European integration. Methods and economic analysis, 2nd ed.

Book abstract:

This textbook of European integration combines an analysis of the process of integration with a discussion of the integration methods used in the European Union. This is a second, revised edition, which includes developments such as the Amsterdam Treaty, economic and monetary union and enlargement of the European Union. Economic analysis is demonstrated through practical examples and case studies.

The book is divided into four parts. Part 1, 'Foundation', looks at the economic framework implicit in the main EU treaties in order to understand European integration methods. Chapters in this section ask what economic integration is and what is its significance in Europe, outline the development of the EU up to the Maastricht Treaty, provide an economic perspective of the Rome Treaty of 1957, and examine what public economic functions the EU should exercise. Part 2 focuses on the internal market. It deals with the realisation of the relevant freedoms (negative integration) and the accompanying approximation (positive integration). Product market integration and factor market integration are examined as well as services market integration and the internal market for network industries. Part 3 looks at common policies studying both methods and economic analysis with sections on the Common Agricultural Policy, EC Competition Policy, Common Trade Policy and EC Industrial Policy. The final part, 'Equity, Stabilisation and Extension' examines two further economic functions at EU level, equity via redistribution and macro economic stabilisation via monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies. Chapters examine how equity is pursued at EU level, EU macro-economic co-operation, economic and monetary union, and finally the economic issues of the EU's emerging role as an economic leader in the pan-European economy.

The book is an intermediate level text designed for students at degree level.

Jacques Pelkmans is Council Member of the WRR in The Hague, part-time professor at Maastricht University and the College of Europe and Associate Fellow at the Centre for European Studies in Brussels.