To sustain a social system that is in keeping with the core European values, we need the following, mutually reinforcing three pillars: •  a competitive private sector exposed to free competition;  •  sound and transparent institutions; and  •  an efficient and responsive public sector. There is no silver bullet.
However, as I have argued, an active and open civil society plays a crucial role in keeping all these three pillars strong. Going forward, European values of solidarity and social cohesion will be tested by centrifugal forces arising from globalization, rapid technological advances and population ageing. Nevertheless, they should continue to guide policy choices also in the future.