"Swim together or sink separately"

Wien (OTS) - "Swim together or sink separately" was the consensus
at the presentation of the book "Europa? Europa! - What lies ahead
for the future of our continent?" this morning in Brussels. Christoph
Leitl, President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and
Honorary President of Eurochambres published the book together with
Günter Verheugen, former Vice President of the European Commission.
In the bilingual English/ German anthology, ten renowned experts in
EU politics discuss the European Union's challenges and the prospects
for its future. Among them are José Manuel Barroso, Herman Van Rompuy
and Jean-Claude Juncker.

President Leitl explained his model of three concentric circles:
the large European Economic Area, the European Union in its current
form and a strengthened Euro area: "Europe has to offer people
shelter. Nobody should be hindered and nobody should be forced to a
deeper integration. A common currency needs a more coordinated
economic policy." Leitl and Verheugen agreed that Europe urgently
needs stronger leadership. "The Commission should show people: We are
here by your side, we are accompanying you", said Leitl. The book
wants to "stimulate the debate".

Koen Doens, head of the spokespersons' service of the European
Commission, underlined that the European Union did well in managing
the financial crisis. Compared to the United States, the Eurozone's
public finances do not look that bad, he said.

Europa? Europa!
Wo liegt die Zukunft unseres Kontinents?
What lies ahead for the future our continent?
Edited by Dr. Christoph Leitl and Prof. Günter Verheugen
2011, 314 pp., hb., E 72.00, ISBN 978-3-8329-6288-3

Rückfragehinweis:
Franziska Annerl
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber/ Press & Communications
GSM - +32/474/472594

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