Wolfgang Münchau at an event in the European Parliament, 'Still time to reform the euro?', organized by the Greens/European Free Alliance, who argue that the eurozone is doomed to break up if fundamental issues facing it are not addressed.

To borrow from Winston Churchill: “Casting up this dread balance-sheet, contemplating our dangers with a disillusioned eye, I see great reason for intense vigilance and exertion, but none whatever for panic or despair.” Yet.

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