Fifteen into one? The European Union and its Member States

Book abstract:

This book take a country-by-country approach in order to examine the development of European policy in Brussels, and how it is applied in each Member State. It scrutinises, in particular, the role of national institutions like governments, parliaments, regional governments, courts and public administrations. The emphasis is also on the degree of adaptability, or versatility, that each Member State has displayed in meeting the demands of European integration since before and after the Maastricht Treaty.

After the introduction has provided a broad chronological study of the relationship between the European Union (EU) and its Member States, the book is divided into two other parts. The first, the largest, deals with each nation and questions of integration consecutively. It begins, for example, with a discussion of Belgium, Europeanisation and Belgian federalism, moves through the smoother adaptation to Europe undergone by Finland, and deals with the more problematic, endless 'attraction and estrangement' of Greece. The contributors also offer work on the status of Ireland, in terms of modernisation through or rather 'via' Europeanisation, and on the always awkward position of countries like Sweden and the UK. Part three contains the editor's conclusions to some of the problems and issues raised.

The book is aimed at students and academics with an interest in the field, particularly scholars of integration studies and comparative politics.