The European Union is one of the world's most complex political systems: this makes it a challenge to study. To the uninitiated its institutions seem remote, its remit unclear, its operations difficult to understand and its outputs sometimes perplexing. It combines some attributes of a state with those of an international organisation, yet it closely resembles neither. Its development is shaped by an increasing number of players, including 25 member governments, multiple common EU institutions, clusters of experts, private interests and citizen groups. All converge to influence what the EU is and what it does. This book aims to demystify the Union and make its institutions and processes more readily intelligible to all who share an interest in how the organisation functions. It covers key aspects of the European Union in an authoritative yet clear and accessible style.