A divided France and a Germany unsure of its identity threaten Europe’s future | Will Hutton

In a time of multiple crises and dangers, the EU needs urgently to recover a sense of common purpose

It's hardly a secret that pro-Europeans are on edge across the continent, anxiously worrying whether Emmanuel Macron will win today's French presidential election. His challenger, Marine Le Pen, is openly prepared to subvert the EU to propagate her vision of a reborn autarchic, nationalist France even ready to partner strategically with Russia. The EU's capacity to drive forward internally and externally, so crucial given the mountainous challenges facing the continent, not least the war in Ukraine, would collapse. So would the cohesion of the west.

As matters stand, it looks as though Macron will make it. But British pessimists worry that the EU may not be safe for long. Whether we're talking about inflation, the cost of living crisis, weaning Europe off Russian energy, holding a common line against Vladimir Putin or protecting EU values against attacks from rightwing populists, the EU faces some of the most formidable challenges since the Second World War - with structures that are scarcely fit for purpose.

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