Many people would like to know more about the European Union. However, there is a significant challenge. The field of action of the EU is vast and its workings highly complex and, of its nature, is significantly more difficult to explain and to understand than the operation of a single EU Member State.

The author’s approach is inspired by A History of the World in 100 Objects, the joint BBC Radio 4/British Museum project, which was both a radio series and later a book.  

The publication of this blog series will be phased over 12 weeks, each dealing with one of the 12 Objects. It provides a short factual guide to today’s European Union and reflects the author’s own personal views as well as his experience as an Irish diplomat and European official.

Bobby McDonagh’s career, unusually, spanned each of the three main EU Institutions. He represented Ireland for eight years in the Council of Ministers, including for four of those years as Ireland’s Permanent Representative (Ambassador) to the EU. He worked in the European Commission for four years in the cabinets (private offices) of two Irish European Commissioners. Early in his career, he was an official of the European Parliament. 

He also worked for 15 years on European matters at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, including as Director General of its EU Division, helping to shape, coordinate and advance Irish policies on EU issues. 

The IIEA has published some of Bobby’s previous work, including his account of the Amsterdam Treaty negotiations during Ireland’s 1996 EU Presidency.