Hi Carl,



It's true that the United Kingdom is nearing a defining moment and that much could go wrong for the entire European project if it isn't handled well and soon. Perhaps never moreso than in the next 24 months.



It's also a time that partisan politicking must subside to the lowest level in recorded history and a time for careful negotiations to produce a result that is acceptable to all sides.



The UK has much to offer the EU, should it decide to fully commit to the Union (as opposed to the present low-to-medium committment) and that difference must not be underestimated.



Not only does the UK have much to offer by fully buying-into the EU dream, it could potentially at least, prevent a breakup of the EU. Although imagining a complete breakup seems overly dramatic.



Certainly the Nordic countries would go and so might the Black Sea EU nations. Depending on what Russia is doing, the Baltic republics might form an association with Kaliningrad -- taking it out of Russia, but more importantly taking themselves out of the EU as it begins to disintigrate.



From the vantage point of 2015, all of that looks disastrous -- yet that could only be the beginning of the end for the EU.



Therefore, I urge Prime Minister Cameron and his EU partners to work together to get the job done, sooner than ASAP.



Delay will only lead to polarization as the various sides dig themselves deeper into their positions, and thereby effectively prevent further progress towards full partnership.



Both the UK and the EU will be equally at fault were this to occur.



What I've described above is clearly the *default option* and exactly what I expect to see happen if politicians on both sides don't give their highest priority to full partnership.



And that means, not 'taking your eye off the ball' in order to deal with Greece, events in Ukraine, TTIP, the Digital Single Market, etc... because in so doing, you will stumble into the *default option* too late to do anything about it. And then, none of those things will really matter.



I suspect that PM Cameron will be on a voter 'honeymoon' for the next 12 months, and now is the time for him to accomplish the majority of his work in this regard.



What is less clear, is the timetable of the EU.



Nevertheless, convenient timeline or not, this must get done and get done soon before procrastination, obfuscation and polarization preempt the process to (finally) become one Europe.



The European project, which began in the aftermath of Europe's second world war, has overcome amazing obstacles, negotiating its way through difficult times and harmonizing member states' interests -- gives hope to this troubled world that nations can overcome their differences and work together for the common good.



To fail at this late stage, after all this work and success is unthinkable. And no longer would Europe be the great and shining example to the world that it is.



Other regions of the world would then rightly conclude that even world-class European politicians (and by extension, humans and humanity in general) aren't up to the task of working out their differences -- and begin to concentrate on their own narrow interests and agenda. Which is what always leads us to war.



We are either up to the task, or we're not.



If we're not, Albert Einstein's words will inform us as to our true nature; "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." -- Albert Einstein



Always great to read your thoughts here at ProSyn, Carl!



Best regards, JBS