The Expanding European Union examines the effects of successive increases in EU membership, drawing comparisons among the 1973, 1981, 1986 and 1995 enlargements, during which the Union grew from six to fifteen members. The authors also look ahead to the likelihood of a 20- or even a 24-member entity by the year 2000. The main sections of the book deal with the impact of enlargement on institutions and selected policy areas (agriculture, external relations and security, trade and industry) and address issues related to the future inclusion of the Central and Eastern European and Mediterranean countries. A concluding chapter discusses the role of an expanding European Union in world politics.