THE COHESION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, CULTURAL CHALLENGES

Abstract. European Union (EU) cohesion policy in particular and the idea of European integration in general are currently facing some challenges of ability and willingness, both determined by economic, political and cultural factors. Some factors, however, continue to hold EU countries together. The economic crisis of 2008-10 and its aftermaths further reduced ability and readiness of net contributors to the EU budget to finance EU cohesion policy, even more because these countries have to “save ” indebted eurozone periphery. The economic crisis and problems of the euro further weakened ability and willingness of some countries, like Poland, to join the euro-zone, thus strengthening the internal division of the EU. Growing unemployment and sense of insecurity in richer EU member states and the increased immigration to these countries from poorer new member states have produced negative attitudes towards immigrants and “Eastern Europe ” in general. The absence of a clear-cut “enemy of Europe ” and the variety of external political challenges differently interpreted by governments and societies of individual states hinder the development of a common external policy and sense of internal solidarity. Europe is becoming playgroun