2018: The year the European Union stands and delivers?

At this time last year, the Dutch, French, and Germans were heading toward elections whose stakes were no less than the endurance of the European Union.

The postwar project did more than survive the far-right rebellion of 2017: The victory in May of French President Emmanuel Macron over the Euroskeptic Marine Le Pen gave the bloc a decisive boost.

And while Germany currently faces uncertainty as Chancellor Angela Merkel seeks to build a “grand coalition” between her center-right party and the center-left – a deal that could still break down before it is endorsed Sunday – the prospect of another Merkel term looks to be increasing after months of political limbo.

Both leaders face competing expectations between what the world demands