This is the key text for anyone wishing to understand the functions, powers, and composition of the EU's institutions. From the Council of Ministers to the European Central Bank, all of the most important organisations are analysed and explained by international experts.



The Institutions of the European Union is the key text for anyone wishing to understand the functions, powers, and composition of the EU's institutions. Written and edited by a team of leading international experts, the text offers a comprehensive analysis and explanation of all the most important organisations and their roles in the governance and management of the EU. The fifth edition has been substantially revised, featuring a range of newly authored chapters, and including coverage of the most important developments affecting the institutions of the European Union as they contend with the changing dynamics of European integration. Up-to-date chapters examine current challenges, including the rise of populism and how it is wielded by politicians to target EU institutions, the climate emergency and the EU's bold new policy commitments to make the Union climate neutral by 2050, as well as the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Authoritative yet accessible, The Institutions of the European Union is the best guide to how institutions work together to provide political direction, manage the European Union, govern policies, and integrate contrasting interests within the EU.