European Union

Europäische Union

The European Union on the Web

The European Union (EU) is an unique political union unlike any other in the world.  The EU consists of  fifteen member states, in which shared political, economic and social goals are pursued, creating a Europe that has not been united to such a large extent since the Roman Empire.  The EU's fifteen member states -- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom -- represent the collective interests of democracy and the rule of law. 

Four fundamental objectives guide the initiatives of the EU:

1. Establish European Citizenship:  certain fundamental rights apply to all people.

2. Ensure Freedom, Security and Justice

3. Promote Economic and Social Progress

4. Assert Europe's Role in the World

The government of the EU consists of five institutions:

1. European Parliament:  The European Parliament represents the democratic will of the EU's 374 million people.  The delegates are elected every five years through universal suffrage.  It approves legislation and the annual budget of the EU. 

2. Council of the European Union:  Representatives of the governments of the member states make up the Council of EU.  The council proposes legislation and adopts the budget approved by the Parliament.  

3. European Commission:  The European Commission is the executive body and driving force of the EU.  It influences the EU's agenda and can propose legislation to the Parliament.  The Commission also represents the EU internationally.

4. Court of Justice:  The Court of Justice ensures compliance with the law within the EU.  The court settles legal disputes that may arise over international boundaries within the EU.

5. Court of Auditors:  The Court of Auditors oversees the initiation of and ensures the proper management of the EU's annual budget.

Although the structure of the EU seems to resemble the government of the United States, it does not operate in the same way.  The member countries of the EU have their own independent national governments.  National laws still differ, and each country has their own economy, though most have adopted the Euro as their currency.  Perhaps the best comparison one can make between the US and the EU is how the US operated under the Articles of the Confederation; a weak central government unifies the powerful states.  The EU unifies Europe with a number of trade regulations and ideological measures, but it does not provide many services expected of a government.  Social services, taxation, and national security are all provided by each member states' national governments.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, unifies most of Europe militarily.  

As the success of the EU continues, other nations will eventually join the union.  Thirteen eastern European countries hope to gain membership during the next decade:  Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Turkey.

The map below shows the EU member states, the order in which they entered or will eventually enter, and potential future members.