Since 2010, the debt and bank crises in the European area have presented the greatest challenge to the EU since its foundation. This book illustrates in a compact manner, how the currency union was initially conceptualised, which macro-economic developments have occurred since its founding, how the decision structures work and what instruments and reforms were used by the member states in response to this crisis. The book provides a well-structured and orientating overview suitable both in order to obtain information quickly, but also to study in-depth.