EUROPEAN MULTISPEED INTEGRATION

The intergovernmental conference (IGC) on revision of the Maastricht T reaty seems to be facing two possibilities, both implying differentiat ed integration: either based on joint treaty revision or brought about outside the treaty framework. The EU process has reached a stage wher e it includes most of the countries in Europe in one <<speed>> or anot her: membership, EEA association, Europe Agreement association, partne rship association, etc. The need to keep the process going in the wide r European context partly explains the French-German drive for a deepe ning of EU integration. These two countries have made it clear recentl y that they intend to deepen their cooperation, if necessary outside t he formal TEU. And they get support from a majority of member countrie s. For Great Britain, refusing to accept such enhanced cooperation wou ld mean excluding itself from EU leadership equality.