People's Europe: The Future of the European Union‪.‬

SINCE ITS INCEPTION, the European Union (EU) has provided the world with an unprecedented model of successful international and intra-regional cooperation. European political and economic integration has culminated in the establishment of an area characterized by transnational peace and prosperity. The structures of the European Union have shown that institutions based on the rule of law can prove both viable and valuable on the international scene. All in all, the Union constitutes a living monument to the ideal of interstate cooperation. While that incomparable precedent is a rightful source of pride for European leaders and citizens, it also presents Europeans with a great deal of responsibility. The leaders of the Union remain committed to the institution's original, primary goals. These goals include enhancing the positive effects of economic integration through the adoption of a single currency and endowing the Union with a genuine political dimension so that it may formulate more effective collective responses to the challenges posed by both internal and international problems. At the same time, however, the fall of the Iron Curtain has presented the European Union with a new set of challenges and has forced European policymakers to reformulate their visions of the Union's future mission and institutions. The past successes of the European Union only make its future success seem even more vital to the maintenance of the ideal of and prospects for global integration. In order to ensure the endurance of the Union's most positive elements, European leaders must be willing to approach the task of European reform with innovation and intelligence.