Book Review: European Union
| Autor | Marco Odello |
| Páginas | 87-89 |
McGiffen, Steven P., The European Union, London, Pluto Press, 2001, pp. 182 and Smith, Hazel, European Union Foreign Policy, London, Pluto Press, 2001, pp.299.
Marco Odello. Visiting Professor, School of Law and Political Science, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Ciudad de México, México D.F. E-mail: modello@itesm.mx.
Page 87
The last years have shown an increased interest towards the study of the European integration and structure of the European Institutions. The fall of the Berlin Wall followed by unexpected changes in the political and ideological structures within the Eastern European Countries have started a new trend in the European scenario.
The consequence of the new situation in Central and Eastern Europe has been the new policy of enlargement of the European Communities and the possibility to expand the membership to Eastern European Countries, moving from the present fifteen members to possibly twenty or twenty-five members in the future.
Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia are considered to be ready for membership from the beginning of 2004.
The Commission recommended concluding negotiations for accession with these countries by the end of this year with the aim of signing the Accession Treaty in spring 2003.
The enlargement involves many important issues that affect the structure and working of an international institution such as the European Union. In fact, during the last decade processes of revision of the constitutive treaties and new policies have affected the former European Communities.1 The first treaty starting the reform of the European Communities can be considered the Single European Act, in 1987. Since then, new relevant reforms adopted through treaties have started the process of modification of the European Communities towards the European Union. The Maastricht Treaty in 1992 has therefore established the European Union as a new tool, including the three European Communities, and opening the door for new political integration among the European Countries. They include the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the co-operation in the area of internal and criminal affairs, the so-called Justice and Home Affairs. This process is considered to be the political trend leading the ‘integrationist’ or ‘federalist’ process involving the European States.
In the meantime, new areas have been put under consideration and reform. The expansion of the EU towards the East and new members creates the need to re-think the...
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