A Brief Guide to the European Union

(Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica)

The European Union is an organization comprised of the nations of Western Europe. It works toward and oversees the economic and political integration of these states. The EU consists of the European Community and a framework for unified action by member countries in security and foreign policy and for cooperation in police and justice matters. Current members are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Finland and Sweden.

The EU headquarters in Brussels (Photo by Joe Hsu)

The Commission of the European Communities, commonly called the European Commission, is headed by 20 members, or commissioners, including a president and several vice presidents. There is at least one commissioner from each nation in the EU. It is thus both initiator and implementer of the union's legislation. The commission has a broad array of executive powers and functions as the civil service of the EU. It enforces the laws of the EU, acts to ensure the integrity of Western Europe's integrated market, and administers the union's agricultural policies and regional development programs.

The Council of Ministers, whose membership is made up of one representative from each of the national governments, has the real decision-making power in the EU. It determines how the substance of treaties are to be implemented and how the separate economic policies of the member nations are to be coordinated.

The European Council, which consists of the heads of state or government of the member nations, meets regularly (ordinarily three times a year) to make policy at the highest level.

The European Parliament is the legislative branch of the EU.