This two-volume textbook teaches about the uniqueness and the difficulty of the European unification project. It describes, as clearly as possible, what Robert Schuman declared in 1950, that "... Europe will not be made all at once...". Navigating the nexus of four academic fields - political science, institutional analysis, economics, and history - the book serves as a reference work for accurate, exhaustive, and well-researched information on the creation and functioning of the European Union. Supported by numerous photographs, diagrams, maps, and sources, volume 1 sets out in a concise and readable way the European historical origins, the important steps in the creation of the European Union, and the treaties and historical events that have marked its course so far. Providing a comprehensive picture of the unification process and the functioning of this sui generis edifice of a united Europe, the book will serve as an essential textbook for undergraduate and graduate students studying the subject of European integration, as well as a useful resource for a broader audience interested in the European integration process.

Autorentext

Panagiotis Liargovas is a Professor of Economics at the University of Peloponnese, Greece. He is currently Chairman of the Board of the Centre of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) and of the National Productivity Board. Liargovas holds a PhD in Economics from Clark University, Worcester MA, USA, and has previously been a Fulbright Scholar, a Bakalas Foundation Scholar, a Teaching Assistant Scholar (Clark University), and a European Commission trainee (Brussels). He has taught at many Universities including Clark University, Bologna University, Italy, and the University of Strasbourg, France. He has served as an economic advisor to the Greek Ministry of Finance, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Municipality of Athens on many occasions. For the period 2013-18, he was the Head of the Parliamentary Budget Office at the Hellenic Parliament. Liargovas specializes in international and European economics, regional economics, and economic development and policy. Christos Papageorgiou is a member of the Laboratory of Data Science and Digital Transformation of the Department of Management Science and Technology of the University of Peloponnese, Greece. He holds a PhD in Professional Studies from Middlesex University, UK, and a PhD in European Economic Integration from the University of Peloponnese. Papageorgiou worked as a manager in private sector units and as a director in a municipal enterprise engaged in European regional programs funding.