Future policies should include a minimum standard of universal childcare set by the European Union that would boost educational performance and promote social mobiliy. The response to Europe’s current problems cannot be to retreat into the politics of national isolationism or to narrow our agenda to the solitary task of creating an economic market.

The people of Europe want much more than that. They want the opportunity to thrive in the global era without compromising their prosperity, security, freedom and social standards. Our ability to meet those aspirations has always been the fundamental test of our relevance as a political movement. It is a challenge we can only now realistically face as part of a strong and politically united Europe.