Maria João Rodrigues Says EUROPE IS STILL POSSIBLE

Author Maria João Rodrigues reveals her highly enlightening new publication that combines essay, memoirs, and political reporting with a thriller tone. Political Adventures in 21st Century Europe is an exciting and amusing patchwork of stories, the behind-the-scenes politics are interwoven with the collective invention of new political ideas and some touching personal events, taking place all over the world, from Brussels, Berlin, Paris, London, Rome, and Warsaw to Washington, Brasilia, Johannesburg and Beijing.

Inspired by her own experience for the last 15 years in different fronts of European politics and with different hats, the author has the need to overcome the current euro-skepticism and to show how, in spite of the difficulties and divergences which are not hidden in this book, the European Union remains an amazing collective invention which can have an appealing future.

This book chronicles her journey through European and world politics in the 21st century based on an exciting and amusing patchwork of stories, where crucial events are combined with behind the scenes discussions and the collective invention of new solutions for central problems, involving many renowned personalities. It deals with the difficulties of the unique process of European integration that aims to foster growth and jobs, to reform its political system, to work with new emerging economies, to cope with major global challenges, to tackle the financial crisis and finally, the ongoing Eurozone crisis. In the end, it leaves this question to readers, "how can European nations converge on a common purpose in spite of their differences?"

Political Adventures in 21st Century Europe will provoke the readers' thoughts and let them come to love or hate Europe and European Union. Hopefully, it will also lead them to understand the system better.

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.XlibrisPublishing.co.uk.

About the Author
Maria João Rodrigues is Professor of European Economic Policies at the Institute for European Studies, Université Libre de Bruxelles (IEE-ULB) and the Lisbon University Institute (ISCTE-IUL). She was minister of employment in Portugal and developed a European career since then. Known as the "mother of the Lisbon Strategy", she has been special adviser to the European Commission, several EU Presidencies and national governments. She was the chair of the Advisory Group for socio-economic sciences in the European Commission in charge of preparing the 7th Framework Research Programme, has many publications including ten books and delivered many conferences in and outside Europe. She is also Member of the Advisory Board of the European Policy Centre (Brussels) and of the Governing Board of Notre Europe (Paris).
Rodrigues holds three Master's degrees and a PhD in economics from the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, as well as a Degree in Sociology from the University of Lisbon. Among several national awards, she got Légion d'Honneur at Officier grade in France.

Europe is Still Possible * by Maria Joao Rodrigues
Political Adventures in the 21st Century
Publication Date: September 9, 2013
Trade Paperback; £13.99; 146 pages; 978-1-4836-6540-5
Trade Hardback; £23.99; 146 pages; 978-1-4836-6541-2
Ebook; £3.99; 978-1-4836-6542-9

Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at 800-056-3182. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at 44-203-006-8880 or call 800-056-3182.

For more information, contact Xlibris at 800-056-3182 or on the web at http://www.XlibrisPublishing.co.uk.