European integration needs a broader societal debate about its purpose and future. Rather than focusing primarily on institutional reforms or calls for “more Europe”, the question should be what kind of Europe citizens want.
In this Commentary, Thomas Diez and Ebru Turhan make the case for a new Congress of Europe. Drawing lessons from previous attempts to debate Europe’s future, they argue that such a Congress should be driven by civil society, extend beyond the EU’s current borders and focus on broader visions for European integration. Despite the risks involved, the authors contend that an open debate about Europe’s fundamental principles is essential to reinvigorating the European integration project.
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