So-called sovereignists in Europe promote the narrative that a continent composed of loosely connected or even disconnected nations will be a continent of truly sovereign states. Much of the anti-federalist rhetoric comes from various nationalist groups aggressively “sovereignist”, many of which now hold power or support current governments.
This belief, however, is a delusion. At a time when the European Union as a whole risks becoming increasingly subservient to global superpowers—both East and West—it shows a remarkable lack of historical perspective to imagine that individual European states would somehow be immune to such influence. Countries like France—with its independent nuclear deterrent, the Force de dissuasion —and Germany—the industrial powerhouse of Europe—may appear to have greater autonomy and room to negotiate with true global powers. Yet even their ability to act independently has proven limited, as demonstrated by recent economic challenges.
For the rest of Europe, the idea of national sovereignty outside a stronger collective framework is even more illusory.
The failure of intergovernmentalism
The current intergovernmental model of EU governance fails on multiple fronts. Militarily, diplomatically, and economically, it lacks legitimacy because the decisions made behind closed doors often go unnoticed by the general public. Worse still, this system leaves individual member states vulnerable to gradual external domination—a process already underway that could accelerate under growing international tensions.
A democratic federal European state, by contrast, would pool sovereignty from its members and act as a unified, independent entity accountable to its citizens. Such a federation would not only protect its members from external pressures but also offer a survival strategy for Europe beyond its current borders, enabling non-member states to join if they choose. This could be a federation of the willing at first, with an open invitation for any interested state to join in.
Federalism is the only viable path through which European nations can exercise any meaningful form of sovereignty in today’s geopolitical climate. Paradoxically, a European federal state could actually grant more real sovereignty to its constituent nations than they currently possess. Under the present intergovernmental system, national sovereignty is eroded by opaque bureaucracies that lack mechanisms for democratic accountability.
Furthermore, a federal structure would allow for a clearer division of responsibilities, potentially expanding the competencies of individual states within a stronger union. No institutional arrangement can guarantee good outcomes by itself, but a unified, pan-European democratic space would make political action far more effective than it is today. It could also serve to limit the undue influence of industrial and financial lobbies.
Ultimately, it is up to the people of Europe—and their democratic choices—to ensure that such a system functions in the public interest. But creating a shared democratic framework is the essential first step toward reclaiming genuine self-determination for the continent. The actual choice European nations and democracies face is between pooling sovereignty or losing sovereignty.