Beschreibung
European Integration is analysed in a historical and in a comparative
perspective by applying New Institutional Economics. European Integration
is shaped by rules being triggered for further Integration and
simultaneously giving integration direction. The analysis starts with the
European Coal and Steel Community and ends with the European Union. The
functions of rules explain institutionalisation as well as
non-institutionalisation of Europe. The influence of these functions
varies from country to country and from integration step to integration
step. Additionally, these functions can be interrelated in different ways.