Presents text, statistics and directory information on the geography, recent history and economy of the Western European countries and territories.

Key features include:

* Contributions from acknowledged experts

* A definitive factual and statistical survey of each country

* Some 800 pages of impartial data.

General Survey

* Introductory articles written by acknowledged experts cover issues of regional importance, such as: The European Union Towards 2006; European Defence: All Illusions Exposed; The Politics of Immigration and Asylum in Western Europe; Economic Survey of Western Europe and Western Europe and the Developing World.

Country Surveys

Individual chapters on each country, which comprise of:

* An introductory survey, containing essays on the geography, history and economy of each country, which includes a full chronology and map

* An extensive economic and demographic survey of the latest available statistics on area and population, health and welfare, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry, finance, trade, transport, tourism, communications media and education

* A full directory section with names, addresses, contact numbers and e-mail and internet addresses covering the constitution, government, legislature, judiciary, political organizations, diplomatic representation, religious groups, the media, finance, trade and industry, tourism, defence and education

* A select bibliography, containing suggestions for further research.