What kind of Europe?

Abstract:

This work seeks to explain some of the fundamental issues at stake as the European Union embarks upon another period of expansion - its largest to date.

The work is organised over eight chapters grouped in three parts. The first part addresses the current position and the outstanding issues inherited from the past. Chapter two looks at the disparity between economic integration and political integration. Who have been the winners and losers of this economic integration? - chapter three addresses this question. Chapter four considers the international relations of the EU, in particular its relationship with the United States, the only remaining superpower. The second part addresses the challenges that lie ahead. The continuing economic liberalisation, agricultural reform, harmonisation of tax and reform of social policy are the focus of chapter five. Economic and Monetary Union and the single currency are discussed in chapter six. The continued enlargement and the consequences that follow from that by way of integration, including development of a common foreign policy, are addressed in chapter seven. In conclusion chapter eight considers the way forward, and asserts that if the European Union is to have a future then it must become more political, and the political parties must be more engaged in the process.

The work will interest scholars and students of European studies and anyone concerned about the key democratic issues facing Europe's citizens.

Loukas Tsoukalis is Jean Monnet Professor of European Organization at the University of Athens, Professorial Fellow in the Pierre Werner Chair, Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute, Florence, and President of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP).