The Silent Federalization of the EU

The Silent Federalization of the EU

Peter Kopa, Prague, July 24, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKcvlaxkcUQ

The European Union (EU) is moving toward a gradual and largely invisible federalization through mechanisms that reduce the sovereignty of member states, even beyond what is established in the founding treaties. This process follows two main paths: on the one hand, the strengthening of the EU’s central institutions at the expense of the member states, and on the other, increasing intervention in national internal affairs without any explicit or implicit justification in the treaties.

The serious issue is that there are no mechanisms for consulting European citizens on this process.https://thinktanklatam.org/como-votar-mejores-politicos/, such as a referendum. Unfortunately, this option is rejected by the EU and its member states under the pretext that the people lack the necessary competence.

However, some prominent politicians have opposed federalization, such as Orbán in Hungary, Farage in Great Britain—who brought about “Brexit”—and others in various countries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps4TF_HebhE

The intent behind this process of eroding sovereignty is total and totalitarian control over all of Europe, disregarding the unique characteristics of each country. The strategies to achieve this end are as follows:

Institutional Mechanisms of Centralization

Various operational methods are used to transfer decision-making power to the European level:

Elimination of the veto right: There is a push to replace unanimity with qualified majority voting, which would reduce the ability of member states to block decisions contrary to their interests.

Progressive transfer of powers to the EU: the accumulation of powers in Brussels is presented as a gradual process, often barely visible to the public. One of the key examples of federalization is the proposal for the so-called “28th regime”: the aim is to create a legal system parallel to that of the 27 member states.

It would establish common rules on corporate, tax, and accounting matters, and companies could opt into this supranational regime, independent of national laws. The consequence is that it undermines the importance of national tax laws, potentially even diverting tax revenues to the EU, thereby draining tax revenues from the member states.

Increase in the EU Budget

Financial strengthening is presented as another pillar of federalization:

Significant increase in the multiannual budget:

2007–2013: €862 billion

2014–2020: €960 billion

2021–2027: €1.2 trillion

2028–2034 (proposed): €2 trillion

Consequences of this growth: Need for new sources of revenue (e.g., transaction taxes) and a link to the “28th regime.” Joint debt would then be pursued as an instrument of integration or federalization. Example: the €809 billion in debt incurred during the pandemic.

This borrowing is presented as a temporary measure, but in reality it sets a structural precedent.

Shared debt hinders the EU’s potential future disintegration because liabilities are harder to divide than assets. In other words, the aim is to impose a strong “federal” integration mechanism.

The EU’s Panacea for Defense

The war in Ukraine has raised the major issue of Europe’s military defense, given that NATO is unreliable for various well-known reasons. The U.S. is demanding that Europe assume greater responsibility for its own security. The EU is using this as yet another justification for federalization.

Specific Cases of EU Interference in Internal Affairs

Special emphasis is placed on indirect mechanisms of influence:

1. a) Digital Services Act (DSA), which allows for influence over content moderation on social media. Users in one country can request the removal of content in another. It introduces the role of “trusted flaggers.” All of this smacks heavily of censorship and the suppression of free speech.
2. b) Interference in the European judicial system through the Court of Justice of the EU as a key tool:

Istanbul Convention: partial application even in countries that have not ratified it, such as the Czech Republic.

1. c) Same-sex marriage:

Cases in which countries are compelled to recognize marriages performed in other countries. This implies an indirect primacy of one national legislation over another.

Conclusion: The courts allow policies to be imposed without going through national legislative processes. This creates precedents that progressively expand the EU’s powers.

General Conclusion

There is a deliberate strategy of power accumulation by the EU at the expense of its members’ sovereignty—a strategy that, paradoxically, is financed by their own taxpayers’ money. This process unfolds both within and outside the formal framework of the treaties. Federalization is advancing in a “gradual and covert” manner, through technical, financial, legal, and regulatory instruments.

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Source: Personal contacts in Prague and a study by Kateřina Lhotska, a journalist in the Czech Republic