EC Law Essential Guide to Legal Workings of European Communi

Now completely revised and updated for its third edition, this authoritative analysis gives the essential background to an understanding of the operation of the European Union and of the problems facing it. Written by two experts in the field, the book surveys the gradual development of the European Community and its emergence as the European Union and provides a thorough examination of the EU's legislative process, the jurisdiction of the Court and the principles of direct effect and supremacy. Authoritative coverage is given to the internal market; including freedom of movement of goods, persons, services and capital; to competition policy, including mergers, intellectual property and state intervention in the market; and to social policy. Completely updated in the light of the Treaty of Amsterdam, this detailed account explores the institutional and constitutional changes to the legal structure of the EU made by that Treaty. This includes new legislation designed to create an area of freedom, security and justice within which people will be able to move about freely (a framework from which the United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland have opt outs), and the establishment of closer co-operation between some of the Member States. Economic and monetary union is also discussed and a new chapter looks at consumer and environmental policy. Although this book deals primarily with the legal perspective, it also includes a detailed examination of the political institutions, such as the Commission, Council and Parliament. It will therefore be of immense value not only to practising lawyers who need to understand the impact of EU law, but also to anyone who is studying or is interested in politics, European studies, economics or modern history.