Uniting Europe: An Introduction to the European Union (Europe Today) - Softcover

Oudenaren, Van John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0742536610 ISBN 13: 9780742536616

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2004

Synopsis

With the 2004 enlargement, the European Union ( E. U) has expanded to twenty-five member states and a total population of 450 million. The new Union faces a daunting policy agenda that includes finalizing the controversial European Constitution, managing further enlargement to countries in southeastern Europe, deciding whether to offer membership to Turkey, overcoming strains over trade, environmental issues, and policy toward the Middle East to build a new, post-Cold War relationship with the United States, and making sure that the enlargement itself is a success. In this timely and accessible text, John Van Oudenaren explores how a political and economic union this large and diverse can hold together and accomplish the policy tasks that matter to its citizens: sustaining economic growth, dealing with aging populations and the costs of pensions and health care, raising living standards in poorer regions, preserving the environment, coping with the problems of immigration and political instability on Europe's borders, and facing the challenges of globalization. To reach these goals, the author argues that the E.U. must build on its existing achievements: the single market, the common currency, and harmonized policies. At the same time, the Union must reform its decision-making processes and find ways to balance the needs of its member states and the competing demands of different interest groups. How the E.U. will evolve is still unclear; there is no precise blueprint for its future. But the historic attempt to unite Europe will have enormous implications not only for Europe itself, but for the United States as a key ally, trading partner, and, on occasion, rival. By providing an overview of the Union's institutions, laws, and policies, Van Oudenaren provides a solid foundation for understanding its history and emergence as a global economic and political power.

About this title

About the Author

John Van Oudenaren is a Global Fellow at the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, specializing in both EU and Russian affairs. Previously, he held senior positions at the Library of Congress, including director of Scholarly and Educational Programs, director of the World Digital Library, and chief of the European Division. He was the founding director of RAND Europe and has taught at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0742536610
• ISBN 13: 9780742536616
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 432