The euro has been a remarkable success. By its tenth anniversary in 2009 it had become
one of the world's major currencies, rivalled only by the US dollar in usage and global
influence. It is used by 320 million people in 16 countries, and these figures look set to
rise as, with the exception of Britain and Denmark, all EU member states are obliged to
adopt the currency.
This major new text provides a theoretically-informed account of Economic and Monetary
Union in the EU. It examines the history of European monetary integration, from its
origins in the Bretton Woods Agreements through to the adoption of the euro by the
accession states of Central and Eastern Europe. It provides a clear explanation of the key
policies and institutions of economic integration and examines the role played by the euro
in international markets. While it is informed throughout by the latest research in
economics and political science, the book's technical discussion has been kept to a
minimum to help make it an extremely readable introduction to European monetary
integration.
MICHELLE CHANG is Professor in European Political and Administrative
Studies, College of Europe (Bruges, Belguim).
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Origins of Economic and Monetary Union
The Birth of the Euro and the Eurozone
The Institutions and Decision Processes of Monetary Union
The European Central Bank
Cooperation Through Consultation: The Stability and Growth Pact and Beyond
The EU Beyond the Eurozone: The UK, Denmark, Sweden and the Accession States
The International Role of the Euro
The Eurozone: An Initial Balance Sheet
Conclusion: EMU and European Integration
328 pages, Paperback
