Maastricht and Beyond

Maastricht and Beyond describes the negotiations that led up to the signature of the Treaty and its contraversial ratification, and places these events in their historical context. It analyses clearly the main provisions of the Treaty, including the three pillared structure, Economic and Monetary Union, common foreign and xecurity policy, home affairs and justice, and suggests how they will change both the working and eventually the character ogf the European Union. Finally it draws conclusion from the Maastricht process and suggests how the next revision of the Treary, scheduled for 1996, should build on what has been achieved so far as well as rectifying some if the weaknesses in the strucure and procedure s of European integration. It make sproposals for a constitutional settlement ehat would turn the Union into a fully-fledged federal democracy. All the contributors to the book have a deep practical and theoretical knowledge of the European Community. They take a generally positive, though far from uncritical view of the Treaty of Maastricht, and wish to see the new Union succeed in its objectives. The book is designed to deepen understanding of the European Union. It offers mnay new insights about the state of European ratification and will ne invauable for students taking courses on European and EC politics, especially at graduate level, politicians, diplomats, academics, journalists, lawyers, business people and national and EC officials. No other book in the English language gives such a comprehensive and up-to-date appraisal of the significance of the European Union, or goes so far to redress the widespread misconceptions about it.