Introduction

Abstract

For this issue focused on the euro, each author has been asked to answer the following question : « What do you believe will be the main developments that are likely to affect, and possibly transform, the euro area and its functioning over the next ten years ? ». The whole set of articles are therefore heading towards the future rather than the appraisal of past results. In the context of the current financial and economic crisis, the opinions and judgments stated by great leaders and renowned experts apply to discern the likely developments during the next ten years of the European common currency that is going to face new challenges : enlargement of the currency area to new countries, new rules of governance, the dollar’s status, the rising power of emerging markets and that, probable, of some of their currencies, the public deficits caused by the crisis... Classification JEL : E42, E58, E6, F31, F36, G28.