Milestones of European Integration: Case of COVID-19. Can it also be understood as a stepping stone?

Abstract

Economic integration is the starting point of every integration process around the world. The European Union (EU) is no exception and is also based on the traditional economic theory of economic integration by Bela Balassa. The European integration process began in the 1950s and the EU is considered a unique grouping of its kind. The EU must face the challenges of today. The topic of greatest discussion today is the global COVID-19 pandemic. The EU has had to help and protect the European economy, the member states, and European citizens. Today, the question is not only about economic resilience, it is about finding the best strategy to improve resilience as a whole. Based on the literature review method, the paper aims to define the theory of economic integration in the case of European integration after the Second World War and how the EU is dealing with the global COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 can be understood as a stepping stone for the EU. What is more, the European project as a whole will undergo significant change as the Union takes steps to implement the modern way of the integration process, it necessary.