The government and politics of the European Union, 5th ed.

Book abstract:

From the first edition in 1989 'The government and politics of the European Union' has been a standard textbook for countless students studying the European Union from a political perspective and wanting a detailed but straightforward source. Reflecting the changes brought about by the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice Treaties, plus numerous other institutional and administrative, policy and policy-making developments, have necessitated regular new editions. This new fifth edition has been comprehensively revised and updated and takes into account changes brought about by the Treaty of Nice (which came into force on 1 February 2003), while also dealing with other major developments such as the prospective large-scale enlargement of the EU and economic and monetary union.

The core of the book is a detailed description and analysis of each the institutions of the European Union, the policy making processes, including the budget, and a selection of key policy areas (agriculture, external relations and enlargement). Surrounding the core are chapters dealing with the historical evolution of the European Union, the evolving treaty framework, the relationship between the Union and the Member States and theories of European integration.

Finally, there is a substantial chronology, guide to further reading, bibliography and index.

• Primary Source