^aDipartimento di Studi del Lavoro e del Welfare, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Conservatorio, 7, Milano 20122, Italy. E-mail: maurizio.ferrera@unimi.it

Abstract

European integration can be seen as a largely 'liberal' project. Since its inception, this project has, however, strongly emphasised the features of economic liberalism, neglecting other essential elements of the liberal tradition, including the limitation of political power, the defence of individual freedoms (not only in the economic sphere) and the promotion of life chances for all the members of the polity. The 'economistic sliding' of European liberalism is partly responsible for the current malaise of the European Union and should be countered by launching a comprehensive agenda of 'liberal' transformation, in the richer and wider sense of the word.