As the European Union continues to evolve and as European integration proceeds, it has become increasingly difficult to meet two goals fundamental to the EU: promoting European unity while preserving member state diversity. To highlight this tension, Promoting Unity, Preserving Diversity? examines the ways in which six of the member state parliaments are connected, via particular legislative bodies called European Affairs Committees (EACs) to the EU legislative process. EACs vary greatly from one member state to another with regard to the level of input legislators have in setting national positions on proposed EU legislation. Gates skillfully suggests that variation in EAC competencies is significant, not only because EACs demonstrate the intractability of each member state's particular attributes, but also because they represent a little explored facet of the EU's democratic failings.

About the Author
Andrea M. Gates is a lecturer on government at Harvard University and an affiliate of the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies.


Book Information
ISBN 9780739112939
Author Andrea M. Gates
Format Hardback
Page Count 122
Imprint Lexington Books
Publisher Lexington Books
Weight(grams) 308g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 160mm * 15mm