In the discussions about the European Economic and Monetary Union, the deficits in the area of a coordinated economic policy between the EU member states are often criticized. Many see a danger in the fact that the powers of the member states are diminishing, while at the same time there is a lack of decision-making power under Community law. In view of these disputes, which are often conducted without sufficient knowledge of the rules of Community law, a clarification of the legal bases is particularly urgent. The present analysis of economic policy rules and their economic and political implications focuses on the provisions of the EC Treaty on economic policy coordination and budgetary discipline.

The study is addressed to all those in law, economics and political science interested in questions of the governance of economic policy processes at the European as well as the national level.