EU elite meets with new buzz and bounce in its step 

THE 27 EU presidents and prime ministers will meet on Monday and Tuesday with a new spring in their step, despite the war in Ukraine which is approaching its 100^th day. 

Notwithstanding that traumatic conflict; the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which could yet worsen again this autumn and winter; and Brexit-related problems over the Northern Ireland protocol; a significant number of European politicians sense that there is now a historic window of opportunity to drive forward the integration project. 

While this upbeat mood may be surprising to some, crises have often been key moments of opportunity for the EU in which federalist-minded leaders have sought momentum in the project of ‘ever closer union’.  The period since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a truly historic one for the continent with unexpected unity amongst the 27 states around several big waves of sanctions against Moscow, plus also significant movement forward on internal European projects in areas ranging from defence to energy.