The European Parliament [antikvár]

FOREWORD As President of the European Parhament, I welcome the appearance of this excellent book. The European Union affects important aspects of the lives of all its citizens. Yet there is still an alarming lack of pubUc understanding of how its structures, procedures and d^ecision-taking mechanisms work. For anyone involved or interested in public affairs, a knowledge of the Union institutions and how they function is indispensable. This applies in particular to the European Parhament as the only European institution that is directly elected by the people. As we approach a new reform of the Union's structure in 1996, which I firmly hope will make the Union more transparent, more comprehensible and more democratic, this book, in surveying the current parliamentary procedures of the European Union, will provide useful insights for all those interested in understanding this unique institution. Now in its third edition, this book has become the authoritative source on the European Parliament and provides the most comprehensive survey available of the structure, working methods and powers of the European Parliament. The third edition is fully up-to-date, taking account of recent developments flowing from the Maastricht Treaty and the results and effects of the 1994 European elections. Klaus Hänsch President of the European Parhament