Europe — Toward 2001

This in-depth analysis of important European policy issues and official proposals will be examined at the European Union's (EU) 1996 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). The author critically examines and makes his own proposals for long-term EU policies, notably Europe's international competitive position, agriculture, regional and social issues, and economic and monetary union, as well as the Community's future enlargement and foreign policy and defence issues. In comparing the governmental and European institutional proposals for the IGC, Coffey observes a common thread and differences between the different partners. Consequently he sees the evolution of a loose European Confederation with a nucleus of countries at the centre integrating more swiftly than others. A special feature of the book is the collection of documents (contained in the appendices) consisting of the official governmental and European institutional proposals for the IGC.