Single market & trade

     Carrying on
Single market is strengthened, including in the energy and digital sectors; the EU27 pursues progressive trade agreements.

     Nothing but the single market
Single market for goods and capital strengthened; standards continue to differ; free movement of people and services not fully guaranteed.

     Those who want more do more
As in “Carrying on”, single market is strengthened and the EU27 pursues progressive trade agreements.

     Doing less more efficiently
Common standards set to a minimum but enforcement is strengthened in areas regulated at EU level; trade exclusively dealt with at EU level.

     Doing much more together
Single market strengthened through harmonisation of standards and stronger enforcement; trade exclusively dealt with at EU level.

Economic & Monetary Union

     Carrying on
Incremental progress on improving the functioning of the euro area.

     Nothing but the single market
Cooperation in the euro area is limited.

     Those who want more do more
As in “Carrying on” except for a group of countries who deepen cooperation in areas such as taxation and social standards.

     Doing less more efficiently
Several steps are taken to consolidate the euro area and ensure its stability; the EU27 does less in some parts of employment and social policy.

     Doing much more together
Economic, financial and fiscal Union is achieved as envisioned in the report of the Five Presidents of June 2015.

Schengen, migration & security

     Carrying on
Cooperation in the management of external borders stepped up gradually; progress towards a common asylum system; improved coordination on security matters.

     Nothing but the single market
No single migration or asylum policy; further coordination on security dealt with bilaterally; internal border controls are more systematic.

     Those who want more do more
As in “Carrying on” except for a group of countries who deepen cooperation on security and justice matters.

     Doing less more efficiently
Cooperation on border management, asylum policies and counter-terrorism matters are systematic.

     Doing much more together
As in “Doing less more efficiently”, cooperation on border management, asylum policies and counter-terrorism matters are systematic.

Foreign policy & defence

     Carrying on
Progress is made on speaking with one voice on foreign affairs; closer defence cooperation.

     Nothing but the single market
Some foreign policy issues are increasingly dealt with bilaterally; defence cooperation remains as it is today.

     Those who want more do more
As in “Carrying on” except for a group of countries who deepen cooperation on defence, focusing on military coordination and joint equipment.

     Doing less more efficiently
The EU speaks with one voice on all foreign policy issues; a European Defence Union is created.

     Doing much more together
As in “Doing less more efficiently”, the EU speaks with one voice on all foreign policy issues; a European Defence Union is created.

EU budget

     Carrying on
Partly modernised to reflect the reform agenda agreed at 27.

     Nothing but the single market
Refocused to finance essential functions needed for the single market.

     Those who want more do more
As in “Carrying on”; additional budgets are made available by some Member States for the areas where they decide to do more.

     Doing less more efficiently
Significantly redesigned to fit the new priorities agreed at the level of the EU27.

     Doing much more together
Significantly modernised and increased, backed up by own resources; a euro area fiscal stabilisation function is operational.

Capacity to deliver

     Carrying on
Positive agenda for action yields concrete results; decision-making remains complex to grasp; capacity to deliver does not always match expectations.

     Nothing but the single market
Decision-making may be easier to understand but capacity to act collectively is limited; issues of common concern often need to be solved bilaterally.

     Those who want more do more
As in "Carrying on", a positive agenda for action at 27 yields results; some groups achieve more together in certain domains; decision-making becomes more complex.

     Doing less more efficiently
Initial agreement on tasks to prioritise or give up is challenging; once in place, decision-making may be easier to understand; the EU acts quicker and more decisively where it has a greater role.

     Doing much more together
Decision-making is faster and enforcement is stronger across the board; questions of accountability arise for some who feel that the EU has taken too much power away from the Member States.