European Union

Recent times have seen a downgrading of the relevance of fiscal policy, as a result of both the current need to reduce high levels of public deficit and debt, and the dominance of neoclassical theories. The institutional framework and the rules of fiscal policy operating in the European Union are built upon this theoretical basis. The Maastricht Treaty has imposed the reduction of fiscal imbalances as the main objective of national fiscal policies. The fear for a relaxation of this fiscal discipline has then led to the approval of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), which was then reformed in 2005, in order to give more flexibility to national fiscal policies.

This book focuses on the impact of political leaders on the integration process led by the European Union. It aims at a better understanding of the European Union through the actions, contributions, and ideas of these outstanding characters to European integration and disintegration. By doing so, the book offers an entirely new perspective, presenting the actions of the main actors involved, their background, their historical time, their challenges and problems, and how they influenced the European Union's development.

This book focuses on the impact of political leaders on the integration process led by the European Union. It aims at a better understanding of the European Union through the actions, contributions, and ideas of these outstanding characters to European integration and disintegration. By doing so, the book offers an entirely new perspective, presenting the actions of the main actors involved, their background, their historical time, their challenges and problems, and how they influenced the European Union's development.