What does "Europe" mean as we enter the 21st century? A rapidly-expanding club of nation states? A large single market in which labour, goods and services can move freely? A centralizing superstate run by unelected bureaucrats? An economic giant but a political pygmy on the world stage?

Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, tackles these and other questions in this important new book. It offers both a political vision and a personal statement by one of the most important political figures in Europe today.

Central to Prodi's vision of Europe - what it can and should be - are the ideals of the European Union's founding fathers: Adenauer, De Gasperi, Monnet, Schuman. Their goal was a peaceful democratic Europe in which all the peoples of our continent could live together in security, freedom, justice and equality. The path towards that goal, argues Prodi, is inextricably bound up with economics. As the EU's Member States voluntarily pool their national sovereignty, especially monetary sovereignty, that dream - that vision of Europe - is gradually coming true.

This book will be of great interest to anyone concerned with Europe and its future.

Romano Prodi taught Industrial Economics and Policy at Bologna University for 25 years. He has also been Italy's Minister for Industry and, from May 1997 to October 1998, Prime Minister. He took up office as President of the European Commission in September 1999.