Business guide to EU initiatives, 2003

Book abstract:

This book aims to provide a broad but concise guide through the most significant European Union (EU) initiatives, examining how they influence business. As an updated edition, it incorporates new information on the European Convention, the post-Nice industrial reforms, consumer credit, and more effective regulation.

After dealing with the question of instruments and implementation, the work is separated into thirteen chapters. Chapter one deals with competition law, specifically the reform of its implementation, as well as merger regulations, and chapter two is on consumer affairs and agro-food. Chapter three, on enlargement within the EU, looks at the roles of Bulgaria and Romania, Turkey, South-East Europe, and the new independent states. In chapter four, on the environment, there are entries on the chemicals review, climate change, greenhouse gases, sustainability, and waste, among others, and chapter five deals with financial services. Chapter six looks at institutional affairs, like better governance, institutional reform and the future of Europe; chapter seven explores intellectual property; chapter eight is on social affairs, and chapter nine discusses taxation, both direct and indirect. Chapter ten investigates telecommunications, including problems of electric commerce regulation, data protection, cyber crime and copyright directives, as well as the matter of infrastructures and services regulation. Chapters eleven and twelve, respectively, assess trade, customs, and then transport and energy, before chapter thirteen concludes the book with information on references, including abbreviations, acronyms, an index, and an alphabetical list of EU Committee members.

The book is aimed at business professionals, academics, policy makers, and those with a general interest in European affairs.