Europe's Decline and Fall: The Struggle Against Global Irrelevance

The European Union is in inexorable decline. The outlook is gloomy for the economy and nobody listens to European politicians. Any authority or power that the EU once had on the world stage is being lost, and its claims to the moral high ground in international affairs are increasingly shaky. But this lamentable state of affairs is neither inevitable nor irreversible. The emerging new world order offers opportunities for the EU, if it can only act systematically and develop a new cosmopolitan strategy based on principled and consistent support for universal values. Here is a bold analysis of the problem and a brilliant proposal for a remedy.'A passionate but clear-headed analysis of Europe's shrinking status in world affairs. Sarkozy and Merkel should read this wake-up call to reverse Europe's decline before it is too late.' - Denis MacShane MP'Youngs comes up with original proposals for improving the EU's performance. Spend less time demanding that other countries follow its bureaucratic procedures; do more to uphold liberal values around the world.' - Charles Grant, Centre for European Reform'As the world faces the biggest geopolitical upheaval for two centuries, Richard Youngs makes a compelling case for the EU to climb out from beneath the duvet and shape its own destiny in the new world order.'- Philip Stephens, Financial Times