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.

Norway again rejected the idea to join EU, while Sweden and Finland had no other options. The integration of Nordic countries is related to an attack on the Scandinavian welfare state, so Norway is left there as a maverick in both foreign and social policy.