Leanna Byrne | Editor
Critically acclaimed author, Philippe Legrain, warned that Eurozone policy makers are too premature to declare victory against the recession and called for an European Union (EU) that “works for all its citizens, not just for some countries and not just for the banks” at the launch of his book “European Spring: Why Our Economies and Politics are in a Mess – and How to Put Them Right” in the Long Room yesterday evening.
Legrain was particularly critical of EU policy decisions, saying that “Europe is a mess” and that the EU is now associated “with austerity and recession rather than how we can achieve more together”.
Until recently, Legrain has been independent advisor to the President of the European Commission and head of the team that provides President Barroso with strategic policy advice. The appointment came after President Barroso heard him debate the Euro on national television and read his book on the financial crisis, “Aftershock”.
Despite seeing this as an opportunity to make a difference, Legrain admitted that throughout his time in Brussels he was often “a lone voice fighting for a different approach”. However, he is determined to continue this campaign in public.
Speaking on the Irish situation, he said that Irish independence from external funding was a positive development, but that attention should be paid to the underlying political problems that have existed since pre-crisis.
Legrain also warned that the recent “anti-EU, anti-foreigner, anti-establishment mood is fertile ground for extremists and charlatans who are likely to do extremely well in the up and coming elections”.
“Our open societies, post-war Europe’s most incredible achievement is at risk,” he said.
To launch the book, Senator and Trinity Professor Seán Barrett was in attendance, calling it “a comprehensive review of the economic disasters” that have occurred in recent years”.
