This book was inspired by the “Vibrant Europe Forum 2012”, where a group of radicals began calling for a better political, social and even psychological environment for all Europeans. We wanted the EU to help ensure a brighter future for all: young and old, rich and poor. Back then, it seemed more than possible. Put simply, the future was bright. Five years on and the climate has changed dramatically. The clouds are packed and a storm is brewing. There has been a clear rise in anti-EU sentiment, culminating in “Brexit” in 2016, and more trials are on the horizon. Meanwhile, IS/Daesh atrocities on the European mainland demonstrated a deep hatred for “our” lifestyle and values. A massive flow of refugees challenged the security of our external borders, as well as the openness of our internal frontiers. Outside the EU, Putin conquered the Crimea, Erdogan had a putsch within a putsch and the Syrian war continued unabated, while IS/Daesh killed wantonly just 250 km from our southern borders. And the election of Donald Trump to the US Presidency created a new awareness: that Europe’s security guarantee may not be cast iron and may not last forever. This book started by looking for new ideas to make Europe an even better place to live, via better coordination and cooperation. Since then, it has morphed into an urgent call to action: to stave off a potential catastrophe. It was written for all those concerned about the future, including the future of their children and grandchildren, in a Europe committed to the values of human dignity and equal rights for all, along with security and well-being. We target an audience of well-educated ordinary citizens—certainly not just European specialists. These specialists are cited to achieve the necessary depth, but we generally avoid technical language and legalese.