In the beginning of the 21st century, the European Union faces important challenges. The departure of Great Britain after a long process that began with the referendum on June 23rd, 2016 is one of the most significant, but there are many other issues that occupy and concern politicians and citizens. The successive enlargements of the EU have been an important step towards European integration, but they have also been a source of problems. The political balances of the past have been broken or weakened by the emergence of new actors, including ambiguous or anti-integration populist movements. The recent invasion of Ukraine has highlighted how the European project is cherished by many Eastern Europeans. It seems that the EU is still desired by many.

However, Europe is not the solution to all problems either. The growing disparity in income levels among member countries as a result of successive enlargements has also posed a significant challenge in negotiating internal agreements. The structures of governance, the Common Agricultural Policy, regional solidarity mechanisms, and common trade policy have had to be revised and modernized, while new challenges have emerged in the areas of security and foreign policy. On the other hand, Europe must address the growing challenge of migration, which is ultimately an opportunity as well. The fight against climate change, the control and elimination of tax havens within and outside of Europe, the management of international aid in very poor countries, and the fight against international terrorism are other fronts that the European Union must address.

The Great Recession that began in 2008 complicated decision-making, and the current crisis arising (or worsened) from the coronavirus pandemic will not help. There is no consensus on how to solve the EU's problems, and a lack of political initiative can be very costly. The experience of Greece in 2015 revealed how the combination of unresolved problems with a bad international situation can lead to an economic catastrophe. However, the same crisis showed that all problems can be overcome, and that we can emerge stronger from the worst crises. Additionally, we know that none of these small or large tragedies has been truly original. The economic history of European integration is already quite long, and it teaches us that present turbulence is not so different from that of the past. The way in which past challenges were faced and resolved provides a guide for the future.

The European institutions have an origin that must be explained for a complete understanding of their functioning. Sometimes, this can be complex and even counterintuitive. However, changes in community policies and international agreements, including the founding treaties, follow certain logics that are not coincidental. The institutional framework has been crucial in how crises have been resolved. The directions that European integration has taken are explained by political confrontation and the need to reach mutually beneficial agreements.