The State of the European Union. The European Parliament faces its most important elections yet

THE DIFFICULT ROAD TOWARDS A NECESSARY EUROPEAN FEDERAL UNION 67 shall be referred to the European Council”, un- der no circumstances can that examination de- prive a member state of the right given to it by the rest of the TEU, particularly Section 4 of the same Article. Scrapping unanimity, as well as the proposed European ratification referendum, could be included in the reform undertaken now – and it would be good to do so –, but – if they are finally written into the treaties – they will only apply to subsequent reforms. Conclusion The reforms presented here – sometimes in a schematic manner, owing to the format – may seem ambitious, especially in certain aspects but they are actually the logical progression of those introduced so far and an inevitable consequence of the situation inside and outside Europe. We believe that it is the time to start purposefully down the road towards a federal union to over- come the current political deterioration and re- sulting danger of the disintegration of the EU. And we are convinced that if it is explained well it will ultimately enjoy the support of a majority of Europeans. However, we know that it will be far from easy to reach an agreement on the scope and content of the institutional and regulatory re- forms that the EU needs to make progress down that road and, above all, for that agreement to be ratified by each and every one of the mem- ber states. There are many anti-European forces – both on the inside and the outside – who are not in the least interested in that project pros- pering and become a reality and that they will do everything in their power to stop it. Some of those forces are currently in power in certain member states, such as Hungary, Poland or Italy, and they could wreck the attempt, though probably not at its outset. However, a lot can happen in five years, the time that the new European legislative term is set to last, and opin- ions and interests can realign one way or an- other. Common sense prevails in the end, even if it is in small steps. Right now, the most sensi- ble thing is to move forward. The existence of Europhobic sectors cannot paralyse the process, but act as a stimulus to of- fer European citizens something better than what there is now. The worst thing we can do in the face of those who attack the EU is do noth- ing. Paralysis only encourages those who are against integration. Just as wolves hound their prey when it is tired or sick, nationalist and anti- European populisms are attacking a Union weakened by the alienation of its citizens, its in- complete institutional structure, its mistakes and the democratic deficit of its decisions during the crisis, which have led to greater inequality among countries and among sectors of society. Only a new political impetus that democra- tises the institutions and brings them closer to the people; the extension of the community method – undoubtedly the fairest and most neu- tral –; the construction of a solid federal political union that can manage a real economic and fis- cal union to the benefit of all; the consolidation of a more effective, more transparent structure, with more social policies, can combat the divisive tendencies and restore hope in a brighter future to citizens on the road to an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.