The 2012 State of the European Union: Austerity and Solidarity in Europe Discussion paper for the Brussels Think Tank Dialogue

EU governments are implementing austerity packages; populist and nationalist movements are growing; social discontent rages. The European Union is facing a crisis of multiple dimensions - both economic and financial, but also social and democratic. How to cope with these current threats to the EU"s political and social cohesion by balancing crisis-induced austerity and the principle of solidarity amongst member states was the issue of this year"s Brussels Think Tank Dialogue on January 31th.