The second edition of the “Seven Steps for Comprehending the European Union” was released in 2024 in response to the major changes in EU policies toward its eastern neighborhood since 2022. The brutal war in Ukraine waged by the Russian Federation fundamentally changed the EU policy towards its South-Eastern neighborhood. Therefore, it became necessary to update the publication and introduce significant changes to certain parts.
The new edition of the publication offers fundamental knowledge about the European Union, which, as the authors believe, is imperative for comprehending the EU as a unique international player and its institutional and legislative setup, decision-making toolbox, as well as also understanding the EU accession process specificities, etc. The second edition discusses EU enlargement and the EU accession in the prism of the new wave of 2022 and against the background of the EU candidate status of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.
The title of this publication has been chosen quite carefully. The authors intentionally chose the word “comprehend” instead of “study” or “learn.” They believe, and their belief rests on their relevant professional and practical experience, that without a fundamental comprehension of the European Union, one will not be able to learn much about the EU and its policies, as well as the legal and institutional specificities of the Union.