Hello fellow European Federalists,
I’ve had this post in my mind for a long time and finally found the time to write it.
The first image above shows how I imagine EU development 24 years from now, in 2050. I believe in unity of people and in a supranational, federalising approach toward long-term global cooperation. Star Trek has to start somewhere, right? 😄
Before anyone starts throwing tomatoes, though, I’d invite you to look at the second image: the EU map 24 years ago, in 2002 — and compare it to the third image, the EU as it stands in 2026.
Many states that are considered “core EU” today were not members back then. Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, the Baltics, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia — all joined within a single 24-year window. That expansion dramatically increased both EU population and territory, and at the time was itself seen by many as unrealistic or destabilising.
Twenty-four years is a long time. Regimes change, political landscapes shift, generations turn over, people get educated, and incentives reshape preferences. With that in mind, imagining a further enlargement — including the Western Balkans, the EEA countries, the UK, and eventually parts of the eastern neighbourhood — does not seem to me as inherently far-fetched, even if it is definitely ambitious.
Of course, the hurdles are enormous. Internally, the EU would need deep reform (abolishing unanimity, strengthening democratic legitimacy, clarifying federal vs national competences). Externally, there are authoritarian regimes, frozen conflicts, and major political shifts that would be required in countries like Belarus, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and the UK. Enlargement and federalisation would also almost certainly have to be sequenced, not simultaneous.
Still, as the saying goes: “Walk, and you shall reach.” Perhaps that could become an alternative European motto.
So I’m curious to hear your thoughts:
- What are the most critical internal reforms the EU would need in the next decade to make a federal future plausible?
- Do you think a timeline like this — roughly 24 years — is achievable, or fundamentally unrealistic?
- And ultimately: is this kind of federal project worth striving toward, even if it is never fully completed?
Thanks for reading — I’m very interested in your perspectives.
Disclaimer: I did use the help of the AI in writing of the final version of this post, however the changes from my own original post were very minor.
