Since the Single Europe Act (1986), attention has largely focused on the creation of a single European market and the much hyped date `1992'. This book examines what is actually entailed by the single market and looks at the other issues and implications of the Single Europe Act. It falls into four parts and considers the economic, fiscal, social and political dimensions of the processes of European unification.

In recent years we have become obsessed with being "ready for 1992". Yet despite the hype, how many people understand what "1992 and all that" will actually entail? "The Single European Market and Beyond" offers a detailed account of both the practicalities involved and the principles behind them. It falls into four parts. Part I serves as an introduction to the subject and provides an overview. It examines the Single European Act (1986) - which set the 31st December 1992 deadline - in some detail. Dennis Swann argues that the 1986 Act is best understood in terms of three ideas: completing, deepening and widening the Community. Part II examines the completion of the market in terms of the 1986 Act while Part III is concerned with the deepening and widening of particular aspects of the Act. It focuses on issues such as European Monetary Union, the Social Charter, Environmental Policy and political union. Widening also takes account of the countries now considering or actively seeking full membership - including the Eastern European countries. Finally, in Part IV, readers are given a series of final thoughts on the three issues most likely to shape Europe's future. This book should b