Today a battle rages for the future of Europe. A battle for its form and direction, its outline and constituent elements, its principles, values, and rules of operation, and ultimately, for its soul. For whom it represents, and whether it delivers - and to whom - what it has promised. We have emerged from a terrible economic and social crisis alive but wounded, divided but still together. During the crisis, we had great difficulty making the right decisions at the right time; but when push came to shove, we managed to find the political will to keep the project alive - "whatever it takes".

As Europe seeks its new identity after the crisis, the new book by George Papakonstantinou traces its new political, economic, and institutional architecture, in order to be able to play a leading role in a rapidly changing global economy, but also to respond to the demand for more democracy and prosperity.