Glossary: The European Union from A-Z

Viewed from afar, the structures of the European Union can seem like an impossible to navigate labyrinth of byzantine rules, regulations and bureaucracy. But up close, institutions like the European Parliament or the treaties like the one signed in Maastricht in 1991, are a lot easier to understand.

We've made sense of the European institutions and recent historical events you need to know here in our DW-WORLD dummy's guide to the EU. After perusing our glossary, you'll be ready to discuss EU expansion with even the most-knowledgeable Brussels insiders. For at least the first five minutes.