A beginner’s guide to the European Union

UK in a Changing Europe is launching a new series of ‘beginner’s guides’ – quick, easy guides to the most pressing issues, important institutions and divisive debates in politics and society today.

We’re kicking off our series with a guide to the European Union, an institution encompassing around 47,000 staff, seven institutions, over thirty agencies, and a population of almost 450 million. It’s pretty complicated, to say the least. But here we have tried to set out in an accessible and straightforward way what the EU is and how it came to be, what its institutions are and what they do, the EU budget, and how the EU makes and enforces laws and regulations.

This guide is perfect for those who are learning about European institutions and multilevel governance for the first time during their politics A-level. It will also be useful for undergraduate students beginning their studies in law, politics and economics who want to know more about how the EU interacts with their chosen subject area, or seasoned professionals who just want a quick reminder on how member states and European bodies cooperate on key policy areas.

The launch of this series marks the beginning of increased engagement by UK in a Changing Europe with schools and academic institutions. So, please do get in touch with any feedback on our first guide, or any subjects you would like us to cover in the future.