In November 1993, the territory of the European Communities became the European Union. This edition has changed its title to reflect this. It has been extensively revised and updated to provide the latest information on the European Union, from the creation of the Single Market in 1992, the implementation of the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty), the operation of the Exchange Rate Mechanism to the Union's recent enlargement to include Austria, Finland and Sweden. Specially featured in this edition are: full details of new European Union Member States (Austria, Finland and Sweden); proposed stages of Economic and Monetary Union; details of the Santer Commission; details on lobbying groups; and sources of European Union information. The introductory section includes: Member States of the European Union; a chronology outlining all major events in the history of the European Communities and the European Union; a map of the European Union; and flow charts of the decision-making procedure, the co-operation procedure and the co-decision procedure. Section one is an A-Z of the European Union compiled by Derek Urwin.
It provides definitions vital for understanding the terminology which surrounds the European Union and Union policy. It includes: European organizations, acronyms and terms; member states and countries connected with the European Union; politicians and others who have contributed to the development of Union policy. Section two is a series of specially commissioned articles which analyze the political, economic and legal framework of the European Union, the Single Market in the mid-1990s, the external affairs of the European Union and the future of the European Union. Complementing the encyclopaedic section, these articles provide a broad view of European Union policies and activities. Section three is a statistical survey produced by arrangement with the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities and with Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. This section allows swift access to a vast range of data.
Statistics are provided on: population; employment and unemployment; agriculture, forestry and fishing; energy and mining; industry, currency and exchange rates; European Union revenue and expenditure; national finances, trade, transport and communications; tourism, health and welfare; and education. Section four is a comprehensive directory of European Union institutions. The directory lists all the major Union organizations. It provides useful names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers of principal officials and their areas of work. It includes: Council of the European Union; European Council; European Commission; European Parliament; Court of Justice of the European Communities; Court of Auditors; Economic and Social Committee; and the European Investment Bank.
New European Union institutions which appear in this section include: The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products, the European Training Foundation, European Monetary Institute, Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, European Environment Agency, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Committe of the Regions, Office for Veterinary and Plant Health Inspection and Control; European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and and Drug Addiction.