Includes bibliographical references and index.

Tables and illustrations -- Preface and acknowledgments -- About the author -- Acronyms and abbreviations -- Introduction -- pt. 1. History -- 1. What is the European Union? -- The role of the state -- How did the EU evolve? -- What has the EU become? -- Further reading -- Notes -- 2. Origins : the postwar world -- Prewar thinking -- Embarking on peace : national priorities -- Economic reconstruction and the Marshall Plan -- Security and the Cold War -- Further reading -- Notes -- 3. Emergence : the road from Paris -- Opening moves : coal and steel (1950-53) -- From Paris to Rome (1955-58) -- Integration takes root (1958-68) -- The role of the United States -- Enlargement : looking North and South (1960-86) -- Further reading -- 4. Consolidation : to the Euro and beyond -- Toward economic and monetary union (1969-93) -- Completing the single market (183-93) -- From community to union (1970-93) -- More enlargement : looking North (1990-95) -- The Euro arrives (1995-2002) -- More changes to the treaties (1997-2007) -- Shockwaves from Iraq (2003-05) -- More enlargement : looking East (1994-2007) -- Further reading -- Notes --

pt. 2. Institutions -- 5. The European Commission -- Evolution -- Structure -- How the Commission works -- Further reading -- 6. The Council of Ministers -- Evolution -- Structure -- How the council works -- Further reading -- 7. The European Parliament -- Evolution -- Structure -- How Parliament works -- Further reading -- 8. The European Court of Justice -- Evolution -- Structure -- Sources of European Union law -- How the Court works -- Further reading -- Notes -- 9. The European Council and specialized agencies -- Evolution -- Structure -- How the Council works -- Specialized agencies -- Further reading -- Notes -- 10. Representing interests -- An emerging European identity -- European elections -- Political parties -- Interest groups -- Further reading -- Notes --

pt. 3. Policies -- 11. Public policy in the EU -- The policy cycle -- Features of the policy process -- The budget -- Further reading -- Notes -- 12. Economic policy -- The single market -- The Euro -- Further reading -- 13. Agricultural and environmental policy -- Agricultural policy -- Reforming agricultural policy -- Environmental policy -- Further reading -- Notes -- 14. Cohesion policy -- Building a level playing field -- Regional policy -- Social policy -- Education and languages -- Further reading -- Notes -- 15. Foreign policy -- Toward a common foreign policy -- Toward a common security policy -- The European economic superpower-- Developments in the neighborhood : Eastern Europe and Russia -- Development cooperation -- Further reading -- Notes -- 16. The EU and the United States -- The changing international system -- The transatlantic relationship -- A litany of disputes -- Explaining the differences -- Further reading -- Notes -- Conclusions -- Notes -- Glossary -- Appendix 1 : Chronology of European integration -- Appendix 2 : Sources of information -- Index.