Understanding European Union Institutions

Description: Understanding the institutions of the European Union is vital to understanding how it functions. This book provides students with a user-friendly introduction to the main institutions, and explains their different roles in the functioning and development of the European Union. Key features: introduces and explains the functions of all the main institutions dividing them into those that have a policy-making role, those that oversee and regulate, and those that operate in an advisory capacity provides students with an overview of the history of the European Union and the development of its institutions and considers their continuing importance to the success of the European Union clearly written by experienced and knowledgeable teachers of the subject presented in a student friendly format, providing boxed concepts and summaries, guides to further reading, figures and flowcharts, and a glossary of terms. Charlotte Burns, PhD student, University of Sheffield, Michelle Cini , Jean Monnet Lecturer in European Community Studies, University of Bristol, Philip Giddings, Senior Lecturer Table of Contents: Part 1: How Does Europe Work? 1. Introduction: A history and overview of the European Union system Alex Warleigh Part 2: The Policy-Making Institutions 2. The European Council And The Council Of Ministers Philippa Sherrington 3. The Commission Michelle Cini 4. The European Parliament Charlotte Burns 5. The European Central Bank David Howarth Part 3: The Oversight Institutions 6. The European Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance Jo Hunt 7. The Court of Auditors Brigid Laffan 8. The Ombudsman Philip Giddings and Roy Gregory Part 4: The Advisory Bodies 9. The Economic and Social Committee Philippa Sherrington and Alex Warleigh 10. The Committee Of The Regions Alex Warleigh Part 5: Conclusion 11. Making Europe Work Understanding European Institutions Alex Warleigh