Building 'Fortress Europe': Extremist ideas become mainstream policy

Ideas once confined to extremist fringes are now shaping mainstream European policy, signaling a significant shift in the continent's political landscape. The article suggests that concepts previously deemed radical are gradually being integrated into regular political discourse and decision-making processes.

This evolution implies a normalization of viewpoints that were once outside the bounds of acceptable political debate. The framing of this trend as the building of a "Fortress Europe" evokes a sense of increased isolationism and a more inward-looking approach to the continent's challenges and identity.

The piece implies that the boundaries of what is considered politically feasible are expanding, allowing for the consideration and implementation of policies that were previously considered extreme. This transformation raises questions about the future direction of European integration and its relationship with the outside world.