In Rome the controversial Silvio Berlusconi has been replaced by Mario Monti, a widely respected economist who has held important EU positions.

In Athens, the new leader is also a well-respected figure, Lucas Papademos, who is regarded as ‘‘a safe pair of hands’’.

The crisis has, however, a long way to go before contemporary Europe settles back into its integrated prosperity and relative political contentment.

The issues at stake are rather tricky. Austerity measures such as forced introduction of reduced welfare benefits are very difficult for ordinary citizens in a democracy to accept, and a degree of unrest is inevitable.

Nor is it easy for Germans, for example, to accept they are going to have bear a large part of the financial burden to save the EU from disintegrating.

To resolve this situation is presenting the greatest challenge the EU has had to face since the Treaty of Rome started the integration process. Will it survive in these troubled circumstances?

I believe that it will, for no European wants to return to the situation that existed before World War II. The so-called balance-of-powers politics invariably led to conflict - and to two catastrophic wars.

And of course WWII was followed by the East-West nuclear confrontation, with the Europeans in the front line.

The basic aim is about preserving an enduring form of political integration ensuring peace for the first time in Europe’s history.

Even the last European conflicts following the collapse of Yugoslavia are very unlikely to occur again because of the protective EU security blanket covering its 27 member states.

In the circumstances, though, there is some speculation about a collapse of the EU that is extremely unlikely to happen. The new Europe, despite its present difficulties, has too much to lose.

Hopefully, the new leaders of Italy and Greece will win the confidence of their people and ease the unrest.