In the future, a peaceful, undivided, and democratic Europe could take different forms but would include the following elements:

• differentiation among states according to membership in Europe's institutions--if based on national choice, differentiation is the preferred model for Europe's future
• a stable peace among European states
• the integration of Russia into Europe
• a more equal relationship between the European Union and the United States in European affairs and globally
• active involvement by the United States in Europe--even though that involvement is likely to be more constrained due to domestic concerns regarding foreign policy overreach

About the Report

The United States Institute of Peace organized a Working Group on the Future of Europe in 1998 made up of 15 American experts on Europe and Russia, and co-chaired by Stephen Hadley and Anthony Lake. The task of the group has been to develop a long-term vision for Europe that is in the best interest of the United States, while laying out the appropriate policies and programs for its achievement.

The report is based on a series of meetings held by the working group in late 1999 and early 2000, including a conference with Europeans at the Aspen Institute in Berlin in January. (For a summary of the recommendations of the Berlin meeting, see Defining the Path to a Peaceful, Undivided, and Democratic Europe, by Stephen Hadley.) This report was written by Institute program officer Lauren Van Metre and is based on comments by participants in the Future of Europe Project, but does not imply unanimity of opinion on every point. The Future of Europe Project is a major effort of the Institute's Research and Studies Program, which is directed by Patrick M. Cronin.

The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Institute of Peace, which does not advocate specific policies.