Which way the European Union is going
European integration remains one of the dominant trajectories within European states. Moreover, European Union usually recognized as a perfect example for intergovernmental theory of integration. But not everything is that perfect in the EU’s model. Modern European citizens are blaming the EU for a lack of the democratic accountability and absence of the consent in the key areas of decision-making process. Those factors put the public legitimacy of the European Union under the question. In the light of current economical (Greece, Cyprus) and political (United Kingdom, Italy) stagnation it is difficult to predict which way further trajectories of the European integration will aim for. It is also hard to know which new members, if any, will join the EU, as well as when will they do so, and under what circumstances.
Polemical questions about further enlargement of EU and what gains and losses would it bring along, solely depends on particular state. The word ‘disintegration’ has a contradicting meaning compare to integration and we have to be careful and very specific in the way of using it. However, some of the political analysts have been using quite often. It is true that some countries such as United Kingdom is having a plan to withdraw from European Union. The outcome of this referendum is uncertain and there is no guaranty if the plans on referendum will ever come true. Even though David Cameron promised that he will ask British citizens on whether staying or withdraw from EU, but what he will not win, what if he will not keep his promises. And even in case of holding the referendum, results of it is uncertain, because of indifference of the British people in relation to this issue. Eurobarometer’s pools demonstrate slowly declining popularity of such extreme measure as EU withdrawal. There are plenty of the factors (political, cultural, economical, social, etc.) that could impact the upcoming referendum results; nonetheless, none of them is able to secure the outcome.
The question here, in case citizens will vote in favor for withdrawal from EU: would it mean European disintegration of UK? For the reason that European region does not end with the borders of EU, my answer on the above question would be NO. The United Kingdom would still be a part of the European region and not just geographically, but it is planning on keeping its ties of cooperation.
The European region has evolved along with its nation-states development. It is crucial to distinguish the level of cooperation and integration within the region before getting involved in the organization, because not all countries are the same and for some of them such membership would bring more negative than positive results.