europe - toward 2001 is the first comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the most important european policy issues and official proposals which will be examined at the european unions (eu) 1996 intergovernmental conference (igc). the author critically examines and makes his own proposals for long-term eu policies, notably europes international competitive position, agriculture, regional and social issues, an economic and monetary union, as well as the communitys future enlargement and foreign policy and defense issues. in comparing the governmental and european institutional proposals for the igc, coffey observes a common thread and differences between the different partners. consequently he sees the evolution of a loose european confederation with a nucleus of countries at the centre integrating more swiftly than others. this critical work is intended as a basic course book for university students and as an indispensable handbook for the educated layman and political and business leaders. a special feature of the book is the collection of documents (contained in the appendices) consisting of the official governmental and european institutional proposals for the igc.