What Happens Next in 6 Minutes Will the EU Hold Together?
Nov 22, 2025
Nicolas Veron, a Senior Fellow at Bruegel and the Peterson Institute, offers deep insights on the resilience of the European Union amidst challenges like the banking crisis, Brexit, and the war in Ukraine. He discusses the mixed impact of Brexit, revealing how it unexpectedly strengthened EU cohesion. Veron critically examines the EU’s democratic processes and explores the tension between European and national identities. He concludes with an optimistic view on EU durability, emphasizing a dual embrace of national and European identities among citizens.
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Eurozone Survival Revealed Hidden Faults
- The Eurozone survived its 2010–2015 existential crisis by building new institutions like the European Stability Mechanism.
- Survival showed tangible resilience but left structural gaps like the absence of full fiscal union and incomplete banking union.
Brexit Strengthened EU Cohesion Unexpectedly
- Brexit did not trigger a domino collapse of the EU and may have increased cohesion among the remaining 27 members.
- Joint EU actions like unanimous borrowing for COVID relief likely would have been harder with the UK inside.
Ukraine War Is Viewed As Existential
- The war in Ukraine is widely seen in Europe as existential and the EU now finances most non-military and military supplies for Ukraine.
- European public opinion treats Russian aggression as an attack on Europe, driving strong financial and material support.
