The European Union: what it is and how it works

Cover -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Preface -- List of Abbreviations -- Introduction -- 1 Theorizing European Integration and the Union as a Political System -- Traditional explanatory approaches: neo-functionalism, intergovernmentalism, and federalism -- Traditional approaches revisited -- New theoretical avenues -- Institutionalism -- Multi-level governance -- Social constructivism -- Theorizing the EU as a political system -- The EU: a system sui generis -- The EU - political order beyond the nation state -- The EU: a dualistic, bicephalous political system -- Conclusion -- 2 Building the European Union: Supranational Dynamics and Intergovernmental Configurations -- Founding the European Communities under a model of supranational integration -- Restructuring the European Communities under improved intergovernmental control -- Re-launching supranational integration -- Conclusion -- 3 Consolidating the European Union: Enlargement, Deepening Integration and Crisis Management -- Cautious incremental steps -- Preparing Eastern enlargement -- Amending the Treaties -- Changing parameters in integration -- Implementing enlargement and elaborating a Constitutional Treaty -- Accomplishing reform: the Lisbon Treaty -- Tackling the financial and sovereign debt crisis -- Conclusion -- 4 The Core Institutional Structure -- The European Commission -- Institutional structure and internal organization -- Powers -- The Council -- Institutional structure and internal organization -- Powers and voting procedures -- The European Council -- The European Parliament -- Size, election procedures and organization -- Powers -- The Court of Justice -- Conclusion -- 5 Decision-Making: Cooperation and Conflict among the Core Institutions -- Legislation and rule-making -- Legislative procedures -- The implications of the legislative procedures.