Is the European Union truly unreformable or just misunderstood?
In short: For decades, the debate over Europe has swung between total withdrawal and radical reform. While some see an unstoppable bureaucratic empire, others argue that the very tools needed to fix the bloc are being ignored. Is Euroscepticism a movement of rejection, or a desperate plea for democratic accountability?
Euroscepticism is far from a monolithic movement. Political scientists often distinguish between 'hard' Euroscepticism—or anti-EU-ism—which seeks the complete withdrawal of member states, and 'soft' Euroscepticism, known as Eurorealism. The former, exemplified by the UK's Brexit campaign, views the EU as an unreformable entity. The latter, practiced by groups like the European Conservatives and Reformists, seeks to reform the institutional framework to protect national sovereignty and the principle of subsidiarity.
The drivers of this discontent are diverse and span the political spectrum. Right-wing populists often focus on nationalism, immigration, and the perceived loss of national identity, particularly following the 2015 migrant crisis. Conversely, left-wing populists, such as France's La France Insoumise, tend to target economic issues, criticizing the EU as a neoliberal organization that drives privatization and austerity at the expense of the working class.
Public sentiment has proven remarkably volatile. Trust in EU institutions plummeted between 2007 and 2015, with support for membership hitting lows in the UK, Latvia, and Hungary. However, recent years have seen a surprising resurgence in pro-European sentiment. By March 2025, support for the EU reached an all-time high, with 74% of citizens believing membership is beneficial—the highest level since 1984. This shift is attributed to rising security concerns from the Russo-Ukrainian war and geopolitical instability, which have reframed the EU as a necessary shield against external threats.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Euroscepticism
- Also: www.surrey.ac.uk — What is Euroscepticism? | University of Surrey
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