“The only power which the EU was able to create is the Economic one. A new Europe was never born”OPINION by A. Nasone and A. Pinna

Which Federalism for Europe? it is a short paper, which was conceived as basis for discussion to create a new perspective for the European Federalism. The starting point of this paper is the missed transformation of the European Union towards federalism. In fact, it has kept its composition through time and its institutional form based on the old States as well as the fundamental reason of its foundation, the social-economic union.

The end of the Cold-War, which divided for 40 years the European people, could have been the chance for Europe to redraw its institutions and design a new civil life based on the communities of European People. Instead, it was always preferred the organization based on the old rules imposed by the States and also the accession of new member states was made possible only through the formula of enlargement, without questioning the basis of the common living.

The only power which the EU was able to create, binding for all the citizens, is the Economic-Banking one. A new Europe was never born. The European Communities are caught between the permanence of Old States on one side and the arbitrary decisions of the only decision-making body that the European Union managed to create, the BCE, on the other side. Europe is running the risk of being transformed in a territory dominated by the most powerful States and ruled by institutions, like the BCE, sorely lacking of popular legitimacy.

In order for a Europe of the Communities to exist, all equal in worth, the acceptance of democratic rules it is not enough. A democracy able to rediscover the sense of a community should be the task that the EU should have; not the creation of a “super-State” which removes the diversities. We should have the courage to think about European identity as a mosaic, where different traditions and way of living are protected.

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Antonello Nasone and Attilo Pinna. Researchers of the Istitutto camillo Bellieni and authros of the Centre Maurits Coppieters policy paper on Which Federalism for Europe?