For a number of reasons analyzed in the article, the EU response to the COVID-19 pandemic was slurred and fragmented. It intensified contradictions between groups of Member-States, revealed inconsistencies of the European integration project. Based on this, politicians and experts from different countries concluded that the EU would weaken internally, losing ground at international arena. The article proves the opposite. Lessons of the pandemic and joint efforts to overcome coronavirus depression will be used for building the EU of “next generation”, its consolidation and deepening integration. The necessary financial buttress has been created for this. The EU will acquire potential for operational crisis management. The formation of the capital market, digital and other common markets in addition to the existing ones will accelerate. It will get a comprehensive economic strategy, the main features of which are described by the author, and will be granted powers for its implementation. At the same time, transformation of the EU will take place under the influence of new factors complicating European plans, which will have a serious restraining effect.