Conclusion

This concluding chapter explores the connections between Brexit and EU reforms. The case for reforming the EU is not new. In recent years, multiple national and supranational leaders have put forward proposals to overhaul the EU and make it fit for the new challenges it faces. Moreover, think tanks, public intellectuals, and academic scholars have increasingly been reflecting on the future of Europe and suggesting plans ahead. This book joins this lively debate, but seeks to go beyond it by contributing with ideas on how to move the EU forward, post-Covid-19. In particular, as the launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe approaches, this book not only supports this effort, claiming that this is an indispensable step following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. It also provides insights for policy-makers involved in the process, especially suggesting that a Political Compact for a more democratic and effective union can represent the avenue to relaunch the project of integration and renew Europe’s future.