The war in Ukraine has added another crisis to the impressive string of difficulties that the European Union has faced in recent years.

After the financial crisis, then the pandemic, it now faces a new challenge of a magnitude not seen since 1950: the return of war to the continent.

The European Union's resilience has greatly improved.

It has coped with the virus and, thanks to the pooling of its resources, and it has become the world's leading producer of vaccines. It has been able to manage the unprecedented consequences of an unpredictable situation as best it could.

Since it was not in a position to confront Russia's military aggression on its own, the European Union has taken up its full place in the Atlantic Alliance; it has shown solidarity, responded quickly and shown a united front.

From now on, in all situations, there will be European action, a common or at least concerted policy. Europe is on the move, for the long term and, in all likelihood, for ever. It makes progress as difficulties arise, but also as its requirements and values change.

This is why the Schuman Report on Europe - the State of the Union 2022 is so useful. Over and above the current situation, it helps us to assess the effectiveness of the common policies that are now permanent and the fundamental changes in its governance and its practices. It is, more than ever, a relevant and indispensable tool for understanding the reality of European integration, its progress and its hesitations. Complete with original maps and a unique set of commented statistics, it provides a unique and practical tool for the analysis of Europe for as wide an audience as possible.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Managing Director of the Robert Schuman Foundation. A former auditor of the 56th national session of the Institute of Higher National Defence Studies (IHEDN), Pascale Joannin is the director of the Schuman Report on Europe, the state of the Union, published by Marie B, and co-editor of the Permanent Atlas of the European Union, published by Marie B (5th edition), 2021. She is the author of L'Europe, une chance pour la femme, Note de la Fondation Robert Schuman, n° 22, 2004. She has published numerous studies on European issues.