This article sheds light on how academic experts assess the benefits and risks of differentiated integration (DI) in the European Union (EU). DI denotes particular member states either being allowed to opt out of specific EU policies, or being excluded or exempted from participating in them until certain conditions are met. The findings of a novel expert survey (n = 95) highlight two key divisions amongst experts, namely, first a regional divide between scholars based in Western Europe and those based in Eastern Europe, with the former more favourable to DI than the latter; and second, a substantive divide between those, more numerous, who are favourable to DI, and those who are more critical. For the former, the perceived benefits outweigh the perceived risks. What drives the support of or objection to DI also differs between experts. Whereas supporters favour pragmatic reasons for DI, opponents mostly mobilize principled reasons against it.

中文翻译：

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学术专家眼中的欧盟差异化一体化的风险和收益

本文阐明了学术专家如何评估欧盟 (EU) 差异化整合 (DI) 的收益和风险。DI 表示特定成员国要么被允许选择退出特定的欧盟政策，要么被排除或豁免参与，直到满足某些条件。一项新的专家调查的结果（n = 95) 突出专家之间的两个关键划分，即，首先是西欧学者和东欧学者之间的区域差异，前者比后者更利于 DI；其次，在更多的支持 DI 的人和更批评的人之间存在实质性的分歧。对于前者，感知的收益大于感知的风险。驱动支持或反对 DI 的因素在专家之间也有所不同。支持者支持 DI 的实用理由，反对者大多动员反对它的原则理由。