Forcing the EU to Make the Biggest Decision

In trademark EU style, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker outlined a vision for the bloc's future on Wednesday by presenting five of them. While some will see an attempt to shape the agenda without taking responsibility, it sounded more like an impatient call for members to find the courage to rally around an actual strategic decision.

By striking a neutral position, Juncker is paying tribute to the perception, especially since Brexit, that the EU is under threat as a disunited group of countries with conflicting interests. Yet Europeans trust the union more than their own national parliaments and governments, according to November's Eurobarometer survey, and that trust rose since the spring. More than a third of Europeans have a positive view of the EU, while only a quarter have a negative one.