The new edition of this concise introductory text demystifies the European Union's structures and operation, providing an engaging and accessible introduction to how the EU works and why it matters. Featuring an exceptional collection of work by esteemed contributors, it offers students a unique blend of scholarly expertise and practitioners' experience. The European Union, Second Edition, answers the fundamental questions of how the EU works, who its main actors are, and what processes and dynamics are involved. Taking a "real-life" view of the EU's structures and operation--as opposed to the more formal approach generally adopted by other textbooks--it provides a vivid account that brings the EU to life. This second edition features two new chapters; one on security in Europe and another on constitutionalism and democracy. It also includes Eastward expansion in the chapter on enlargement.