Written by one of Europe's leading analysts of the European Union, the third edition of this text has been significantly reorganised in structure, and fully revised and updated to reflect the changes in the EU over recent years. The third edition offers a fundamental discussion, and detailed analysis, of European integration. Uniquely it combines economic analysis with a detailed knowledge of the integration methods employed in the EU. Whilst being academically rigorous and assuming some prior knowledge, it is full of practical examples and case studies enabling it to bridge the gap between theory and policy practice.