EuroQuestions | “Europe: A State in Denial of Itself”: Is the EU Still an Unidentified Political Object? with Sylvain Kahn
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EuroQuestions : Season 2026, Episode 4
*This EuroQuestions will be in French
Date / Place: 11 March 2026, 2:30–3:00 p.m. (CET), online (registration required)
Title:
“Europe: A State in Denial of Itself”: Is the EU Still an Unidentified Political Object?
Background:
In his book Europe: A State Unaware of Itself, Sylvain Kahn challenges the conventional view that the European Union cannot be considered a “state” in the traditional sense. He invites readers to rethink the EU’s political nature beyond the familiar opposition between a federal state and a purely intergovernmental organisation.
This edition of EuroQuestions will provide an opportunity for Sylvain Kahn to present his book and reflect on the historical and geopolitical evolution of the European Union. Often perceived as a detached institutional framework, the EU has gradually sought to build a shared political life and a common political territory.
Questions to answer:
- Is the European Union evolving into a federal state in the making, or will it remain a flexible union of sovereign peoples? Should it rely more extensively on qualified majority voting, or continue to uphold unanimity—even with thirty or more Member States?
- As the European Union continues to enlarge, institutional reform appears increasingly unavoidable. How should this evolution be managed, and what priorities should guide it?
- Should the European Parliament be strengthened to foster a more directly representative democracy, or should the European Commission retain its central role as the driving force behind European public policy?
Speaker(s):
Sylvain Kahn is Professor of History at Sciences Po and a specialist in political geography, European integration, and geopolitics. He is the author of numerous books on the European Union and regularly contributes to public debates on European and international affairs.
What are EuroQuestions?
EuroQuestions are 30-minute online discussions held two to three times a month, bringing together a moderator (either Christine Verger or William Malaterre) and a guest speaker to discuss a pressing European issue. The guest speaker typically delivers a 15–20-minute presentation, followed by a 10-15-minute discussion with the moderator.
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