Talking about European integration has at times appeared strange during the last few years when disintegration seemed around the corner. As we close this new edition, it seems that the worst is over, but one can never be sure. Over the last three years, between the fourth and fifth editions, the sovereign debt crisis has worsened and then improved. In the first three editions, we noted the many flaws in the integration process, especially those concerning the Eurozone. In the fourth edition, we were lamenting the policy responses to the crisis, pointing out what had to be done. Since then, much has been done, often along the lines that we mentioned. This edition takes stock of these changes, which concern both institutions and policies. The European Union has been transformed, and so has this book.

在过去几年里，当欧洲解体似乎即将来临时，谈论欧洲一体化有时显得有些奇怪。当我们结束这个新版本的时候，似乎最坏的情况已经过去了，但是我们永远不能确定。在过去的三年里，从第四版到第五版，主权债务危机恶化，然后有所改善。在前三个版本中，我们注意到了一体化进程中的许多缺陷，特别是涉及欧元区的缺陷。在第四版中，我们对应对危机的政策反应表示遗憾，指出了必须采取的措施。从那时起，已经做了很多工作，通常是按照我们提到的路线。本版盘点了这些涉及制度和政策的变化。欧盟已经改变了，这本书也是如此。