Since 1990, when this book was first written, the Maastricht Treaty has wrought major changes to the European Community. In some respects the Union created by Maastricht is more federal, in some more intergovernmental. Conflicts over the Treaty have reflected the profound divergence in people's reactions to these changes.

Here John Pinder constructs a complete and coherent view of the Community. How did the Community begin? How have the Community's institutions and powers been strengthened? He looks at the moves from customs union to the single market; from the EMS to the project for economic and monetary union; from six to twelve member states and more, including the prospects for future enlargement into Central and Eastern Europe.

This new edition takes into account the fluctuating political and economic forces for and against unification. He looks at the GATT negotiations, the MacSharry reform, the 'Delors II' package, the new balance of power in Europe, the aftermath of Maastricht, and offers his own neo-federalist approach to the uncertain future of the Union.