'A tour de force! This is an extremely important and useful book that systematizes the vast yet fragmented literature on gender and the EU. It should be required reading for anyone interested in the European Union - gender scholar or not.'¹Amy Mazur, Johnson Distinguished Professor, Washington State University, USA 'Clear and comprehensive, and skilfully blending theoretical insights with empirical detail, this indispensable text demonstrates clearly and convincingly how the EU has become a key player in relation to gender issues, and the implications for EU governance and for key areas of policy.'¹Anne Stevens, Emeritus Professor of European Studies, Aston University, UK Recent years have seen considerable developments in the gender policy of the European Union and in academic research in the area. Gender policy has evolved from anti-discrimination measures to approaches that seek to mainstream the gender dimension across the whole EU policy portfolio. At the same time, research no longer focuses just on the policy mechanisms for reducing gender inequality, but seeks to identify the ways in which gender shapes and is shaped by EU policies, processes and institutions. This major new text, from a leading EU and feminist scholar, responds to these developments and provides a systematic account of the latest thinking in European Union and gender research. It provides a broad perspective on the role of gender in the European Union and integrates this with the latest feminist research in order to provide a coherent and systematic account of the place of gender in the EU.