The revitalization of Western Europe and the politics of the 'social dimension'

Western Europe's move towards political union entered widespread public debate only at the beginning of the I 990s. However, it had begun almost a decade earlier, culminating in a bargain to recast the Community which was struck in 1985 with the Single European Act. These events mark a historic step from a Community paralysed by lethargy and budgetary squabbling in the 'Eurosclerosis' era to one in which the Community showed muscles in putting in place political structures 'that will give it a prime role in helping defme the post-Cold War world order', as the Community presented itself to the world at Seville's 1992 Universal Exposition.