European Union Politics

Book excerpt: Cutting through the jargon of EU politics, this book examines the history, institutions, processes and politics of the European Union. The EU is a fascinating political experiment in regional integration and it has changed our understanding of Europe, how Europeans relate to one another, the role Europe plays in global politics and has even shifted our understanding of politics itself. Organised in three main parts, the book covers everything from the history of the EU and its treaties to the institutions that make up the EU and its policies in areas such as the economy, the environment and the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice.