This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, the physical manifestation of the ideological divisions of the European continent and a symbol of the decades-long split between European nations. The European project, which is the term used for the idea of a united Europe, developed as a consequence of World War II and intensified after the end of the Cold War, because it was perceived that the pursuit of national self-interest by European countries has long threatened peace on the continent. With time, this vision materialized in the form of the EU, currently encompassing 28 (27 after the UK left) out of the more than 40 countries in Europe. The success of this supranational entity relies on the premise of eliminating borders between European states and invalidating the role of nationhood and sovereignty, for the benefit of consensual decision-making. Therefore, the question of national sovereignty and the degree to which individual states are willing to forego self-rule is at the heart of the debate on the future of the EU.

The preamble of the Treaty on European Union emphasizes the commitment assumed by all member states to “continue the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe”, solidifying an ideal of a European integration, the level of which remains vague. It is precisely this undefined form of the ever closer union which has been the cause of many a disagreement between member states, all of which have demonstrated a distinct understanding and preference for what the end result of the European project should be. Expressions of these preferences could be seen in the numerous opt-outs of the United Kingdom, the referenda in France and the Netherlands voting down a European Constitution, the push for a greater political union of the Western member states versus the partiality for preserving sovereign decision-making of the Eastern member states, and last but not least in the reality of Brexit. While the prospect of the United Kingdom's exit from the EU was observed with general disappointment, many among the European federalists also viewed it as an opportunity for the EU to pursue its plans for a closer political integration. Nevertheless, there remains a dissonance among the remaining EU member states on the final stage of European integration and the level of sovereignty states are willing to cede.