“The euro is a success but it is still incomplete” for Patrick Martin-Genier

The French remember the changeover to the euro, but far fewer remember the reason for its creation. “The euro was designed to foster and promote European identity. The euro was not just a currency, it was a political project. François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl wanted to strengthen European integration. The euro is become part of the identity of the European Union “, explains Patrick Martin-Genier, professor at Sciences Po Paris and specialist in European issues.

But is this single currency a success? “The euro is a success, but it is still incomplete. There are 19 countries in the euro zone, but we still have to go further. Europe, this has always been a Europe of concentric circles. Come the countries that wish to come and the countries that meet the conditions to adopt the single euro currency […] Emmanuel Macron wants to strengthen the budgetary capacity of the euro “, add Patrick Martin-Genier.