From the analysis of the emergence and the management of the global and the sovereign debt crisis useful lessons can be drawn for the design of public policy at EU and national level. After some initial weaknesses in policy action, decisive initiatives by EU authorities, supported by significant progress to strengthen further economic and financial governance and reduce macroeconomic imbalances, succeeded in preserving the stability and integrity of the euro area. While the priority given by the EU policy action to financial stability was fully justified, it is also clear that robust economic...