week 2

definition of

the key to

insistence on

approach to

reliance on

integration into

at the height

rival to

foundations for

manifestation of

TENSES

In a world that is tearing itself apart, the European Union should make trust in the European project a top strategic priority.

Despite a succession of severe convulsions, European integration has recently undergone a historic acceleration.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Europe two and a half years ago, practically all of the EU’s decisions have sought to strengthen member states’ political integration.

In the 1930’s, Germany and Japan resorted to forcible regional integration, not economic nationalism, in response to economic crisis.

By contrast, in today’s crisis, the largest members of the European Union, the best model and greatest hope for benign regionalism, have turned their backs on integration.

Instead, the large states are now promoting informal groupings to look for worldwide solutions.

The clash of two visions of Europe is eroding the political stability of an area that once represented the best model and greatest hope for benign regionalism.

Suddenly, in the face of the economic crisis, these problems have become major sources of political instability.

The House vote came more than a year after the three countries’ leaders signed the USMCA in Buenos Aires in November 2018 – a longer wait than many had anticipated, but shorter than others had expected after the Republicans lost their House majority in last year’s midterm elections.

Officials and analysts in the three countries had been hopeful that Congress would approve the agreement.