The JCMS Annual Review of the European Union in 2018

The Journal of Common Market Studies (JCMS) Annual Review covers the major events concerning the European Union (EU) in the past year. In addition to articles written by leading experts in their respective fields covering a wide array of political, economic and legal issues, this year's Annual Review includes Brigid Laffan's Annual Lecture on the emergence of the EU-27 in light of Brexit. The other articles touch upon theoretical explanations of the unity shown by the remaining 27 Member States during the Brexit negotiations; the structural issues affecting the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and how to address them effectively; the reforms introduced by Junker's Presidency on the procedures of the Commission and on its role within the EU institutional system; feminist perspectives on EU policies and social justice; Eurosceptic attitudes and their role (or not) behind the victory of Eurosceptic parties, Five Stars Movement (M5S) and Northern League (LN), in the Italian general election; the electoral consolidation and normalization of the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD); and EU's external relations with several global players, with specific contributions on the United States, Russia and the African-Caribbean-Pacific countries (ACP). The Annual Review aims to enhance its reputation as an authoritative and up-to-date source of theoretically informed and empirically based analyses for practitioners, scholars and students of European integration, as well as for general readers who simply want to know more about the European Union. The editorial team remains committed to inclusiveness, without detriment to quality, and to the objective of providing to our readership a pluralism of perspectives and voices.