Europe readies for Nationalist tide

Press quote (The Wall Street Journal)
16 January 2017

Unless there is a Le Pen victory, the EU is unlikely to lose more members, said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a London think tank. But Mr. Grant said doubts about the euro could revive if Italy holds elections as some expect and voters back the antiestablishment 5 Star Movement, which wants a referendum on the common currency. Impediments to the 5 Star Movement’s ability to win on a national level include its refusal to form coalitions with more-established parties. “The chances that the euro will face an existential crisis about Italy are small but not zero,” Mr. Grant said....The ability of mainstream EU politicians to contain nationalist challengers depends partly on finding a common strategy on migration, Mr. Grant said. Efforts to beef up external borders, join with other regions to stop or return migrants, and improve cross-border police cooperation against terrorism go in the right direction, he said.