Foreword. The EU and the ever-changing crisis: what is the political cost of austerity?

In the following sections we briefly introduce the key facets of the EU’s current situation. In Section 1, we examine the sixth phase of the crisis. Challenges to the Eurozone have led to a clear lack of political legitimation and growing dissatisfaction directed against national and EU policymakers. An increased lack of confidence has now spread over the continent and is undermining both the economic and the political foundations of our societies. Section 2 summarises both the low points and the (few) glimmers of hope that have marked the last twelve months. This last year has seen many reforms to EU economic governance. European leaders have for the first time started thinking about how to ‘redesign’ the integration process to encourage more growth. Section 3 looks at the most current reviews of the EU’s strategy. These have come from international organisations, such as the ILO, OECD and IMF, which have stressed the deficiencies of the EU’s strategy in reacting to the crisis. The organisations are therefore suggesting an alternative approach, as are the trade unions (see the concluding chapter). Section 4 concludes this introductory chapter by providing more information about the book’s outline.