RSS | Newsletters | Facebook CAP en Español
Center for American Progress Center for American Progress
Issues Economy Global Economy

Europe's Last Chance to Get it Right

As Europe’s leaders gather this week to tackle its economic woes, it is useful to take a step back and remember how and why Europe got here.

Even as Nazi bombs rained down on London in 1940, French economist and war munitions man Jean Monnet was planning for the integration of Germany into a united Europe. This was no flight of fancy or act of forgiveness by the man widely credited as the architect of Europe. It was a pragmatist’s assessment of how to make sure that after this war ended, a similar catastrophe would be unthinkable in Europe ever again.

Monnet’s success – and Europe’s success – has been so great, that we take the peace it created for granted today.

Read more here.

This article was originally published in CNBC Guest Blog.

To speak with our experts on this topic, please contact:

Print: Katie Peters (economy, education, and health care)
202.741.6285 or kpeters@americanprogress.org

Print: Christina DiPasquale (foreign policy and security, energy)
202.481.8181 or cdipasquale@americanprogress.org

Print: Laura Pereyra (ethnic media, immigration)
202.741.6258 or lpereyra@americanprogress.org

Radio: Anne Shoup
202.481.7146 or ashoup@americanprogress.org

TV: Lindsay Hamilton
202.483.2675 or lhamilton@americanprogress.org

Web: Andrea Peterson
202.481.8119 or apeterson@americanprogress.org

Subscribe to RSS Feeds

RSS IconSite-Wide and Issue-Specific RSS Feeds

Related Materials

5 Myths and Realities About U.S.-China Solar Trade Competition, by Melanie Hart, Kate Gordon

Japan’s Inclusion Makes the Trans-Pacific Partnership a Big Opportunity , by Jordan Bernhardt, Sabina Dewan

Building a More Prosperous Europe, by Matt Browne

Russia, Trade, and Human Rights, by Cory Welt

International Job Creation Policy Menu

Also by Michael Barr

Ending Too Big to Fail, June 14, 2011

Don’t Roll Back Wall Street Reform, March 31, 2011

Risk Retention Is Only One Part of Needed Housing Finance Reform , March 30, 2011