VWEU

VWEU, or Virtual Western European Union, is a proposal for a regional integration framework intended for Western European states seeking deeper economic and political cooperation than currently provided by the European Union. The concept envisions a shared institution network and a degree of policy harmonization across trade, industry, finance, and security, while allowing member states to retain national sovereignty.

Origin and development: The VWEU appears in policy debates and scholarly work as a thought experiment or blueprint for federation-like governance in Western Europe. It is not an officially established entity, and no binding treaty currently exists.

Scope and design: Core features could include a common market area with a centralized budget or fiscal mechanism, a regional regulatory framework, and a parliamentary or executive body to coordinate policy. The model may maintain national governments with opt-outs and preserve individual constitutional arrangements. The precise design would be negotiated by prospective member states and could coexist with existing EU structures, potentially by sharing competencies or creating parallel instruments.

Relationship to the EU and other blocs: VWEU would interact with the European Union and existing security frameworks, and could overlap with or complement certain EU initiatives depending on negotiations. It would raise questions about democratic legitimacy, the distribution of powers, and the balance between supranational and national authorities.

Status: As of now, VWEU remains a theoretical concept discussed in academic and policy circles, not a formal international organization. See also: European Union, Eurozone, Schengen Area.