Giles Merritt

Giles Merritt, Secretary-General of the Brussels-based think tank Friends of Europe and Editor of the policy journal Europe's World, looks at the chances for the kind of wide-ranging debate on the EU's future that was called for last week by Commissioner Wallström, and that the Tomorrow's Europe poll aims to create in microcosm:

What Europe needs is more "euroscepticism", not less. With the 50th anniversary of the European Union's founding Rome Treaty now behind it, its smart next move should be to invite rather than avoid criticism of its activities.

In early October, the European Commission is to unveil its new ideas for "selling" Europe. The chances are that while these will reflect a greater willingness to listen to public opinion, the commission's eurocrats won't go so far as to welcome uncomfortable opinions.

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