FiveOthers in the United States Politicians often ask whether the European Union is better off now than it was four years ago. As the EU eagerly awaits the European Parliament elections, which run from 6-9 June, it is tempting to dwell too much on the fact that it has been five years since we last went to the polls. It has been five years the EU would rather forget. Eight months after the May 2019 vote, the UK left, and the EU lost its first member state in its 60-year history. A few weeks later, COVID-19 struck. The continent emerged from lockdown only to find war erupting on its doorstep, an energy crisis stalling economies and the fortunes of xenophobic parties on the rise.
Those who believe things can only get better may be in for a tough test. Sure, Brexit is settled, energy prices are down, and the pandemic is fading from memory. But the war in Ukraine continues, and far-right figures like Marine Le Pen in France and Viktor Orbán in Hungary are gaining more power. To make matters worse, the election results are likely to mark a period of political instability. At best, the leaders of 27 countries and Hungary’s european unionAt worst, the central body will be focused for months on internal maneuvering over who gets which job in Brussels, or at worst, a dispute over the future direction of the EU. european union This situation could continue until the end of the year, leaving a political vacuum even as the Trump administration prepares to take office.
