The book is the first of its kind to provide a comparative analysis of the provision of social and public services in France, Italy, Germany, the UK and Norway. This volume, co-authored by leading national experts, topically examines whether, when, how and why the delivery of social and public services, which was historically a responsibility of local authorities, has been significantly shifted to marketized and commodified forms. However, despite this considerable change, there have been recent indications of remunicipalization in some sectors. Combining both cross-country and cross-policy comparisons in a broad range of pertinent service fields, this volume fills a noticeable gap in the international literature currently available.Mirroring the underlying interdisciplinary approach of the book, the findings will be useful and attractive to students of law and economics as well as political science and sociology. Academic researchers and politicians on all intergovernmental levels will also find this book insightful and stimulating.

This book studies the history of the single, or internal, market of the European Union since its beginnings after the Second World War until the end of 2000. The perspective is multidisciplinary and incorporates several dimensions: historical, political, economic, legal and sociological. Based on several interviews and other sources, the book is the most complete synthesis of one of the major achievements of European integration.

In particular, the author asks: What is the single European market (SEM) and how has it evolved over the years? How does the SEM work? Who have been the stakeholders of the SEM? What has been the articulation between the SEM and the other components of the European integration process? How have economists analyzed and assessed the SEM since its beginnings? What has been the power of economic thought? This fundamental and timely publication will be of interest to all those concerned with the future of every aspect of Europe.

The Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in which some members of the European Union have joined, has prompted much discussion of monetary union. Most of this discussion has focused on the immediate issues, such as prospects for the Euro and the possibility of expanding the Euro-zone. This book stands back and considers the relevant theory or what lessons might be drawn from other unions that have been formed in the past as well as looking at EMU directly.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203417917

The 'Europeanisation' of the fight against crime is a broad and much-contested notion. This in-depth analysis of the role of the EU in fighting crime within the area of freedom, security and justice explores the impact of EU policies in the Member States, the progressive convergence of Member States' criminal law systems, the emergence of mutual recognition as an alternative to harmonization, and the incremental development of the ECJ's jurisdiction. The essays also explore the limitations inherent in EU counter-crime policies and the changes brought about by the introduction of the Treaty of Lisbon. These changes are discussed both collectively and within individual substantive areas in which the EU has taken an active role in fighting crime, such as corruption, money laundering, terrorism, organised crime and extradition.

Series Information:
The Making of the Contemporary World

The 2004 and 2007 enlargements pushed the EU's external border further east as well as closer to unstable areas in the western Balkans. With future enlargements unlikely in the short-term, the EU faces new challenges in securing stable relationships with these neighbouring countries, while not fostering false hopes of early accession. This book explores the challenges facing the EU in developing its relations with neighboring countries in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe following the enlargements of 2004 and 2007.

Governance of Europe's City Regions is a structured overview of current debates on cities and regions. It provides an understanding of trends at different spatial scales and explores a range of different European experiences to consider prospects for the effective governance of city regions. Contrasts arise for different economic and spatial contexts, and from the complex interactions of national, regional and local politics and policy.
The book introduces readers to and summarises a wide interdisciplinary literature. It clarifies contemporary debates about regionalism and contributes new insights into the theory of 'new regionalism'. The authors' argue that the city region scale continues to be contested and that no single governance model will fit all experiences. They also assert that there is need for a careful appreciation within city regions of the interactions of local institutions, their constitutional context and their economic prospects.

Governance of Europe's City Regions considers the changing role of the European Union in regional issues, explores how national governments have become increasingly involved at the regional scale and examines the constitutional and political contexts in which regional and local governments operate. Detailed case studies of regionals in Germany and England illustrate contrasts in European approaches to the scale of government, and the complex interactions of international, national, regional and local scales of policy intervention. The book offers a unique perspective, which links together an analysis of both regional Europe and the local economic and political factors that shape successful regions.

The policy framework advocated by Minford et al. . . . is grounded in economic theory and an incisive empirical analysis of the costs of UK's membership of the EU. Their thesis that the EU is a political union practising economic protectionism in the guise of gradualism towards free trade makes sense. . . . Minford and his associates' analysis suggests that the EU's policy framework of free trade for members but restrictions on trade of non-members with the EU countries is a second best policy adopted to promote political rather than economic objectives.' - V.N. Balasubramanyam, Lancaster University, UK'The EU got the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2012, but such an award is not forthcoming for economics. In fact, the EU faces a stern public discontent throughout Europe. For years EU leaders have been unable to agree on almost anything. The eurozone's toxic monetary embrace is a colossal failure that has provoked misery in most of the participating countries and, worst of all, suffocated the hopes of prosperity for many years to come. The EU is no longer a venture that inspires people to run on barricades to defend it. Should Britain be a part of the crumbling EU project? This book provides a timely and documented answer. It is highly recommended reading.' - Miroslav N. Jovanovi , University of Geneva, Switzerland 'Much too much of the debate about the UK's relationship with the European Union relies upon general declarations unsupported by facts and assertions and claims not substantiated by evidence. This is why we need so badly the careful quantitative analysis provided by Patrick Minford and his colleagues. The UK electorate will have a momentous decision to take when the EU referendum takes place. History and emotions will be important, but getting the facts straight is even more vital.' - John Mills, Founder and Chairman of JML and Co-Chairman of Business for Britain 'Patrick Minford and his team have performed a hugely valuable service by quantifying the costs of Britain's EU membership. In particular, they show that Britain pays too much for too high a proportion of its imports. The EU's protectionism in its trade with the rest of the world costs Britain a significant slice of its national output. Their demonstration of this vital point is thought-provoking and sophisticated, and greatly strengthens the case for the UK to leave the EU.' - Tim Congdon, CBE, International Monetary Research Ltd Placed in the context of the upcoming referendum, this second edition brings up to date a thorough review of all economic aspects of the UK's membership of the EU. It notes the intention of the EU to move to 'ever closer union' and the nature of the regulatory and general economic philosophy of its dominant members, whose position is enforced by qualified majority voting. The book highlights the UK s dilemma that, while extending free markets to its local region is attractive, this European philosophy and closer union are substantially at odds with the UK's traditions of free markets and freedom under the common law. This comprehensive examination of the economic costs and benefits of membership uses state-of-the-art modeling methods and includes estimates of its net costs as a percentage of GDP. The book explains how the decision to leave would follow from a judgement on the political economy of the EU as compared with that of the UK. It details the misconceptions involved in much of the debate about trade with the EU, and argues that the key issue is not access to markets but rather the prices at which trade takes place. Covered in careful detail is the economics of the UK's trade with the EU in the key sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

Alexander Stubb, a participant in the 1996-97 and 2000 Inter-governmental Conferences analyzes the evolution of flexible integration from the early 1970s to the present day and beyond. He focuses in the process of negotiations which led to the institutionalization of flexibility in the Amsterdam and Nice Treaties. This book provides a valuable insider's view on historical decision-making in the EU.

Contents:
1. Introduction 2. European Citizenship 3. The Nation-Sate in Europe 4. Nationalism in Europe 5. Regions in Europe and a 'Europe of the Regions' 6. Migration and Asylum-Seeking in Europe 7. Human Rights - the European Experience 8. 'Europe' and European Identity 9. European Nation-States: integration and institutions 10. The enlargement of the European Union 11. European Nation-States and Globalisation

Contents:
1. Introduction 2. European Citizenship 3. The Nation-Sate in Europe 4. Nationalism in Europe 5. Regions in Europe and a 'Europe of the Regions' 6. Migration and Asylum-Seeking in Europe 7. Human Rights - the European Experience 8. 'Europe' and European Identity 9. European Nation-States: integration and institutions 10. The enlargement of the European Union 11. European Nation-States and Globalisation

Europe Undivided analyzes how an enlarging EU has facilitated a convergence toward liberal democracy among credible future members of the EU in Central and Eastern Europe. It reveals how variations in domestic competition put democratizing states on different political trajectories after 1989, and how the EU's leverage eventually influenced domestic politics in liberal and particularly illiberal democracies. In doing so, Europe Undivided illuminates the changing dynamics of the relationship between the EU and candidate states from 1989 to 2004, and challenges policymakers to manage and improve EU leverage to support democracy, ethnic tolerance, and economic reform in other candidates and proto-candidates such as the Western Balkan states, Turkey, and Ukraine. Albeit not by design, the most powerful and successful tool of EU foreign policy has turned out to be EU enlargement - and this book helps us understand why, and how, it works.

The EU is faced with the perpetual challenge of guaranteeing effective enforcement of its law and policies. This book brings together leading EU scholars in law, politics and regulation, to explore the wealth of new legal and regulatory strategies, practices, and actors that are emerging to complement the classic avenues of central and decentralised enforcement. The contributors evaluate the traditional 'dual vigilance' framework of enforcement before examining network(ed) enforcement from theoretical, empirical and legal perspectives. They assess innovations in key EU policy fields such as the environment, consumer protection, competition, freedom, security and justice, and economic governance. This multi-disciplinary book will be of use to students and academics in law, political science, regulation and public policy. It will also interest policy makers in EU institutions, national administrations and courts engaged in the implementation and enforcement of EU law and policy. Contributors: E. Baker, P. Cortes, S. Drake, M. Eliantonio, M. Hobolth, M. Lottini, D.S. Martinsen, R. Murphy, C. Petrucci, J. Polak, M. Smith, J. Van der Heijden, E. Versluis

This volume examines the making of the Constitutional Treaty of the European Union. It does so by paying attention to the way in which the political actors operated within the Convention, by analysing civil society's input, and by tracking the development of the constitutional text beyond the Convention itself, through the IGC process and within the EU legal system. In discussing the European experience, the authors also address the question of whether its transnational character represents a new development for the theory of constitution making.

For the last twenty years the European Union has been extremely active in the field of e-commerce. This important new book addresses the key pieces of EU legislation in the field of e-commerce, including the E-commerce Directive, the Services Directive, the Consumer Directive, the General Data Protection Regulation, and the eID Regulation. The latest in the Elgar Commentaries series, EU Regulation of E-Commerce is the first book to apply this well-established format to a dynamic and increasingly significant area of law. Key features include: thoroughly up-to-date analysis of decisions of the Court of Justice and the Commission article-by-article commentary on the latest directives and regulations in the field of e-commerce a unique structure featuring detailed tables of cases and legislation and paragraph references, enabling easy access to all substantive legal provisions specially commissioned chapters from leading scholars and practitioners from across the EU This unique work will provide the definitive account of the essential pieces of EU legislation on e-commerce. Legal practitioners will benefit from the clear structure and close examination of key provisions. The book will also appeal to legal scholars and advanced students, who will appreciate the concise overview and thoughtful analysis on future developments in the field. Contributors include: P. Cortes, G. De Minico, J. Dumortier, Y. Harn Lee, M. Jozwiak, S. Jozwiak, A.R. Lodder, C. Markou, D. Mendis, A.D. Murray, C. Riefa, T. Synodinou, M. Viggiano, T. Wisman

This book analyses Germany's role in the euro crisis. Based on the perception of Berlin as the emerging capital of the European Union, the author investigates three interrelated issues: Did the German policy approach of imposing austerity programs on countries in the middle of a deep recession contribute to the successful management of the euro crisis? Does Germany extend its sway over its European partners by forcing them to surrender to the German diktat of fiscal Disziplin and economic efficiency? Is the stubborn insistence on rigid fiscal adjustment another ominous sign of the Berlin Republic moving away from the country's traditional European vocation toward an imperial leadership role? The book's main argument is that Germany's role in and responses to the euro crisis can best be explained by different concepts of self, historical memory, and institutional practices.

An analysis of the external relations of the European Community with particular reference to the impact of the completion of its internal market at the end of 1992. Separate chapters examine relations with the USA, Japan, the EFTA countries (Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Liechtenstein), Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, the Mediterranean countries, the Third World (through the Rome Convention), ASEAN (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) and Australia and New Zealand.

With a Foreword by Paul J.G. Kapteyn, Former President of Chamber at the Court of Justice of the European Communities Important practical and theoretical issues remain to be explored and discussed in respect of the so-called three pillars of the European Union (European Communities, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters) in relation to international law. In practical examples, developed in 25 original essays written by both practitioners and scholars from European institutions and universities, this book seeks to stimulate discussion on relations and conflicts between the EU and international legal orders. Current issues are addressed including the suspension of rights of Member States in international organisations, the definition of the precautionary principle under WTO and EC law, the UN Convention against transnational organised crime, and the participation of the EU; the EU and its involvement in international humanitarian law, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights related to international instruments. Although changing, the relationship between the European Union and international law has not given rise to many publications - this book seeks to establish a dialogue between EU lawyers and international lawyers, in order to focus on the relationship between EU and international law.

Lithuania restored her independence, after half a century of Soviet occupation, in the immediate aftermath of the failed Moscow coup in August 1991. As the multi-national Soviet state disintegrated, Lithuania evolved, without war or violence, from a communist state and a command economy to a liberal democracy, a free market, and a society guaranteeing human and minority rights. Lithuania therefore offers a notable example of peaceful transition, all the more impressive in the light of the bloody conflict elsewhere in the former Soviet Union of Yugoslavia, where the aspirations to independence of the constituent republics were either violently resisted or dissolved into inter-ethnic violence. Equally remarkable has been Lithuania's determination to 'return to Europe' after half a century of separation, even at the price of submerging its recently restored sovereign rights in the supranational European Union. The cost of membership in western economic and security organizations are judged to be worth paying to prevent Lithuania's being drawn once again into a putative Russian sphere of influence. On the threshold of a new millennium therefore, Lithuania has made a pragmatic accommodation to the demands of becoming a modern European state, whilst vigorously resisting the dilution of her rich cultural and historical traditions. These twin themes of accommodation and resistance are Lithuania's historical legacy to the current generations of Lithuanians as they integrate into European institutions and continue the modernization process.

eBook available with sample pages: 020340274X

This important sequel to Nordic Social Policy (Routledge 1999) compares welfare state development over the last twenty years in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden with that of Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and other Western European countries. Topics covered include:
* income distribution, health inequalities and gender equality
* gender policies, health and social care services and policy reaction to family changes
* social security and employment policies
* financing of welfare states.
In the context of globalisation, ageing populations, changing employment patterns and rising inequalities, Nordic Welfare States in the European Context offers an empirical analysis of welfare adaptations and a lively discussion of the historical development of European social policy. It finds a greater ambiguity regarding variation and trends than is commonly suggested. Contrary to expectation, there is little evidence of the Europeanisation of Nordic welfare states, rather the reverse. The comparable and empirical data used in this study make it a unique contribution to understanding current trends in European social policy.

This important sequel to Nordic Social Policy (Routledge 1999) compares welfare state development over the last twenty years in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden with that of Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and other Western European countries. Topics covered include:
* income distribution, health inequalities and gender equality
* gender policies, health and social care services and policy reaction to family changes
* social security and employment policies
* financing of welfare states.
In the context of globalisation, ageing populations, changing employment patterns and rising inequalities, Nordic Welfare States in the European Context offers an empirical analysis of welfare adaptations and a lively discussion of the historical development of European social policy. It finds a greater ambiguity regarding variation and trends than is commonly suggested. Contrary to expectation, there is little evidence of the Europeanisation of Nordic welfare states, rather the reverse. The comparable and empirical data used in this study make it a unique contribution to understanding current trends in European social policy.

It is now widely accepted that transport is becoming increasingly unsustainable and that strong policy intervention is required to reduce both the growth in transport demand and the environmental costs of transport. This book challenges conventional approaches to transport by moving away from trend based analysis towards the use of scenarios to identify alternative sustainable transport futures. It both summaries the development of EU transport policy and presents a critique. The policy context is widened to include the global changes taking place in economics, society and technology. It develops new methodologies for policy making for the next 25 years.

This book investigates relations between Israel, the Palestinian territories and the European Union by considering them as interlinked entities, with relations between any two of the three parties affecting the other side. The contributors to this edited volume explore different aspects of Israeli-Palestinian-European Union interconnectedness.

Contents:
1. Introduction: aims and objectives Karl Cordell
2. Contemporary government attitudes towards the European Union Teresa Los-Nowak
3. Polish perceptions of the European Union in the 1990s Elzbieta Stadtmüller
4. Emergent democratic citizenship in Poland: a study of changing value patterns Kazimierz Dziubka
5. Political competition in Poland: traditionalisation or westernisation? Andrzej Antoszewski
6. Parties and the Polish party system: the process of structuring the political space Ryszard Herbut
7. The marketing of political parties in the 1990s: a comparative study Robert Wiszniowski
8. The Europeanisation of government in Poland in the 1990s Andrzej W. Jablonski
9. The reform of Polish local government, and the Europe of the regions Wieslaw Bokajlo
10. Poland, die Vertriebenen, and the road to integration with the European Union Tadeusz Lebioda
11. The European Union and Ukrainian-Polish relations Andrzej Dybczynski
12. Conclusion Karl Cordell