EN
The main aim of the paper is to present important factors influencing present and future shape of the European Union. Among many important factors three of them have been chosen: globalization, collapse of the Washington consensus, as well as the shift in the international order. Author tried to show in which way the impact of those factors influences different spheres of the EU, starting with the most important issues (like an optimal model of the European integration) and coming to the economic and social matters. It was underlined that this kind of influence is reciprocal – it means that the European Union has also possibilities to change interational situation, and its ability with this regard depends on the EU’s effectiveness and performance as an international organization.