Europe in 2035: Four Scenarios and the Choices that Matter
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Europe faces a convergence of crises: a crumbling international order, wars, democratic backsliding, economic stagnation, critical dependencies, and fracturing alliances. At the same time, the institutional architecture that underpinned its most prosperous decades is cracking. The scenarios presented in this policy brief suggest that Europe’s future remains highly volatile. By 2035, Europe could drift towards fragmentation, lose strategic agency, or even face political disintegration. Equally, it could emerge as a more capable, cohesive, and influential actor. Which path Europe takes will depend on the political choices made in the second half of the 2020s.
Source: Bertelsmann Stiftung
DOI: 10.11586/2026072
Authors: Crist, Nathan, Zabel, Malte
Institution: Bertelsmann Stiftung
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7161942585
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