The Future of European Integration: Challenges and Opportunities (Studies in Economic Transition) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3032201853 ISBN 13: 9783032201850

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2026

Synopsis

The European Union has reached a crossroads. Its future development — even its survival — faces fundamental challenges in a turbulent global environment. As unity and effective action are imperative, the EU’s genuine renewal cannot be postponed. This volume offers a new narrative for European integration that recognises the heterogeneity of the member states, particularly as the Union expands to include the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. Contributions from leading academic and policy experts discuss the reforms and policies needed to address these challenges and harness emerging opportunities. By considering economic, social, institutional, and environmental aspects of development, the book presents a vision for a fair and sustainable European Union. It focuses on economic prosperity, the green transition, global geopolitics, social protection, innovation, and institutional reforms. In an era of geoeconomic fragmentation, the EU’s unity and effective action are imperative. This open-access book will be relevant to students, researchers, and policymakers interested in comparative and international economics and European studies.

About this title

About the Author

István P. Székely is a retired Director of the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs at the European Commission. He is also Co-Editor-in-Chief of Acta Oeconomica, and an Honorary Professor at Corvinus University, Budapest, Hungary.

Péter Halmai is Professor of Economics at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and the National University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary. He is also a Jean Monnet Professor and a full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) as Chair of the Academy’s Section of Economics and Law. 

From the Back Cover

“How to reconcile the EU’s enlargement and reform with its cohesion in a turbulent world? This is a dilemma that eminent European experts look at from different vantage points.”
—Marek Belka, former Prime Minister of Poland

“Once a model of regional integration, Europe has been severely tested by a series of geopolitical shocks. The authors map out a clear path for future European integration, grounded in rigorous economics and political science and a clear‑eyed assessment of past successes and failures.”
—Benoît Cœuré, Former member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, President of the French Competition Authority

"Deepening European integration is now more urgent than ever, given the fraying of Trans-Atlantic relations. The contributors to this volume lay out a much-needed plan."
—Barry Eichengreen, University of California, Berkeley, US

The European Union has reached a crossroads. Its future development — even its survival — faces fundamental challenges in a turbulent global environment. As unity and effective action are imperative, the EU’s genuine renewal can no longer be postponed. By discussing the necessary reforms and policies to address new challenges and harness emerging opportunities, leading academic and policy experts contour a new narrative for European integration. This open-access book will be relevant to students, researchers, and policymakers interested in comparative and international economics and European studies.

István P. Székely is a retired Director of the European Commission. He is also Co-Editor-in-Chief of Acta Oeconomica, and an Honorary Professor at Corvinus University, Budapest, Hungary.

Péter Halmai is Professor of Economics at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and the National University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary. He is also a Jean Monnet Professor and a full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) as Chair of the Academy’s Section of Economics and Law. 

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3032201853
• ISBN 13: 9783032201850
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 430
• Editor: Székely István P., Halmai Péter