That is the view of many experts speaking to Express.co.uk, who gave their views on what has been a chaotic 12 months for the EU. The European Union has found itself plunged into chaos as governments throughout the continent tear themselves apart amid crises at home and a wave of no confidence votes. Prime Minister Theresa May’s leadership hangs by a thread, despite her victory in the no confidence vote triggered against her earlier this month.
Two of the EU’s major figureheads – Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel – have encountered arguably disastrous years and have seen their popularity ratings among voters sink to record lows.
The French President is under huge pressure following weeks of violent demonstrations from yellow vest protestors, while Angela Merkel’s grip on her fractured coalition government has been significantly loosened after she was replaced as leader of the CDU party.
The row between the EU and Italy over the country’s budget for 2019 rumbles on, with a resolution over its deficit nowhere in sight.
Arnaud Touati, co-founder of Paris-based law firm Alto Avocats, told Express.co.uk: “This year was punctuated by the rise of many anti-European sovereignist governments with the most iconic coming to power could be in Italy with Matteo Salvini’s victory.
The European Union has encountered one of the moist disastrous years ever, experts have said (Image: GETTY / EPA)
“The extremely complicated negotiations concerning the exit of the UK from the EU adds to the turmoil. The discussions seem to lead to a dead end. Therefore, an atmosphere of uncertainty has established itself throughout the continent.
“There, you have the two key elements that make 2018 one of the worst years in the history of the Union.”
Jim Shields, honorary professor at the University of Warwick, claimed it has been a “dismal” year for the EU, triggered by the downfalls of Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel, as well as the formation of an “anti-EU” governments across the bloc.
He said: “Barely 18 months ago, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel seemed poised to breathe new vigour into the European project; now Merkel has been dethroned while Macron has been brought low by violent protests and crashing approval ratings.
“A virulently anti-EU party has been elected to government in Italy, another anti-EU party has become a force in Germany, yet another now co-governs Austria, Marine Le Pen is back on her game in France, and Britain grinds each day closer to the EU exit.”
Angela Merkel has been replaced as CDU leader (Image: GETTY)
Kostas Maronites, International Politics lecturer at Leeds Trent University, argued the EU has failed to solve problems such as democratic unaccountability, the ideological bias towards “undeliverable” fiscal and budgetary targets, and a lack of vision and policy around the migrant crisis.
He added a “new generation of EU leaders such as Matteo Salvini in Italy, Sebastian Kurz in Austria and Viktor Orban in Hungary openly challenge French aspirations for further EU integration” while rejecting “Germany’s hegemony over employment, immigration, taxation and budget issues”.
Mr Maronites warned: “New political and social developments such as Brexit, the controversy around the Italian budget, the gilet jaunes protests reveal that the EU has run out of ideas for convincing citizens that their prosperity and wellbeing are intertwined with the existing political structures and economic arrangements.”
The experts even go as far to argue the chaotic year the EU has suffered has seen it lose respect from many of its member states, and that it has never fully gained the backing of European citizens, leaving them feeling excluded.
Mr Touati said: “Europe has above all never really succeeded in gaining the consideration of the people – too far away, too distant, too complicated, the Europeans seem not to understand well the aim and the benefit of the EU.”
Emmanuel Macron is under huge pressure following weeks of violent protests (Image: GETTY)
“Europe is divided between a federalist line and an increasingly irreconcilable sovereignist line, hence the disagreements within the European Union is displayed in front of everyone.
“However, how do you want to appear strong if everybody is not pulling in the same direction. Facing giants like Russia or the United States, the slightest flaw is paid for in cash.”
Mr Maronites added: “Austerity and fiscal consolidation have become permanent features of the European landscape and citizens cannot possibly envisage a better future within the existing political and economic structures.
“It is not willing to democratise its institutions and structures and as a result both citizens and member-states feel excluded from the formulation of immigration, environmental, economic and welfare strategies and directives.”
Mr Shields claimed the EU’s approach to communicating its mission is “deeply flawed”, not listening to citizens particularly concerned with major areas such as the migrant and economic crises.
He said: “It has failed to bridge the distance between its institutions and its citizens and to correct the impression of Brussels as a bureaucratic machine fuelled on taxpayers’ money.
Brexit has been a major focus for the EU in 2018 (Image: GETTY)
“Its approach to the two big challenges of the past decade – the economic and refugee crises – showed the EU to be deaf at times to the concerns of its people.
“In the second of these crises a second “original sin” of the EU was exposed: opening free movement across internal borders without ensuring adequate protection of the external borders.
So what next for an under-fire EU? How can it bounce back in 2019?
Radical change, argue the experts, with the European Parliament elections in May proving to be a defining moment for its future direction.
Nick Evans, chairman of international marketing agency ExtraMile Communications, goes as far to say the “old guard” heading up the EU needs refreshing.
He uses Brexit as a prime example, with figureheads realising the damage it will cause, thus enforcing change to ensure other member states don’t follow suit.
He said: “The EU will need to change. If it had offered concessions to David Cameron prior to the Brexit vote, we probably would not be where we are now.
“There’s an old guard in place who will need to be changed. That will come in due course and, if Brexit happens, the administration will realise that change needs to come sooner then alter to avoid losing other member states.
Philip Cunliffe, a senior lecturer in international conflict at the University of Kent, added: “The only real way the EU can bounce back is a managed process of restructuring by which it introduces different layers of integration, and maybe even a managed break-up of the Eurozone.
“Either of these options will be slow and painful and carry plenty of political and economic risks that will further destabilise the Union in the medium to long-run.”