European Union (EU)

     The European Union was created after the second world war in 1958 under name of the European economic community. Initially, it started with an aim to increase cooperation between 6 countries; Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Since then 22 other countries have also joined this huge market and the union which started only on an economic basis has established itself as an organization with its policies spanning from climate, environment, and health to external relations and security, justice, and migration, due to its widened jurisdictions its name, EEC was changed to EU (European Union) in 1993. The union as for now compromises 27 countries as the United Kingdom left the EU on 31 January 2020.

    The EU has helped European countries in improving their living standards, economic situation, and by maintaining stability throughout Europe. EU has launched it a single European currency, 19 countries now use Euro as their currency and enjoy its benefits. Moreover, the citizens of European countries under the EU enjoy visa-free traveling and free trade throughout the continent with the facility of living or working in any country in the EU.

Institutional structure

European Union constitutes 15 institutes the complete list and description of these institutes can be found on https://europa.eu/europea.../about-eu/institutions-bodies_en. Whereas 4 basic structural institutes are discussed here.

European parliament

The parliament work as a co-legislator, sharing its power with the council to adopt or amend the legislation however parliament can’t initiate legislation. It also decides on the EU budget and supervises the work of the commission and other EU institutes. The parliament is headed by a president who is elected for a renewable term of 2.5 years. Parliament constitutes 705 members elected directly by universal suffrage from 27 member states for 5 years. These seats are allocated in accordance with the population of a member country. The MEPs are grouped based on political affiliation rather than their nationality but every MEP is not necessarily affiliated to a political group. There is currently 7 political group in the European parliament. A political group is made of a minimum of 23 members and a member cannot be part of more than one party. Parliament also consists of 20 committees consisting of 25 to 81 MEPS. These committees are responsible for preparatory work for plenary sittings.

European council

European Council is composed of government representatives or heads of states of EU countries, a president is elected among its member as representative of the council for one time renewable 2.5 years. The European Council determines the EU's overall direction, political stance, foreign and security policies and also deals with complex issues that cannot be resolved at lower levels, but don’t have any legislative power. Council meetings are held 4 times a year but the additional meeting can be requested by its president on urgent issues.

European commission

the European Commission is composed of 27 commissioners one from each country. The College of Commissioners is composed of the President of the Commission, eight Vice-Presidents, including three Executive Vice-Presidents, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and 18 Commissioners, each responsible for a portfolio. The president of the commission is chosen through elections in the European parliament. The European Commission acts as a legislative body by proposing new laws. The commission also manages EU policies, fund allocation, and enforcing EU law, while it also represents the EU internationally. The decisions in the EU commission are done by the census.

Council of the European Union

The council of the European union not be misunderstood as the European council. Its role is representing EU member governments, adopting EU laws, and coordinating EU policies. The council of European union constitute of government ministers from each EU country, these ministers are not permanent but selected with relevance to the policy to be discussed. Each EU country holds its presidency for 6 months on a rotatory basis. EU ministers hold a public meeting to discuss or vote on draft legislative acts which require a qualified majority to be passed, that is 55% of countries representing at least 65% of the total EU population, whereas to block a decision 4 countries are required representing at least 35% of the total EU population.

EU Member countries

euro area member countries

Austria January 1, 1995

Belgium March 25, 1957

Cyprus May 1, 2004

Estonia May 1, 2004

Finland January 1, 1995

France March 25, 1957

Germany March 25, 1957

Greece January 1, 1981

Ireland January 1, 1973

Italy March 25, 1957

Latvia May 1, 2004

Lithuania May 1, 2004

Luxembourg March 25, 1957

Malta May 1, 2004

The Netherland March 25, 1957

Portugal January 1, 1986

Slovenia May 1, 2004

Slovakia May 1, 2004

Spain January 1, 1986

Non-euro area member countries

Bulgaria January 1, 2007

Croatia July 1, 2013

Czechia May 1, 2004

Hungary May 1, 2004

Poland May 1, 2004

Romania January 1, 2007

Sweden January 1, 1995