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v t e

Multi-speed Europe or two-speed Europe (called also "variable geometry Europe" or "Core Europe" depending on the form it would take in practice) is the idea that different parts of the European Union should integrate at different levels and pace depending on the political situation in each individual country. Indeed, multi-speed Europe is currently a reality, with only a subset of EU countries being members of the eurozone and of the Schengen area. Like other forms of differentiated integration such as à la carte and variable geometry, "multi-speed Europe" arguably aims to salvage the "widening and deepening of the European Union" in the face of political opposition.

Reasons and actuality of the concept

The concept entered political discourse when, after the end of the Cold War, an eastward enlargement of the European Union began to materialise and the question arose how "widening" could be made compatible with "deepening", i.e., how the imminent enlargement process could be prevented from diluting the idea of an "ever closer union among the peoples of Europe", as the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community of 1957 had put it. In 1994 – still at a time of the EU12 – the German Christian Democrats Wolfgang Schäuble and Karl Lamers published a document in which they called for a Kerneuropa (= core Europe). This idea envisaged that "core Europe" would have a "centripetal effect", a magnetic attraction for the rest of Europe. A precursor to that concept had been a proposal by two advisors to German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Michael Mertes and Norbert J. Prill, published as early as July 1989. Mertes and Prill called for a concentric circles Europe, built around a federal core consisting of the Inner Six (EU6) and like-minded EU member states. In 1994 they partly revoked their original idea, arguing that the post-Cold War EU would rather look like a "Europe of Olympic rings" than a "Europe of concentric circles".

The multi-speed Europe concept has been debated for years in European political circles, as a way to solve some institutional issues. The concept is that the more members there are in the Union, the more difficult it becomes to reach consensus on various topics, and the less likely it is that all would advance at the same pace in various fields.

Intermediate forms could be limited to some areas of close cooperation, as some historical examples are given below. It is also possible now for a minimum of nine EU member states to use enhanced co-operation, but this new framework has been used only once. A second proposal, a unified European patent, is nearing completion with only two countries (Italy and Spain) not participating.

The idea of a multi-speed Europe has been revived because of the following initiatives:

• the Euro with 19 EU member-states and one more in ERM II. All but two states (Denmark, United Kingdom) have agreed by treaty to join but at least one of those treaty signatories (Sweden) has made no further steps to do so.
• the Schengen area Treaty leading to a common border for many EU states (as of April 2020, it excludes five EU member states: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, but includes four non-EU members - Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein). Baroness Williams of Crosby, in a House of Lords debate, asserted that Ireland only reluctantly agreed to stay out of the treaty to avoid creating a physical border between the Republic and Northern Ireland because the UK had chosen not to participate in the scheme.
• other initiatives limited to some states, such as the European Defence initiative and Prüm Convention.

Furthermore, important events were

• the enlargement of the European Union to 28 member-states and in the forthcoming years other candidates (Turkey, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Iceland) where new members initially don't join the Schengen area and the Eurozone for some time.
• the European Convention that led to the European Constitution that was signed in 2004 by the 25 Heads of State, but was not ratified by all national parliaments or assemblies and so failed. Later most of its provisions were adopted through the Treaty of Lisbon that included additional opt-outs for some states.
• differences of view between EU members on some foreign diplomatic and military issues. In a 2004 article The Economist compared the variances of Europe to a lake that has many deep parts (areas in which countries are similar) and many shallow parts (areas in which countries have major differences).

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Currently in the EU there are the following cases of non-uniform application of the European Union law:

Overview of non-uniformity inside the EU

Participant	European Union Agreements					Enhanced cooperation				PESCO	Open method of coordination	Related Intergovernmental treaties			Symbols
	Schengen	AFSJ	CFR	Euro	EEA	Patent	Divorce	Int. couples' property	EPPO		Euro+	SRM	ESM	Prüm
Bulgaria	c	x	x	c	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x	x
Croatia	x	x	x	x	c	o	o	x	x	x	o	x	x	o	o
Cyprus	c	x	x	x	x	x	o	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x
Czech Republic	x	x	x	c	x	x	o	x	x	x	o	x	o	o	o
Denmark	x	o	x	o	x	x	o	o	o	o	x	c	o	o	o
Estonia	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x	x	x	x	x	x	o
Finland	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o
Greece	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	c	x
Hungary	x	x	x	c	x	x	x	o	o	x	o	x	o	x	x
Ireland	o	o	x	x	x	x	o	o	o	x	x	x	x	o	o
Italy	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	c	x
Latvia	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x	x	x	x	x	o	o
Lithuania	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x	x	x	x	x	o	x
Malta	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x	x	x	o	x
Netherlands	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o
Poland	x	x	o	c	x	x	o	o	o	x	x	c	o	o	o
Portugal	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	c	x
Romania	c	x	x	c	x	x	x	o	x	x	x	x	o	x	x
Slovakia	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	o	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Spain	x	x	x	x	x	o	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Sweden	x	x	x	c	x	x	o	x	o	x	o	o	o	c	o
x  – Member  c  – Candidate (or conditions to be fulfilled before joining)  o  – Non-member

Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Slovenia participate in all EU provisions.

Participation of European countries in non EU-only integration initiatives

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A number of countries have special relations to the European Union implementing many of its regulations. Prominently there are Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein which are the only remaining EFTA members while all other former EFTA members have converted into EU members. Through agreements Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (not including Switzerland) are members of the European Economic Area since 1994. As a consequence of taking part in the EU single market they need to adopt part of the Law of the European Union. Formally they would not need to fund the EU government but in practice they have opted to take on their part of financing EU institutions as required by EU law (see EEA and Norway Grants) with the financial footprint of Norway being equal to that of an EU member since 2009. Especially Norway and Iceland are known to forfeit EU membership on the basis of EU fishery regulations that they want to opt out on. Both Norway and Iceland have signed and implemented the Schengen zone agreements from the start. During the turmoils of the financial crisis, Iceland was looking into membership of the Eurozone and it did apply for EU membership in 2009. Norway has joined all EU political treaties and it has applied to EU membership multiple times but while fulfilling the requirements the membership was rejected by referendums in 1972 and 1994. This leaves Norway to be integrated into Inner Europe's institutions while not being part their governing body.

Participant	EU	Schengen	Euro	EUCU	EEA	Energy Community	ECT	ECAA	EEAgency	EMCDDA	EMSA	EASA	ERA	EDA	ESA	Prüm	NATO
Albania	candidate negotiating					x	x	x									x
Andorra			s	x
Armenia						o	x	x
Austria	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Bosnia and Herzegovina	candidate				x	x	x
Bulgaria	member	c	c	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x	x
Croatia	member	x	x	x	c	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		o	x
Cyprus	member	c	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		o
Czech Republic	member	x	c	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x
Denmark	member	x		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x	o	x
Estonia	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Finland	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
France	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Georgia	applicant					x		s
Germany	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Greece	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	c	x
Hungary	member	x	c	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Iceland					x		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x	x
Ireland	member		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o
Italy	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	c	x
Kazakhstan
Kosovo	applicant		x			x	x	x
Latvia	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		o	x
Liechtenstein		x			x			x	x	x		x				x
Lithuania	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		o	x
Luxembourg	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Malta	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		o
Moldova	candidate					x	x	s
Monaco		s	s	x			s
Montenegro	candidate negotiating		x			x	x	x
Netherlands	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
North Macedonia	candidate negotiating					x	x	x
Norway		x			x	o	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Poland	member	x	c	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	o	x
Portugal	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	c	x
Romania	member	c	c	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Russia
San Marino			s	x			s
Serbia	candidate negotiating					x	x	x
Slovakia	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x	x
Slovenia	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x	x
Spain	member	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Sweden	member	x	c	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	c
Switzerland		x				x	x		x	x		x		x	x	x
Turkey	candidate with negotiations frozen			x		x	x		x								x
Ukraine	candidate					x	x
United Kingdom	former member						x								x		x
Vatican City			s
Participant	EU	Schengen	Euro	CU	EEA	Energy Community	ECT	ECAA	EEAgency	EMCDDA	EMSA	EASA	ERA	EDA	ESA	Prüm	NATO

x – member
c – conditions to be fulfilled before joining
s – unilateral adoption/participation through another state who is a member/some instruments signed, but not yet ratified
o – observer

Post-Brexit-vote revival of "multispeed Europe" ideas

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2022)

In March 2017, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker released a five-point view of possible courses for the EC and its to-be-27 post-Brexit members, looking forward to the year 2025. The points, among which Juncker expressed no preference, "range from standing down from policing of government financing of companies, for example, to a broader pullback that would essentially strip the EU back to being merely a single market", per one report. The updated possibilities would entail member countries or groups of countries adopting different levels of participation with the union. The EC was approaching a March meeting of the 27 members in Rome and Juncker's paper addressed the options that "once invited scorn from convinced Europhiles" and seemed maybe even to have some backing "of lifelong federalists" like the president.

See also

• Agencies of the European Union – different examples of non-EU states participation and non-participation of some EU members
• Enhanced co-operation
• European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
• European integration
• Euroscepticism
• Eurosphere
• Eurozone
• Federal Europe
• Inner Six
• Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification
• Opt-outs in the European Union
• Pro-Europeanism
• Schengen Agreement

Notes

1. In addition to the permanent deviations there are temporary transition periods for the application of certain EU law provisions in some member states, but these have an already set dates for lapsing.
2. Provisionally applied as a participating non-EEA state since 12 April 2014 pending ratification by Croatia, all EEA states, and the European Union.
3. ^ De facto uses the euro.

References

1. Marcin Zaborowski: Germany and EU Enlargement: From Rapprochement to "Reaproachment"? In: Helene Sjursen (Ed.), Enlargement in perspective, ARENA Report February 2005, p. 46.
2. Karl Lamers / Wolfgang Schäuble: Überlegungen zur europäischen Politik (Reflections on European Policy). See also Gilles Andréani: What future for federalism?, Centre for European Reform Essays, September 2002, ISBN 1-901229-33-5, p. 7-8.
3. Michael Mertes / Norbert J. Prill: Der verhängnisvolle Irrtum eines Entweder-Oder. Eine Vision für Europa, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 19 July 1989.
4. Michael Mertes / Norbert J. Prill: Es wächst zusammen, was zusammengehören will. "Maastricht Zwei" muss die Europäische Union flexibel machen, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 9 December 1994, p. 11.
5. "Countries press ahead with limited single EU patent plan" Archived 30 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, out-law.com, 17 December 2010.
6. Parliament of the United Kingdom (12 March 1998). "Volume: 587, Part: 120 (12 Mar 1998: Column 391, Baroness Williams of Crosby)". House of Lords Hansard. Archived from the original on 26 June 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
7. 'Coalitions for the willing' Archived 6 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine, The Economist, 1 February 2007.
8. Valentine Pop, "Once Scorned, ‘Multispeed Europe’ Is Back" (subscription) Archived 2 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Wall Street Journal, 1 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-01.

External links

• Official EU glossary: Multi-speed Europe, Variable geometry Europe and other related concepts

• Multi-speed Europe
• History of European integration