One would think Sweden's general election on Sunday, which once more saw big gains for a populist movement demanding a referendum on EU membership, would make Brussels stop and think about their visions of a federal Europe. Instead, the last few days have once again shown that a period of reflection is not on the agenda.
It all started with Guy Verhofstadt, perhaps the most outspoken and prominent supporter of an “ever closer union” – and the European Parliament's negotiator for Brexit. He quite diplomatically proclaimed in an interview with a French newspaper that the UK's decision to leave the European Union had saved the EU. “Fortunately, we have Brexit. It illustrates the populist wave, but it has also provoked a resurrection of attachment to the EU,” he said.
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