EU faces crisis of legitimacy warns former Europe minister

Simon Tilford, the chief economist at the Centre for European Reform think-tank, warned the EU was suffering a backlash from citizens and politicians worried about issues for which it stands, such as economic liberalism and movement across borders. "The EU can only work if the national governments let it work." He said he had "pressing concerns" over the Commission's effectiveness as more member-states entered into deals with individual governments rather than operating through the Commission. "It hasn't exactly been side-lined, but it is having to fight harder now than it has done in the last 30 years," Mr Tilford said. Agreeing that the EU faced tough problems and sceptical citizens, he said: "People take much of what they enjoy about the EU for granted, but they are susceptible to messages about the bad things. Governments across Europe are blaming the EU for things for which it has limited responsibility."