The European Union (EU) has been referred to as one of the most successful post- Second World War projects, helping maintain peace and prosperity in Europe for over six decades. However, there have been increasing concerns about its future. Economic problems within the Eurozone have led to significant political turmoil among the member states, posing serious challenges to the cohesion of the Union.
The session discussed issues revolving around the European Union, namely the future of the Union and the prospects for European disintegration, and questions regarding membership of candidate countries such as Turkey. It began with a question posed to the panel by moderator David Foster on whether Brexit and the rise of populism were signposts of the failure of the European Union.