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THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
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international organisation but also a political
system for integration between nation states.
Such integration presupposes the existence of a
tight network of political, economic and social
relations both at the level of member states and
of individual citizens, as the result of 43 years of
integration. Although the UK, with a history of
jealously preserving its sovereignty, is the least
integrated member state, the task of undoing
this integration is a daunting one that will affect
every area of government.
It therefore seems likely that Brexit will give
rise to three separate treaties: a treaty of with-
drawal, a treaty defining the future relationship
between the UK and the EU, and a third treaty
to reform the Union itself. If the process is to be
a success, then the 27 remaining members and
the EU’s institutions must engage in the calm
but decisive renewal of the European project,
enabling the EU to be a credible player on the
global stage and delivering the results that its
citizens expect.