The Longman Companion to the European Union Since 1945

Contemporary Review, Nov, 1999

Alasdair Blair. Longman. [pounds]17.99 p.b. 384 pages. ISBN 0-582-36884-7. This reference book shows the growth of the E.U. from the treaties of Rome and Paris to the 'reforms' in the Amsterdam treaty. The purpose here is 'to provide reliable analysis to students, academics and the wider public of the main policies which encompass the European Union.' The text is divided into nine main categories: overview, chronology, detailed chronologies, E.U.

institutional development, major E.U. policies, the E.U. and the world outside Europe, various 'summits' between 1978 and 1998, a summary of the constitutions of member states, where the editor oddly calls the Queen's powers 'nominal' as opposed to 'constitutionally limited.' There is also a section on Britain in Europe, a bibliography, list of useful addresses, glossary, biographies and index. Oddly there is no entry in the index for 'corruption' which has become such a prominent feature of the E.U. in recent years. (G.B.)