Facing Permacrisis: to Remain the Same,
the EU Needs to Change
Overview
The EU evolves through crises. As a sui generis project, it does not have a pre-defined destination point and is constantly ‘in the making’. Shocks and disruptions point to the weak links in its construction and urge the EU to expand in the directions neither initially envisioned nor easily predictable. The trend is unlikely to slow down any time soon. This calls for the EU to become a pro in crisis management. To remain the same, the EU needs to change – constantly.
The third issue of the Future Europe Journal is dedicated to exploring how Europe has been transitioning to new modes of functioning due to its multi-faceted crisis management. In their contributions, our authors reflect on two interrelated dynamics. On the one hand, the papers study how the European markets and industries adapted to new challenges and demands. On the other hand, the authors focus on innovative instruments and practices that policymakers could utilise to navigate crises and out-of-the-ordinary scenarios on the EU level. Both angles shed light on the long-term transformations and trajectories to which the European states, markets, and the Union as a whole are heading.
As the two sides of the same coin, challenges and opportunities usually go hand in hand. This is another chance for the EU to present a counterargument to populists and showcase its added value to European citizens.