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European Union (EU)

The European Union (EU) is the result of a process of cooperation and integration, which began in 1951 between six countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands).  After nearly fifty years, with four waves of accessions (1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom; 1981: Greece; 1986: Spain and Portugal; 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden), the EU today has fifteen Member States and is preparing for its fifth enlargement, this time towards Eastern and Southern Europe.

The European Union (EU) is the result of a process of cooperation and integration, which began in 1951 between six countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands).  After nearly fifty years, with four waves of accessions (1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom; 1981: Greece; 1986: Spain and Portugal; 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden), the EU today has fifteen Member States and is preparing for its fifth enlargement, this time towards Eastern and Southern Europe.

The European Union's mission is to organise relations between the Member States and between their peoples in a coherent manner and on the basis of solidarity. The main objectives are:

to promote economic and social progress (the single market was established in 1993; the single currency was launched in 1999);

to assert the identity of the European Union on the international scene (through European humanitarian aid to non-EU countries, common foreign and security policy, action in international crises; common positions within international organisations);

to introduce European citizenship (which does not replace national citizenship but complements it and confers a number of civil and politic rights on European citizens);

to develop an area of freedom, security and justice (linked to the operation of the internal market and more particularly the freedom of movement of persons);

to maintain and build on established EU law (all the legislation adopted by the European institutions, together with the founding treaties). 

 

There are five institutions involved in running the European Union:

 the European Parliament (elected by the peoples of the Member States), 

the Council (representing the governments of the Member States), 

the Commission (the executive and the body having the right to initiate legislation), 

the Court of Justice (ensuring compliance with the law), 

the Court of Auditors (responsible for auditing the accounts).

 

These institutions are supported by other bodies: the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions (advisory bodies which help to ensure that the positions of the EU's various economic and social categories and regions respectively are taken into account), the European Ombudsman (dealing with complaints from citizens concerning maladministration at European level), the European Investment Bank (EU financial institution) and the European Central Bank (responsible for monetary policy in the euro-area).

General Report on EU activities: http://www.europa.eu.int/abc-en.htm

EU organs on women's issues: http://www.europa.eu.int/pol/equopp/index_en.htm

EU organs on environment issues: http://www.europa.eu.int/pol/env/index_en.htm

EU organs on development issues: http://www.europa.eu.int/pol/dev/index_en.htm

EU organs on employment issues: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/employment_social/index_en.htm

 

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