Sergio Fabbrini proposes a way out of the EU's crises, which have triggered an unprecedented cleavage between 'sovereignist' and 'Europeanist' forces. The intergovernmental governance of the multiple crises of the past decade has led to a division on the very rationale of Europe's integration project. Sovereignism (the expression of nationalistic and populist forces) has demanded more decision-making autonomy for the EU member states, although Europeanism has struggled to make an effective case against this challenge. Fabbrini proposes a new perspective to release the EU from this predicament, involving the decoupling and reforming of the EU: on the one hand, the economic community of the single market (consisting of the current member states of the EU and of others interested in joining or re-joining it); and on the other, the political union (largely based on the eurozone reformed according to an original model of the federal union).

'Europe's Future provides an incisive analysis of the design weaknesses of the European Union - its dual supranational and intergovernmental character - and explains how that structure has contributed to the extraordinary surge of opposition to the EU among voters across the continent. Sergio Fabbrini, one of the leading scholars of the EU, presents his case in a highly readable form and provides guidance as to how it can get out of its current predicament.'

Francis Fukuyama - Stanford University, California

'Fabbrini’s book is a twofold exercise in lesson-drawing and forward-looking. He designs a stimulating and challenging alternative to the present process of Europeanisation by decoupling market objectives from the aspiration of political integration. Both scholars and students will be nourished with food for thought aplenty in this rich and provocative study.'

Yves Mèny - European University Institute, Florence

'In a brilliant and complex study, Fabbrini develops a powerful explanation of the EU’s present malaise and an original perspective on its possible correction. The way forward suggested would decouple the supranational regime of the Single Market from a more selective 'federal union'. This fascinating vision of a federal union 'functioning without a people, a government and a state' will push the debate on EU reforms beyond the current agenda of predictably ineffective or illegitimate proposals.'

Fritz W. Scharpf - Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung, Cologne

'In this tour de force, Fabbrini boldly demonstrates how and why the EU’s current institutional architecture, challenged by the euro and migration crises combined with the rise of nationalism and populism, can only be resolved by creating two unions, the economic one wide, for the Single Market, the political one deep, around the Euro area.'

Vivien A. Schmidt - Boston University