Alex Warleigh - Böcker

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.

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.

Flexibility is emerging as a key dynamic of European integration. This shift towards flexibility has major implications. The EU will have to cope with more complexity and less transparency. It also affects the way in which European integration is viewed since it makes a state-like outcome to the process far less likely. Alex Warleigh looks at why flexibility has become such an important feature of the EU. He examines its history, and puts forward a typology to explain the models by which it is understood. He goes on to explore the hazards of flexibility and to look at what it has to offer, arguing that it is best seen as a desirable part of the integration process rather than as a problem. Flexibility, he argues is an important mechanism for the realization of the EU's slogan unity in diversity.

Flexibility is emerging as a key dynamic of European integration. In the past derogations from certain policies have been granted to member states with special difficulties, but were always supposed to be temporary. Since the Treaty of Maastricht however a principle of permanent opt-outs from major policies has been established. Such opt-outs can be secured through deliberate choice, rather than incapacity. They are becoming more common. This shift towards flexibility has major implications. The EU will have to cope with more complexity and probably less transparency. It also affects the way in which European integration is viewed since it makes a state-like outcome to the process far less likely. In this book Alex Warleigh looks at why flexibility has become such an important feature of the EU. He examines its history, and puts forward a typology to explain the models by which it is understood. He goes on to explore the hazards of flexibility and to look at what it has to offer, arguing that it is best seen as a desirable part of the integration process rather than as a problem.Flexibility, he argues is an important mechanism for the realization of the EU's slogan "unity in diversity".

European citizenship has been a key issue since the Treaty of Maastricht. Both governmental and non-governmental actors have seen the extension of the citizenship provisions as an important part of the drive to democratize the EU. Recent years have seen some important institutional and political developments. The Treaty of Amsterdam clarified the formal allocation of citizenship rights, emphasising the complementary nature of EU citizenship with respect to member state nationality. It also made significant changes to European citizenship as an institutionalized practice, and incorporated the Schengen agreements on freedom of movement. European citizenship has attracted the attention of both EU and citizenship scholars. However, these groups frequently talk past each other. This book is the first to address both groups. Contributions by experts across several disciplines link citizenship not only to the Treaty provisions but also to the emerging patterns of governance in, and the policy regimes of, the EU.Normative and empirical analysis is combined to reveal the political, legal, economic and social dimensions of this new status, charting its development through the practices of both the EU institutions and its holders, EU citizens themselves. The authors argue that EU citizenship is about far more than the rights member state nationals are granted by the Treaty. It is also steeped in the policies and institutions of the Union itself and in particular their ability to engage the general public.