Introduction to EU Institutions and Decision-Making

Giorgia Giovannetti and Gianluca Sgueo, NYU Florence
Larry Wolff, Co-Director, NYU Florence

With a population of half a billion people – the world’s third largest population after China and India – distributed over 4 million km², speaking over thirty languages, governed by four broad political systems – ranging from presidential and semi-presidential democracies, parliamentary republics, and constitutional monarchies – and a multi-layered system of governance, the European continent and the European Union (EU) represent a fascinating case study for students interested in politics, communication, and international relations.

The ‘EU in Focus’ series is divided in three events. The first is dedicated to the past and present Union. The event will illustrate the origins of the Union, how it evolved from a club of six European nations in the post-Second World War years to a political and economic association of 28 European sovereign states. How did the Union evolve from a post-war agreement into the most advanced and complex supranational legal system? When and where are decisions taken in the EU? Who has power, and how does it make use of it?

Upcoming EU in Focus events

Is It Time to Rethink European Democracy?
March 9 or March 30 at 6.00 p.m. – Villa Sassetti

Beyond the Union – How will the EU Perform on the Global Stage?
April 6 or May 4 at 6.00 p.m. – Villa Sassetti