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Candidates For Integration: The Neutral And Central European Countries Facing The European Community

Edited by Curt Gasteyger
Reviewed by By Andrew J. Pierre
Winter 1992/93
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Edited by Curt Gasteyger
Graduate Institute of International Studies
1992
109 pp.

While central Europe's interest in joining the European Community and even NATO is well understood in the United States, far less is known about the changing attitudes of the neutrals: Austria, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland. Therein lies the greatest value of this short but informative book. An excellent chapter by Bo Huldt, until recently Director of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, makes clear that his country has fully turned away from "neutrality" as it seeks its European identity. The Swiss editor, Curt Gasteyger, suggests a similar though less definitive trend in his country. Contributions by Polish and Hungarian authors underline the fact that their nations have yet to find institutional homes. Ironically the public reaction in Europe to the Maastricht treaty may prove of assistance to those who give greater priority to "widening" the European Community to other countries rather than "deepening" it through economic and political integration.

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