The Geography of the European Community

The European Community does not exist just at a point or in a vacuum. It is made up of a mosaic of regions of various sizes, shapes and functions. The attributes of each region and its location in relation to other regions are vital for its existence and development as the way in which it is managed. Geography draws attention to the features and locations of regions and to their implications. People, natural resources and means of production are distributed in complex ways and people and products move or are moved from place to place. Increasingly the influence of the Community is being felt in its twelve member states and a new geography is emerging, with pressure to achieve convergence if not homogeneity. The author identifies and assesses the problems and prospects of the various regions of the EC and also views the Community as a system of interdependent regions. The EC has become increasingly important economically and more recently politically in a changing Europe, and its enlargement seems imminent. Attention is therefore given throughout the book to the activities and influence of the EC in the broader context of Europe and neighbouring parts of Africa and Asia. Its influence globally seems likely to grow and must also be taken into consideration.