Understanding the European Union : a concise introduction / John McCormick.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McCormick, John, 1954-

Series:

European Union series

The European Union series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

European Union.

Physical Description:

xvii, 251 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : St. Martin's Press, 1999.

Contents:

1 Regional Integration 1

International cooperation 2

Confederalism 4

Consociationalism 5

Federalism 7

Theories of integration 9

Realism versus functionalism 10

Intergovernmentalism versus supranationalism 11

Explaining European integration 12

New developments in integration theory 18

Other exercises in regional integration 20

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 20

Regional integration in Latin America 23

Regional integration in Asia 24

Regional integration in the Middle East 26

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 27

2 The Idea of Europe 31

The evolving identity of Europe 32

Where is Europe? 40

Western Europe today 43

Political structure 43

Administrative structure 49

Economic structure 51

3 The Evolution of the EU 57

Domestic developments 58

Economic reconstruction and security 61

First steps towards integration (1945-50) 64

Opening moves: from Paris to Rome (1950-8) 65

Integration takes root (1958-70) 69

First rounds of enlargement (1973-86) 70

Economic union and the single market (1979-92) 74

Social and regional integration since 1974 76

From Community to Union 79

Further enlargement 80

The single currency and beyond 83

4 The Institutions of the EU 87

The European Commission 88

Structure 89

The College of Commissioners 89

The president 91

Directorates-general 92

The Secretariat General 93

How the Commission works 95

Powers of initiation 95

Powers of implementation 95

Acting as the conscience of the EU 96

Management of EU finances 96

External relations 96

The Council of Ministers 97

Structure 97

The Councils 97

Permanent representatives 98

The presidency 98

The Secretariat General 99

How the Council works 100

The European Parliament 101

Structure 102

The president 102

European elections 103

How Parliament works 105

Powers over legislation 105

Powers over the budget 107

Powers over other institutions 107

The European Court of Justice 107

Structure 109

The judges 109

The president 110

The advocates general 110

The Court of First Instance 110

How the Court works 111

Preliminary rulings 112

Direct actions 112

The European Council 113

How the Council works 115

5 The EU and the Member States 120

The changing powers of the member states 121

Addressing regional differences 128

Improving environmental quality 133

An emerging European civil society 138

The changing character of the EU 141

6 The EU and its Citizens 147

Public opinion and the democratic deficit 148

The people's Europe 156

Changes already begun 158

Changes introduced by the Single European Act 158

Changes introduced by the Maastricht Treaty 161

Changes not made 163

Social policy 164

Improving accountability 170

7 Economic Integration 175

Completing the single market 176

Physical barriers 176

Fiscal barriers 178

Technical barriers 179

Effects of the single market 181

Rights of residence 181

Joint ventures and corporate mergers 181

A European transport system 184

Open skies over Europe 185

Broadcasting, the film industry and telecommunications 186

Agriculture in Europe 188

The Common Agricultural Policy 191

Towards a single currency 194

Pros and cons of the single currency 197

8 The EU and the World 202

Foreign policy cooperation: from EPC to CFSP 203

The WEU and European defence 209

Europe as an economic superpower 214

Relations with the United States 220

Relations with eastern Europe 222

Development cooperation 225

Appendix A Chronology of European Integration, 1944-99 230.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0312221657

0312221665

OCLC:

40683457