Europe - Toward the Next Enlargement

This book is the third volume in the new series of books on International Regional Economic Integration published by Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Editor begins his examination with an extensive introduction which emphasizes the historic nature of the next enlargement of the European Union. The point of reference for enlargement is the European Commission's Agenda 2000, which covers all the policy areas which the new Member States will have to accept. Although this document is a very important one, it does not pay enough attention to the necessary policy changes and institutional changes which should be made in advance of enlargement. This volume tries to rectify this oversight by offering an assessment of the costs and benefits of enlargement to present and future EU Member States. In view of the importance of all these considerations, special attention is paid to the possible implications of the weak compromises made at the much-heralded Berlin Conference, held in March 1999. To that end, the volume presents an examination of the policy and institutional changes which must be made in advance of enlargement. The following major areas are covered, since with the exception of CAP, they would, in future years, have the most influence on the present and future EU Member States. These areas are: The economic and monetary union and the Euro; Enlarging the European Union: Is Agenda 2000 a guiding star for the new millennium? Regional policy; The impact of the single market on the big European countries - possible consequences for enlargement; and The financial markets.