The essay s collected in this book originated from two seminars on the European Union organized in Rome at the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affaire, Istituto Diplomatico, with the co-operation of the European University Institute. In recognition of the breadth of the developments occurring in the EU, and given the special perspective used by the audience- officialals of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs- the seminars were organized selecting a series of subjects which could best exemplifiy the political choices, without however forgetting its link with Italy. The book ,after giving an essential background for each subject analysed, goes into the detail, offering an updated and insightful version of the issues at stake. It provide a comprehensible and critical account of the most significant areas of the EU, mostly to civil servants of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the countries of the European Union, but also to student of law and politics, and to professionals whose work has a European dimension.