APPRAISING THE EUROPEAN UNION: VICTORIES, UNCERTAINTIES AND CHALLENGES

ABSTRACT: The European Union is one of the major regional blocs in the world. Although it has acquired anoverwhelming development, there are signs of discontent. It is not clear whether gains have been enough tocountervail disappointment. This paper audits the most important achievements and the disruptive factors. Thesingle market project and the global trade will be considered important successes. Security dilemmas andrecurrent crises will be considered disruptive. The new strategic agenda for 2019-24 and the pandemic measureswill exemplify the Union´s responses. The following question triggers the research project: What does the futurehold for the European Union? To answer to this question, a general review on the gains and losses will beundertaken. In the end, I shall argue that the world is entering a new phase. The European Union as well. TheUnion has always found solutions for crises and dilemmas. The history of the Union suggests that it holdsintrinsic synergies to overcome crises.

Keywords: challenges, crises, dilemmas,European Union, successes