two-speed Europe

noun

A model of European integration in which a core group of member states (the "vanguard") pursues deeper integration at a faster pace than the rest of the union, which remains at a lower level of integration.

Opposite
ever closer union
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Meanings

nountwo-speed Europe (uncountable)

alternative twospeed Europe

  1. European UnionuncountablegovernmentA model of European integration in which a core group of member states (the "vanguard") pursues deeper integration at a faster pace than the rest of the union, which remains at a lower level of integration.

    Antonyms: ever closer union

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA model of European integration in which a core group of member states (the "vanguard") pursues deeper integration at a faster pace than the rest of the union, which remains at a lower level of integration.

Opposite
ever closer union

Origin

two-speed + Europe, patterned after automotive terminology to describe different rates of progress.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch Europa met twee snelheden
  • Europa met twee snelhedenconcept of a core group integrating faster
Finnish kahden nopeuden Eurooppa
  • kahden nopeuden Eurooppaconcept of a core group integrating faster
French Europe à deux vitesses
  • Europe à deux vitessesconcept of a core group integrating faster
German Europa der zwei Geschwindigkeiten
  • Europa der zwei Geschwindigkeitenconcept of a core group integrating faster
Italian Europa a due velocità
  • Europa a due velocitàconcept of a core group integrating faster
Polish Europa dwóch prędkości
  • Europa dwóch prędkościconcept of a core group integrating faster
Portuguese Europa a duas velocidades
  • Europa a duas velocidadesconcept of a core group integrating faster
Spanish Europa de las dos velocidades
  • Europa de las dos velocidadesconcept of a core group integrating faster
Swedish tvåfartseuropa
  • tvåfartseuropaconcept of a core group integrating faster
Cite this entry
APA

two-speed Europe. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/two-speed%20Europe

MLA

“two-speed Europe.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/two-speed%20Europe. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “two-speed Europe,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/two-speed%20Europe.

Source: two-speed Europe on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.