EIRP Proceedings, Vol 12 (2017)

Abstract

The year 2017 was designed at the level of European public opinion as the crucial moment for the evolution of theEuropean Union. Scenarios and speculation have sprouted European media channels, creating a state of tension within theMember States. Today, the European Union resembles with the “European Concert” after the 1815 peace in Vienna, which wasbased on the balance of power, than with the Europe of the founding fathers, based on the harmonization of interests and thejoy of working together for the common good European. To open the debate about EU’s future, the European Commissionturned to the scenario method. This is not the first time this is the case. In other cases, the scenarios referred to a specific typeof common European policy. Looking at the figures for confidence in their own governments and in the European Union in theautumn 2016 Eurobarometer, it was clear that in the Member States, officials in leadership positions had to guide their decisionsaccording to citizens' attitudes if they wanted to remain in power or to win elections. At the same time, mistrust had to betransformed into trust by decisions taken to satisfy citizens. The political context in which the Member States are located mustnot be overlooked. In the last year, elections took place in Austria, the Netherlands, France and will take place in Germany.Therefore, the influence of the electoral factor cannot be neglected as part of building decisions on the position adopted by astate within the European Union.