How smaller EU states are reshaping Europe’s power structure
Changing economic and trans-Atlantic conditions have led to power restructuring in the 27-nation European Union, opening doors for more negotiating power for many smaller central and former Eastern European nations such as Hungary.
Analysts and observers interviewed believe the EU power structure has moved from a few more powerful EU countries setting the agenda to smaller states forming coalitions of their own and pushing their agenda upward to the European Commission, represented by heads of state.
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Economic philosophy has always been at the heart of Franco-German relations.
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Germany is considered a frugal state, so in the past it has been looking for balanced books, with support from Scandinavian countries and Austria, whereas France surrounded itself with southern European states such as Italy and Spain on this topic of economy.
Research Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
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There is a new dynamic (in Germany) with the Ukraine war. Germany realized it energy dependence on Russia and decoupled from it. But it is still dependent on the US from the defence and security perspective, which is increasingly becoming a problem with Europe distancing itself (from the USA and it is also aware of its dependence on China when it comes to economy, so the whole German model is reshaping in light of these dependencies.
Research Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
French President Emanuel Macron, in his last year in office, is equally dogged by a fragmented political system that has hampered to bring a French mandate to the European Union.
For its part, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, while in power longer than many of her predecessors, is also weaker than she used to be. The United Kingdom, once a major power broker in the EU, is no longer a member, though it continues to play an important part.
Those weaknesses and internal restructuring have given rise to a new model of brokership in the union
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Hungary, once feared and despised because of policies of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is now counted on as a new unifying factor, a "game player" which has already played its card by approving a large economic aid to Ukraine, which Orbán had held up.
In return, the European Commission is working with Budapest to release as much of the 10 billion Euros in upheld recovery funds before the deadline expires in August.
Still, the European Commission and the European Union are expected to use the power of the purse when it comes to "democratic backsliding," with countries such as Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic using populist and at times pro-Russia policies to undermine democratic rule in their states.
Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Italy were still the biggest net contributors to the EU budget in 2023, with Germany by far the biggest donor.
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>> Read the full article on the Daily News Hungary's website.
>> Explore all of Ifri's analyses and news on Franco-German relations.
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Marie KRPATA
Research Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
