The Euro Project: Aspirations, Challenges, and Reforms

The chapter explores the aspirations and skepticism surrounding the creation of the Euro currency in the 1990s, aiming to unify Europe and anchor Germany within the continent. It discusses the debates on completing the monetary union, triggering national reforms, and the need for a Euro-area budget. The chapter also reflects on the challenges faced during the global financial crisis, the subsequent reforms made, and the ongoing efforts to strengthen the economic and monetary union.