Recently, the European Commission flooded social media in member states with survey results asking whether Europe should unite more to confront current global challenges. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, with over eighty percent in support of increased unity. However, one cannot help but wonder how meaningful such results are, likening them to asking if parents wish for their children to be healthy and well-off. It seems obvious that the answer would be a resounding yes, yet the implications of the question go deeper.

Accompanying the survey results was a series of significant public calls for solidarity in the face of rising international instability. This instability can often be diplomatically phrased as facing 'Trump' in Western Europe, while in Central Europe, there is a somewhat naive belief that the primary impetus for unity stems from Putin and Russian imperialism. As these geopolitical tensions grow, the call for a united Europe becomes ever more pressing, indicating a shift in how EU member states perceive their collective future and the necessity for cohesive action.

During a recent speech at the University of Leuven, Mario Draghi, who has served as the European Commission's intellectual facilitator, articulated the need for a ‘pragmatic federalism.’ This concept suggests that while Europe is faced with diverse challenges, the approach should not be overly ideological or dogmatic, but rather flexible and solution-oriented. Draghi's insights illuminate the complexities of European politics today and underscore the urgency for a formulated strategy that would allow the EU to navigate its various internal and external challenges more effectively.