Criticizing the construction of Europe, from the euro to the ECB, from the fiscal compact to the banking union, are often the same people who signed the agreements in Brussels and then ratified them in their respective countries. However, making Europe the scapegoat for all evils is a self-defeating strategy which not only fuels the various populisms, but exposes the political forces and governments that adopt it to the accusation of being incapable of beating their fists on the table in Brussels, to know what had to be done and not to have done it. In fact, the position of those who question the entire construction of Europe seems more coherent, and therefore more effective, with respect to the theses, neither fish nor fowl, of those who declare themselves «in favor of Europe, but not of this Europe».
The crisis of Europe is actually the crisis of the nation states which in an increasingly integrated system are no longer able to act effectively individually and at the same time are reluctant to transfer powers to supranational levels of government. In this context, the volume "33 false truths about Europe", written by former ECB board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, dismantles some "false truths" about Europe in the light of the facts, without necessarily absolving it of its responsibilities, but without not even silence those of the states that are part of it, which are by far greater.
The author will discuss it on Wednesday 9 April 2014, at 18 in the Conference Room in Piazza Monte Citorio in Rome, together with Michele Boldrin, Sandro Gozi, Gennaro Migliore and Giovanni Toti. Moderated by Antonio Polito.
