There is no natural place for our region on the Western part of Europe. We are, and will be between East and West, and should behave accordingly. Analyists and politicians should investigate not only the alleged advantages of the Euro-Atlantic integration, but disadvantages and difficulties as well.

The US, IMF and the World Bank dictate macroeconomic stabilisation for East-Central Europe, while the countries of the region have to adjust to the trade regime of the EU. This situation gives an unresolv-able task to the rulers of the Vishegrad countries. The West insists on their hegemony, but it is still unclear what they want to use it for.

Deregulation of social relations has been a prime tendency in Western Europe. The most clear development in recent years is a decrease in social standards, which encourages a competitive devaluation of labour in various parts of the EU.

The author privides a review of the evolution of the West-European integration, and analyses the idea and programme of single currency within the context of the neo-conservative ear, aimed at the destruction of the welfare state.