We first met in Stockholm three years ago. Our discussions were all about issues such as education and climate change. The economy barely came up. But then the world was shaken by an economic catastrophe that toppled banks, destroyed businesses and ruined countless livelihoods. The wreckage is clear in Europe today: unemployment has risen by more than 7m; almost €150bn has been wiped off European Union output; average EU debt levels have risen to almost 80 per cent of gross domestic product. By any measure, these are shocking statistics.
So when we meet in Brussels on Thursday, the economy will dominate discussions. We are agreed there are four clear steps we need to take to ensure that Europe thrives and prospers.
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