The Politics of the Eurogroup: Governing Crisis and Conflict in the European Union

The Politics of the Eurogroup delves into the euro crisis and the secretive forum of finance ministers that dominated it, exploring the constraints on member states' options and the power struggles between finance ministers. It offers an authentic report of the crisis through interviews and leaked audio recordings, providing valuable insights for scholars, students, and policy makers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Politics of the Eurogroup offers a captivating insight into the euro crisis and the exclusive forum of finance ministers that emerged as its dominant force. The history of the European Union is replete with crises and the transformative leaps of integration they engendered. As the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and global power competition cast a shadow on the prospects of European economies, member states are searching for solutions. However, their options are severely constrained by the economic and political realities shaped during the decade of the euro crisis. This book combines a critical political economy perspective on structural relations within the Economic and Monetary Union with a power-based approach to its institutions. It elucidates why a political project of European austerity emerged from the Eurogroup, sidelining alternative policies, with consequences that continue to resonate today. The author introduces a series of interviews with key decision-makers, including ministers, central bankers, and EU officials, as well as leaked audio recordings from Eurogroup meetings, to provide an authentic account of the power struggles between finance ministers. The book traces the rise of the Eurogroup to prominence during the crisis and how a few northern countries, led by the German and Dutch finance ministries, were able to leverage the informal processes of the group to shape the Economic and Monetary Union to their advantage.

With its interdisciplinary and investigative approach, this book holds immense interest for scholars and students engaged in the study of European integration, international political economy, economics, institutionalism, and governance. It also provides valuable insights for policy makers in the domains of European politics and economic governance.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032478456