Amazon.com description: Product Description: A Modern Companion to the European Community provides in-depth practical information on the European Community in a single, accessible volume. An introductory chapter provides a brief historical overview of the development of the EC in the post-war period and a description of the major Directorates and policy making functions within the Community. The book includes basic statistics on population, GNP, trade performance as well as an assessment of each member country's economic potential. This useful book also provides authoritative explanations of over 1,000 commonly used acronyms and abbreviations which are essential to an understanding of the workings of the EC. It will be an indispensable acquisition for international businesses, academic and public libraries, embassies, government departments, universities and colleges throughout the world.