This Very Short Introduction explains the European Union in plain English. Fully updated for 2008 to include controversial and current topics such as the EU's enlargement and its role in ongoing world affairs, this accessible guide shows how and why the Union developed into the institution it is today. Covering a range of subjects from the Union's early history to the single market. the euro, and institutional reform, the authors examine the successes and failures of the EU, and explain the choices that lie ahead in the 21st century.