2008-07-25 11:24:35 -

www.researchandmarkets.com - Research and Markets (www.researchandmarkets.com/research/279aa9/the_european_union) has announced the addition of the "The European Union: A Very Short Introduction" report to their offering.

This Very Short Introduction explains the European Union in plain English. Fully updated for 2007 to include controversial and current topics such as the Euro currency, the EUs enlargement, and

its role in ongoing world affairs, this accessible guide shows how and why the EU has developed from 1950 to the present. Covering a range of topics from the Union's early history and the ongoing interplay between eurosceptics and federalists, to the single market, agriculture, and the environment, the authors examine the successes and failures of the EU, and explain the choices that lie ahead in the 21st century.

The European Union is the largest economic entity in the world and one of the largest political entities, with 493 million people in 2006. Fully updated for 2007 to include controversial and current topics such as the Union's enlargement and its role in ongoing world affairs, this accessible Very Short Introduction shows how and why the Union has developed, how its institutions work, and what it does--from the single market to the Euro and from agriculture to peace-keeping and the environment. Pinder and Usherwood cover the entire history of the Union, examine the momentous changes that have taken place within the Union since 2000, and highlight the benefits, controversies, and lessons learned from programs such as its expansion into central and Eastern Europe, and the circulation of the Euro. The book also examines the role of the European Union as a peace-keeper in Europe and beyond, sheds light on how it functions in world politics, looks at its role in supporting the rise of environmental politics.

Key Topics Covered:

- What the EU is for

- How the EU was made

- How the EU is governed

- Single market, single currency

- Agriculture, regions, budget: conflicts over who gets what

- Social policy, environmental policy

- 'An area of freedom, security and justice'

- A great civilian power ... and more, or less?

- The EU and the rest of Europe

- The EU in the world

- Much accomplished ... but what next?

For more information visit www.researchandmarkets.com/research/279aa9/the_european_union

Source: Oxford University Press

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