EuropeanUnion

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"EU"redirectshere.Forotheruses,seeEU(disambiguation).
TheEuropeanUnion(EU)isapoliticoeconomicunionof28memberstatesthatarelocatedprimarilyinEurope.[12][13]TheEUoperatesthroughasystemof
supranationalinstitutionsandintergovernmentalnegotiateddecisionsbythememberstates.[14][15]Theinstitutionsare:theEuropeanCommission,theCouncilofthe
EuropeanUnion,theEuropeanCouncil,theCourtofJusticeoftheEuropeanUnion,theEuropeanCentralBank,theEuropeanCourtofAuditors,andtheEuropean
Parliament.TheEuropeanParliamentiselectedeveryfiveyearsbyEUcitizens.

EuropeanUnion

TheEUtracesitsoriginsfromtheEuropeanCoalandSteelCommunity(ECSC)andtheEuropeanEconomicCommunity(EEC),formedbytheInnerSixcountriesin
1951and1958,respectively.Intheinterveningyears,thecommunityanditssuccessorshavegrowninsizebytheaccessionofnewmemberstatesandinpowerbythe
additionofpolicyareastoitsremit.TheMaastrichtTreatyestablishedtheEuropeanUnionunderitscurrentnamein1993andintroducedEuropeancitizenship.[16]The
latestmajoramendmenttotheconstitutionalbasisoftheEU,theTreatyofLisbon,cameintoforcein2009.

Flag

Motto:"Unitedindiversity"[1][2][3]
Anthem:"OdetoJoy" (orchestral)[2]

TheEUhasdevelopedasinglemarketthroughastandardisedsystemoflawsthatapplyinallmemberstates.WithintheSchengenArea,passportcontrolshavebeen
abolished.[17]EUpoliciesaimtoensurethefreemovementofpeople,goods,services,andcapital,[18]enactlegislationinjusticeandhomeaffairs,andmaintaincommon
policiesontrade,[19]agriculture,[20]fisheries,andregionaldevelopment.[21]

0:00

MENU

Themonetaryunionwasestablishedin1999andcameintofullforcein2002.Itiscurrentlycomposedof19memberstatesthatusetheeuroastheirlegaltender.Through
theCommonForeignandSecurityPolicy,theEUhasdevelopedaroleinexternalrelationsanddefence.Theunionmaintainspermanentdiplomaticmissionsthroughout
theworldandrepresentsitselfattheUnitedNations,theWTO,theG8,andtheG20.
Withacombinedpopulationofover508millioninhabitants,[7]or7.3%oftheworldpopulation,[22]theEUin2014generatedanominalgrossdomesticproduct(GDP)of
18.495trillionUSdollars,constitutingapproximately24%ofglobalnominalGDPand17%whenmeasuredintermsofpurchasingpowerparity.Asof2014theEUhas
thelargesteconomyintheworld,generatingaGDPbiggerthananyothereconomicunionorcountry.[23]Additionally,26outof28EUcountrieshaveaveryhighHuman
DevelopmentIndex,accordingtotheUNDP.In2012,theEUwasawardedtheNobelPeacePrize.[24]

Contents

Capital

Brussels (defacto)[4]
5051N421E

1History
1.1Preliminary
1.2TreatyofRomeandgrowth
1.3MaastrichtTreatyandafter
1.4Structuralevolution
2Geography
2.1Memberstates
2.2Environment
3Politics
3.1Constitutionalnature
3.2Governance
3.3Budget
3.4Competences
4Legalsystem
4.1CourtsofJustice

Largestcities

LondonandParis

Officiallanguages

24languages

Demonym

European[5]

Type

Politicoeconomicunion

Memberstates

28states

Leaders
Presidentofthe
EuropeanCommission
Presidentofthe
EuropeanCouncil

JeanClaudeJuncker
DonaldTusk

4.1CourtsofJustice
4.2Fundamentalrights
4.3Acts
5Areaoffreedom,securityandjustice
6Foreignrelations
6.1Military
6.2Humanitarianaid
7Economy
7.1Internalmarket
7.2Competition
7.3Monetaryunion
7.4Energy
7.5Infrastructure
7.6Agriculture
8Demographics
8.1Languages
8.2Religion
8.3Educationandscience
8.4Healthcare
9Culture
9.1Sport
9.2Symbols
10Seealso
11Notes
12References
13Furtherreading
14Externallinks

History
Mainarticles:HistoryoftheEuropeanUnionandHistoryofEurope

Preliminary
AfterWorldWarII,Europeanintegrationwaseyedasanescapefromtheextremenationalismthathaddevastatedthecontinent.[25]The1948HagueCongresswasa
pivotalmomentinEuropeanfederalhistory,asitledtothecreationoftheEuropeanMovementInternationalandoftheCollegeofEurope,whereEurope'sfutureleaders
wouldliveandstudytogether.[26]1952sawthecreationoftheEuropeanCoalandSteelCommunity,whichwasdeclaredtobe"afirststepinthefederationof
Europe.".[27]ThesupportersoftheCommunityincludedAlcideDeGasperi,JeanMonnet,RobertSchuman,andPaulHenriSpaak.[28]

TreatyofRomeandgrowth

Legislature

CounciloftheEU
Parliament

Formation[6]
TreatyofRome
TreatyofMaastricht
Area
Total

1January1958
1November1993

Water(%)

4,324,782km2(7tha)
1,669,808sqmi
3.08

Population
2015estimate

508,191,116[7](3rda)

Density

115.8/km2
300.9/sqmi

GDP(PPP)
Total

2015estimate

Percapita

$37,607[8](19tha)

GDP(nominal)
Total

2015estimate

Percapita

$32,498[9](16tha)

Gini(2010)

30.4[10]
medium

HDI(2011)

0.876[11]
veryhigh13th/25tha

$19.035trillion[8](1sta)

$16.449trillion[8](2nda)

Euro(EUREurozone)
10others

Currency
Timezone

Summer(DST)

InternetTLD

WET(UTC)[a]
CET(UTC+1)
EET(UTC+2)
WEST(UTC+1)
CEST(UTC+2)
EEST(UTC+3)
.eu[b]

Website
europa.eu(http://europa.eu)
a.

Ifconsideredasasingleentity.

In1957,Belgium,France,Italy,Luxembourg,theNetherlands,andWestGermanysignedtheTreatyofRome,whichcreatedtheEuropeanEconomicCommunity(EEC)andestablishedacustomsunion.Theyalsosigned
anotherpactcreatingtheEuropeanAtomicEnergyCommunity(Euratom)forcooperationindevelopingnuclearenergy.Bothtreatiescameintoforcein1958.[28]
TheEECandEuratomwerecreatedseparatelyfromECSC,althoughtheysharedthesamecourtsandtheCommonAssembly.TheEECwasheadedbyWalterHallstein(HallsteinCommission)andEuratomwasheadedby
LouisArmand(ArmandCommission)andthentienneHirsch.EuratomwastointegratesectorsinnuclearenergywhiletheEECwoulddevelopacustomsunionamongmembers.[29][30]

Throughthe1960s,tensionsbegantoshow,withFranceseekingtolimitsupranationalpower.Nevertheless,in1965anagreementwas
reachedandon1July1967theMergerTreatycreatedasinglesetofinstitutionsforthethreecommunities,whichwerecollectively
referredtoastheEuropeanCommunities.[31][32]JeanReypresidedoverthefirstmergedCommission(ReyCommission).[33]
In1973,theCommunitiesenlargedtoincludeDenmark(includingGreenland,whichlaterlefttheCommunityin1985,followingadispute
overfishingrights),Ireland,andtheUnitedKingdom.[34]Norwayhadnegotiatedtojoinatthesametime,butNorwegianvotersrejected
membershipinareferendum.In1979,thefirstdirect,democraticelectionstotheEuropeanParliamentwereheld.[35]
Greecejoinedin1981PortugalandSpainin1986.[36]In1985,theSchengenAgreementledthewaytowardthecreationofopenborders
withoutpassportcontrolsbetweenmostmemberstatesandsomenonmemberstates.[37]In1986,theEuropeanflagbegantobeusedby
theCommunity[38]andtheSingleEuropeanActwassigned.
Thecontinentalterritoriesofthememberstates
oftheEuropeanUnion(EuropeanCommunities
pre1993),colouredinorderofaccession.

RobertSchumanproposingtheCoal
andSteelCommunityon9May
1950.

In1990,afterthefalloftheEasternBloc,theformerEastGermanybecamepartoftheCommunityaspartofareunitedGermany.[39]With
furtherenlargementplannedforformercommuniststates,Cyprus,andMalta,theCopenhagencriteriaforcandidatememberstojointhe
EUwereagreeduponinJune1993.

MaastrichtTreatyandafter
TheEuropeanUnionwasformallyestablishedwhentheMaastrichtTreatywhosemainarchitectswereHelmutKohlandFranoisMitterrandcameintoforceon1November1993.[16]
ThetreatyalsogavethenameEuropeancommunitytotheEEC,evenifitwasreferredassuchbeforethetreaty.In1995,Austria,Finland,andSwedenjoinedtheEU.In2002,euro
banknotesandcoinsreplacednationalcurrenciesin12ofthememberstates.Sincethen,theeurozonehasincreasedtoencompass19countries.In2004,theEUsawitsbiggest
enlargementtodatewhenCyprus,theCzechRepublic,Estonia,Hungary,Latvia,Lithuania,Malta,Poland,Slovakia,andSloveniajoinedtheUnion.[40]
On1January2007,RomaniaandBulgariabecameEUmembers.Inthesameyear,Sloveniaadoptedtheeuro,[40]followedin2008byCyprusandMalta,bySlovakiain2009,byEstonia
in2011,byLatviain2014andbyLithuaniain2015.InJune2009,theEuropeanParliamentelectionswereheld,leadingtothesecondBarrosoCommission,andbyJuly,Icelandformally
appliedforEUmembership,buthassincesuspendednegotiations.

In1989,theIronCurtainfell,
enablingtheuniontoexpandfurther
(BerlinWallpictured).

On1December2009,theLisbonTreatyenteredintoforceandreformedmanyaspectsoftheEU.Inparticular,itchangedthelegalstructureofthe
EuropeanUnion,mergingtheEUthreepillarssystemintoasinglelegalentityprovisionedwithalegalpersonality,createdapermanentPresidentof
theEuropeanCouncil,thefirstofwhichwasHermanVanRompuy,andstrengthenedtheHighRepresentative,CatherineAshton.[41]
In2012theUnionreceivedtheNobelPeacePrizeforhaving"contributedtotheadvancementofpeaceandreconciliation,democracy,andhuman
rightsinEurope."[42][43]On1July2013,Croatiabecamethe28thEUmember.[44][45][46]
2009,theLisbonTreatyenteredinto
force.

Theeurowasintroducedin2002,
replacing12nationalcurrencies.
Sevencountrieshavesincejoined.

Structuralevolution
Mainarticle:TreatiesoftheEuropeanUnion
Thefollowingtimelineillustratestheintegrationthathasledtotheformationofthepresentunion,intermsofstructuraldevelopmentdrivenbyinternationaltreaties:
Signed 1948

1951

1954

1957

1965

1975

1985

1986

1992

1997

2001

2007

Inforce 1948
Document Brussels
Treaty

1952
ParisTreaty

1955
1958
1967
N/A
Modified
Rometreaties MergerTreaty EuropeanCouncil
BrusselsTreaty
conclusion

SchengenRules

Treatyexpiredin2002

EuropeanCommunity(EC)
PoliceandJudicialCooperationinCriminal
Matters(PJCC)

European
Union
(EU)

CommonForeignandSecurityPolicy(CFSP)

2009
Lisbon
Treaty

EuropeanPolitical
Cooperation(EPC)

WesternEuropeanUnion(WEU)

2003
NiceTreaty

ThreepillarsoftheEuropeanUnion:

JusticeandHomeAffairs
(JHA)

Unconsolidatedbodies

1999
AmsterdamTreaty

TREVI

1993
MaastrichtTreaty

EuropeanCommunities:
EuropeanAtomicEnergyCommunity(EURATOM)
EuropeanCoalandSteelCommunity(ECSC)
EuropeanEconomicCommunity(EEC)

1985
1987
Schengen SingleEuropeanAct
Treaty

Treatyterminatedin2011

The65,993km(41,006mi)
coastlinedominatestheEuropean
climate(Cyprus).

MontBlancintheAlpsis
thehighestpeakinthe
union.

Geography
Mainarticle:GeographyoftheEuropeanUnion
TheEU'smemberstatescoveranareaof4,423,147squarekilometres(1,707,787sqmi).[c]TheEU'shighestpeakisMontBlancintheGraianAlps,4,810.45
metres(15,782ft)abovesealevel.[47]Thelowestpoint(s)intheEUisLammefjorden,DenmarkandZuidplaspolder,Netherlands,at7m(23ft)belowsealevel.[48]
Thelandscape,climate,andeconomyoftheEUareinfluencedbyitscoastline,whichis65,993kilometres(41,006mi)long.
IncludingtheoverseasterritoriesofFrancewhicharelocatedoutsidethecontinentofEurope,butwhicharemembersoftheunion,theEUexperiencesmosttypes
ofclimatefromArctic(NorthEastEurope)totropical(FrenchGuyana),renderingmeteorologicalaveragesfortheEUasawholemeaningless.Themajorityofthe
populationlivesinareaswithatemperatemaritimeclimate(NorthWesternEuropeandCentralEurope),aMediterraneanclimate(SouthernEurope),orawarm
summercontinentalorhemiborealclimate(NorthernBalkansandCentralEurope).[49]
TheEU'spopulationishighlyurbanised,withsome75%ofinhabitants(andgrowing,projectedtobe90%insevenmemberstatesby2020)livinginurbanareas.
CitiesarelargelyspreadoutacrosstheEU,althoughwithalargegroupinginandaroundtheBenelux.Anincreasingpercentageofthisisduetolowdensityurban
sprawlwhichisextendingintonaturalareas.Insomecases,thisurbangrowthhasbeenduetotheinfluxofEUfundsintoaregion.[50]

Memberstates
Mainarticle:MemberstateoftheEuropeanUnion
Thefollowing28sovereignstates(ofwhichthemaponlyshowsterritoriessituatedinandaroundEurope)constitutetheunion:[51]

Finland
Sweden
Estonia
Latvia
United
IrelandKingdom

Lithuania

Denmark

Netherlands
Poland
BelgiumGermany Czech
Luxembourg Republic
Slovakia
Austria
France
Hungary Romania
Slovenia
Croatia
Bulgaria
Portugal Spain

Italy
Greece
Cyprus
Malta

Name

Capital

Accession

Population[7]

Area(km2)

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
CzechRepublic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France

Vienna
Brussels
Sofia
Zagreb
Nicosia
Prague
Copenhagen
Tallinn
Helsinki
Paris

1January1995
Founder
1January2007
1July2013
1May2004
1May2004
1January1973
1May2004
1January1995
Founder

8,584,926
11,258,434
7,202,198
4,225,316
847,008
10,538,275
5,659,715
1,313,271
5,471,753
66,352,469

83,855
30,528
110,994
56,594
9,251
78,866
43,075
45,227
338,424
640,679

Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
UnitedKingdom

Berlin
Athens
Budapest
Dublin
Rome
Riga
Vilnius
Luxembourg
Valletta
Amsterdam
Warsaw
Lisbon
Bucharest
Bratislava
Ljubljana
Madrid
Stockholm
London

Founder[d]
1January1981
1May2004
1January1973
Founder
1May2004
1May2004
Founder
1May2004
Founder
1May2004
1January1986
1January2007
1May2004
1May2004
1January1986
1January1995
1January1973

81,174,000
10,812,467
9,849,000
4,625,885
60,795,612
1,986,096
2,921,262
562,958
429,344
16,900,726
38,005,614
10,374,822
19,861,408
5,421,349
2,062,874
46,439,864
9,747,355
64,767,115

357,021
131,990
93,030
70,273
301,338
64,589
65,200
2,586
316
41,543
312,685
92,390
238,391
49,035
20,273
504,030
449,964
243,610

Throughsuccessiveenlargements,theUnionhasgrownfromthesixfoundingstatesBelgium,France,WestGermany,Italy,Luxembourg,andtheNetherlandstothecurrent28.Countriesaccedetotheunionbybecoming
partytothefoundingtreaties,therebysubjectingthemselvestotheprivilegesandobligationsofEUmembership.Thisentailsapartialdelegationofsovereigntytotheinstitutionsinreturnforrepresentationwithinthose
institutions,apracticeoftenreferredtoas"poolingofsovereignty".[52][53]
Tobecomeamember,acountrymustmeettheCopenhagencriteria,definedatthe1993meetingoftheEuropeanCouncilinCopenhagen.Theserequireastabledemocracythatrespectshumanrightsandtheruleoflawa
functioningmarketeconomyandtheacceptanceoftheobligationsofmembership,includingEUlaw.Evaluationofacountry'sfulfilmentofthecriteriaistheresponsibilityoftheEuropeanCouncil.[54]Nomemberstatehas
everlefttheUnion,althoughGreenland(anautonomousprovinceofDenmark)withdrewin1985.[55]TheLisbonTreatynowcontainsaclauseprovidingforamembertoleavetheEU.[56]

Therearesixcountrieswhicharerecognizedascandidatesformembership:Albania,Iceland,Macedonia,[e]Montenegro,Serbia,andTurkey.[57]However,on13June2013,
Iceland'sForeignMinister,GunnarBragiSveinsson,informedtheEuropeanCommissionthatthenewlyelectedgovernmentintendedto"putnegotiationsonhold".[58]Bosnia
andHerzegovinaandKosovoareofficiallyrecognisedaspotentialcandidates,[57]buthavenotsubmittedmembershipapplications.Duetothelackofrecognitionbyfiveof
the28EUmemberstates,theEuropeanCommissionrefersonlyto"Kosovo*",withanasteriskedfootnotecontainingthetextagreedtobytheBelgradePristinanegotiations:
"Thisdesignationiswithoutprejudicetopositionsonstatus,andisinlinewithUNSCR1244andtheICJOpinionontheKosovoDeclarationofIndependence."
FourcountriesformingtheEuropeanFreeTradeAssociation(EFTA)(thatarenotEUmembers)havepartlycommittedtotheEU'seconomyandregulations:Iceland,
LiechtensteinandNorway,whichareapartofthesinglemarketthroughtheEuropeanEconomicArea,andSwitzerland,whichhassimilartiesthroughbilateraltreaties.[59][60]
TherelationshipsoftheEuropeanmicrostates,Andorra,Monaco,SanMarino,andtheVaticanincludetheuseoftheeuroandotherareasofcooperation.[61]

Environment
Furtherinformation:EuropeanCommissionerfortheEnvironmentandEuropeanClimateChangeProgramme

MapoftheEuropeanUnionintheworldwith
overseascountriesandterritoriesandoutermost
regions.

In1957,whentheEUwasfounded,ithadnoenvironmentalpolicy,noenvironmentalbureaucracy,andnoenvironmentallaws.[62]
Today,theEUhassomeofthemostprogressiveenvironmentalpoliciesofanystateintheworld.TheenvironmentalpolicyoftheEU
hasthereforedevelopedinremarkablefashioninthepastfourdecades.Anincreasinglydensenetworkoflegislationhasemerged,
whichnowextendstoallareasofenvironmentalprotection,including:airpollutioncontrol,waterprotection,wastemanagement,
natureconservation,andthecontrolofchemicals,biotechnologyandotherindustrialrisks.[63]TheInstituteforEuropean
EnvironmentalPolicyestimatesthebodyofEUenvironmentallawamountstowellover500Directives,RegulationsandDecisions.[64]
EnvironmentalpolicyhasthusbecomeacoreareaofEuropeanpolitics.
Suchdynamicdevelopmentsaresurprisinginlightofthelegalandinstitutionalconditionswhichexistedinthelate1950sand60s.[65]
ViruBoginLahemaaNationalPark
Actingwithoutanylegislativeauthority,EuropeanpolicymakersinitiallyincreasedtheEU'scapacitytoactbydefiningenvironmental
inEstonia,aprotectedhabitatunder
policyasatradeproblem.Themostimportantreasonfortheintroductionofacommonenvironmentalpolicywasthefearthattrade
theHabitatsDirective
barriersandcompetitivedistortionsintheCommonMarketcouldemergeduetothedifferentenvironmentalstandards.[66]However,in
thecourseoftime,EUenvironmentalpolicyemergedasaformalpolicyarea,withitsownpolicyactors,policyprinciplesand
procedures.ThelegalbasisofEUenvironmentalpolicywasnotmoreexplicitlyestablisheduntiltheintroductionoftheSingleEuropeanActin1987.[64]

TheexclusiveeconomiczoneoftheEuropean
Union.
EUmemberstates.
TerritoriesunderthesovereigntyofanEU
memberstate.
Recognisedcandidatecountries.

Initially,EUenvironmentalpolicywasratherintrospective.Morerecently,however,theUnionhasdemonstratedagrowingleadershipinglobalenvironmentalgovernance.Theroleofthe
EUinsecuringtheratificationandentryintoforceoftheKyotoProtocolinthefaceofUSoppositionisanexampleinthisregard.ThisinternationaldimensionisreflectedintheEU's
SixthEnvironmentalActionProgramme,whichrecognisesthatitsstrategicobjectivescanonlybeachievedifaseriesofkeyinternationalenvironmentalagreementsareactivelysupported
andproperlyimplementedbothatanEUlevelandworldwide.TheentryintoforceoftheLisbonTreatyfurtherstrengthenstheEU'sglobalenvironmentalleadershipambitions.[67]The
vastbodyofEUenvironmentallawwhichnowexistshasplayedavitalroleinimprovinghabitatandspeciesprotectioninEuropeaswellascontributedtoimprovementsinairandwater
qualityandwastemanagement.[64]However,significantchallengesremain,bothtomeetexistingEUtargetsandaspirationsandtoagreenewtargetsandactionsthatwillfurtherimprove
theenvironmentandthequalityoflifeinEuropeandbeyond.
OneofthetopprioritiesofEUenvironmentalpolicyiscombattingclimatechange.In2007,memberstatesagreedthattheEUistouse20%renewableenergyinthefutureandthatithas
toreducecarbondioxideemissionsin2020byatleast20%comparedto1990levels.[68]Thisincludesmeasuresthatin2020,10%oftheoverallfuelquantityusedbycarsandtrucksin
EU27shouldberunningonrenewableenergysuchasbiofuels.Thisisconsideredtobeoneofthemostambitiousmovesofanimportantindustrialisedregiontofightclimatechange.[69]
TheEUadoptedanemissionstradingsystemtoincorporatecarbonemissionsintotheeconomy.[70]
TheEuropeanGreenCapitalisanannualawardthatisgiventocitiesthatfocusesontheenvironment,energyefficiencyandqualityoflifeinurbanareastocreatesmartcity.

Politics

Ablackstork,anAnnexAprotected
speciesunderRegulation(EC)No.
338/97

Mainarticle:PoliticsoftheEuropeanUnion
TheEUoperateswithinthosecompetenciesconferredonitbythetreatiesandaccordingtotheprincipleofsubsidiarity(whichdictatesthatactionbytheEU
shouldonlybetakenwhereanobjectivecannotbesufficientlyachievedbythememberstatesalone).LawsmadebytheEUinstitutionsarepassedinavariety
offorms.Generallyspeaking,theycanbeclassifiedintotwogroups:thosewhichcomeintoforcewithoutthenecessityfornationalimplementationmeasures
andthosewhichspecificallyrequirenationalimplementationmeasures.[71]

Constitutionalnature
Furtherinformation:TreatiesoftheEuropeanUnion
TheclassificationoftheEuropeanUnionintermsofinternationalorconstitutionallawhasbeenmuchdebated,ofteninthelightofthedegreeofintegration
thatisperceived,desired,orexpected.Historically,atleast,theEUisaninternationalorganisation,andbysomecriteria,itcouldbeclassifiedasa
confederationbutitalsohasmanyattributesofafederation,sosomewouldclassifyitasa(defacto)federationofstates.[72][73][74]Forthisreason,the
organisationhas,inthepast,beentermedsuigeneris(incomparable,oneofakind),thoughitisalsoarguedthatthisdesignationisnolongertrue.[75][76]
Theorganisationitselfhastraditionallyusedtheterms"community",andlater"union".Thedifficultiesofclassificationinvolvethedifferencebetweennational
PoliticalsystemoftheEuropeanUnion
law(wherethesubjectsofthelawincludenaturalpersonsandcorporations)andinternationallaw(wherethesubjectsincludesovereignstatesandinternational
organisations)theycanalsobeseeninthelightofdifferingEuropeanandAmericanconstitutionaltraditions.[75]EspeciallyintermsoftheEuropean
constitutionaltradition,thetermfederationisequatedwithasovereignfederalstateininternationallawsotheEUcannotbecalledafederalstateorfederationatleast,notwithoutqualification.Thoughnot,strictly,a
federation,itismorethanafreetradeassociation.[77]Itis,however,describedasbeingbasedonafederalmodelorfederalinnature.WalterHallstein,intheoriginalGermaneditionofEuropeintheMakingcalledit"an
unfinishedfederalstate".[78]TheGermanConstitutionalCourtreferstotheEuropeanUnionasanassociationofsovereignstatesandaffirmsthatmakingtheEUafederationwouldrequirereplacementoftheGerman
constitution.[79]Othersclaimthatitwillnotdevelopintoafederalstatebuthasreachedmaturityasaninternationalorganisation.[80]

Governance
Mainarticles:InstitutionsoftheEuropeanUnionandLegislatureoftheEuropeanUnion
TheEuropeanUnionhasseveninstitutions:theEuropeanParliament,theCounciloftheEuropeanUnion,theEuropeanCommission,theEuropeanCouncil,theEuropeanCentralBank,theCourtofJusticeoftheEuropean
UnionandtheEuropeanCourtofAuditors.CompetenciesinscrutinisingandamendinglegislationaredividedbetweentheEuropeanParliamentandtheCounciloftheEuropeanUnionwhileexecutivetasksarecarriedoutby
theEuropeanCommissionandinalimitedcapacitybytheEuropeanCouncil(nottobeconfusedwiththeaforementionedCounciloftheEuropeanUnion).ThemonetarypolicyoftheeurozoneisgovernedbytheEuropean
CentralBank.TheinterpretationandtheapplicationofEUlawandthetreatiesareensuredbytheCourtofJusticeoftheEuropeanUnion.TheEUbudgetisscrutinisedbytheEuropeanCourtofAuditors.Therearealsoa
numberofancillarybodieswhichadvisetheEUoroperateinaspecificarea.
EuropeanCouncil
TheEuropeanCouncilgivesdirectiontotheEU,andconvenesatleastfourtimesayear.ItcomprisesthePresidentoftheEuropeanCouncil,thePresidentoftheEuropeanCommissionandonerepresentativepermemberstate
eitheritsheadofstateorheadofgovernment.TheEuropeanCouncilhasbeendescribedbysomeastheUnion's"supremepoliticalauthority".[81]Itisactivelyinvolvedinthenegotiationofthetreatychangesanddefinesthe
EU'spolicyagendaandstrategies.
TheEuropeanCouncilusesitsleadershiproletosortoutdisputesbetweenmemberstatesandtheinstitutions,andtoresolvepoliticalcrisesanddisagreementsovercontroversialissuesandpolicies.Itactsexternallyasa
"collectiveheadofstate"andratifiesimportantdocuments(forexample,internationalagreementsandtreaties).[82]
On19November2009,HermanVanRompuywaschosenasthefirstpermanentPresidentoftheEuropeanCouncil.On1December2009,theTreatyofLisbonenteredintoforceandheassumedoffice.Ensuringtheexternal
representationoftheEU,[83]drivingconsensusandsettlingdivergencesamongmembersaretasksforthePresidentbothduringtheconvocationsoftheEuropeanCouncilandinthetimeperiodsbetweenthem.TheEuropean
CouncilshouldnotbemistakenfortheCouncilofEurope,aninternationalorganisationindependentfromtheEU.

ThePresidentofthe
EuropeanCouncil,
DonaldTusk

EuropeanCommission
TheEuropeanCommissionactsastheEU'sexecutivearmandisresponsibleforinitiatinglegislationandthedaytodayrunningoftheEU.TheCommissionisalsoseenasthemotorofEuropean
integration.Itoperatesasacabinetgovernment,with28Commissionersfordifferentareasofpolicy,onefromeachmemberstate,thoughCommissionersareboundtorepresenttheinterestsoftheEU
asawholeratherthantheirhomestate.
Oneofthe28istheCommissionPresident(currentlyJeanClaudeJuncker)appointedbytheEuropeanCouncil.AfterthePresident,themostprominentCommissioneristheHighRepresentativeofthe
UnionforForeignAffairsandSecurityPolicywhoisexofficioVicePresidentoftheCommissionandischosenbytheEuropeanCounciltoo.[84]Theother26Commissionersaresubsequently
appointedbytheCounciloftheEuropeanUnion(alsoknownastheCouncilofMinisters)inagreementwiththenominatedPresident.The28Commissionersasasinglebodyaresubjecttoavoteof
approvalbytheEuropeanParliament.

TheCommission
President,JeanClaude
Juncker

EuropeanParliament
TheEuropeanParliamentformsonehalfoftheEU'slegislature(theotherhalfistheCounciloftheEuropeanUnion).The751MembersoftheEuropeanParliament(MEPs)are
directlyelectedbyEUcitizenseveryfiveyearsonthebasisofproportionalrepresentation.AlthoughMEPsareelectedonanationalbasis,theysitaccordingtopoliticalgroupsrather
thantheirnationality.Eachcountryhasasetnumberofseatsandisdividedintosubnationalconstituencieswherethisdoesnotaffecttheproportionalnatureofthevotingsystem.[85]
TheParliamentandtheCounciloftheEuropeanUnionpasslegislationjointlyinnearlyallareasundertheordinarylegislativeprocedure.ThisalsoappliestotheEUbudget.Finally,
theCommissionisaccountabletoParliament,requiringitsapprovaltotakeoffice,havingtoreportbacktoitandsubjecttomotionsofcensurefromit.ThePresidentoftheEuropean
Parliamentcarriesouttheroleofspeakerinparliamentandrepresentsitexternally.TheEPPresidentandVicePresidentsareelectedbyMEPseverytwoandahalfyears.[86]
CounciloftheEuropeanUnion

ThehemicycleoftheEuropeanParliament
inStrasbourg

TheCounciloftheEuropeanUnion(alsocalledthe"Council"[87]andsometimesreferredtoasthe"CouncilofMinisters")[88]formstheotherhalfoftheEU'slegislature.Itconsistsofagovernmentministerfromeachmember
stateandmeetsindifferentcompositionsdependingonthepolicyareabeingaddressed.Notwithstandingitsdifferentconfigurations,itisconsideredtobeonesinglebody.[89]Inadditiontoitslegislativefunctions,theCouncil
alsoexercisesexecutivefunctionsinrelationstotheCommonForeignandSecurityPolicy.

Budget
Mainarticle:BudgetoftheEuropeanUnion
TheEUhadanagreedbudgetof120.7billionfortheyear2007and864.3billionfortheperiod20072013,[91]representing1.10%and1.05%oftheEU27'sGNIforecastforthe
respectiveperiods.Bycomparison,theUnitedKingdom'sexpenditurefor2004wasestimatedtobe759billion,andFrancewasestimatedtohavespent801billion.In1960,thebudgetof
thethenEuropeanEconomicCommunitywas0.03%ofGDP.[92]
Inthe2010budgetof141.5billion,thelargestsingleexpenditureitemis"cohesion&competitiveness"witharound45%ofthetotalbudget.[93]Nextcomes"agriculture"with
approximately31%ofthetotal.[93]"Ruraldevelopment,environmentandfisheries"takesuparound11%.[93]"Administration"accountsforaround6%.[93]The"EUasaglobalpartner"and
"citizenship,freedom,securityandjustice"bringuptherearwithapproximately6%and1%respectively.[93]
TheCourtofAuditorsaimstoensurethatthebudgetoftheEuropeanUnionhasbeenproperlyaccountedfor.ThecourtprovidesanauditreportforeachfinancialyeartotheCouncilandthe
EuropeanParliament.TheParliamentusesthistodecidewhethertoapprovetheCommission'shandlingofthebudget.TheCourtalsogivesopinionsandproposalsonfinanciallegislationand
antifraudactions.[94]
TheCourtofAuditorsislegallyobligedtoprovidetheParliamentandtheCouncilwith"astatementofassuranceastothereliabilityoftheaccountsandthelegalityandregularityofthe
underlyingtransactions".[95]TheCourthasrefusedtodosoeveryyearsince1993,qualifyingtheirreportoftheUnion'saccountseveryyearsincethen.[96]Intheirreporton2009theauditors
foundthatfiveareasofUnionexpenditure,agricultureandthecohesionfund,weremateriallyaffectedbyerror.[97]TheEuropeanCommissionestimatedthatthefinancialimpactof
irregularitieswas1,863million.[98]

Competences
EUmemberstatesretainallpowersnotexplicitlyhandedtotheEuropeanUnion.InsomeareastheEUenjoysexclusivecompetence.Theseareareasinwhichmemberstateshaverenounced
anycapacitytoenactlegislation.InotherareastheEUanditsmemberstatessharethecompetencetolegislate.Whilebothcanlegislate,memberstatescanonlylegislatetotheextentto
whichtheEUhasnot.InotherpolicyareastheEUcanonlycoordinate,supportandsupplementmemberstateactionbutcannotenactlegislationwiththeaimofharmonisingnational
laws.[99]
Thataparticularpolicyareafallsintoacertaincategoryofcompetenceisnotnecessarilyindicativeofwhatlegislativeprocedureisusedforenactinglegislationwithinthatpolicyarea.
Differentlegislativeproceduresareusedwithinthesamecategoryofcompetence,andevenwiththesamepolicyarea.

The2011EUbudget(141.9bn.
intotalcommitment
appropriations):[90]
Cohesionand
competitivenessforgrowthand
employment(45%)
Citizenship,freedom,
securityandjustice(1%)
TheEUasaglobalpartner
(6%)
Ruraldevelopment(11%)
Directaidsandmarket
relatedexpenditures(31%)
Administration(6%)

ThedistributionofcompetencesinvariouspolicyareasbetweenMemberStatesandtheUnionisdividedinthefollowingthreecategories:
AsoutlinedinTitleIofPartIoftheconsolidatedTreatyontheFunctioningoftheEuropeanUnion

Exclusivecompetence
"TheUnionhasexclusivecompetencetomakedirectivesand
concludeinternationalagreementswhenprovidedforina
Unionlegislativeact."
thecustomsunion
theestablishingofthecompetitionrulesnecessaryfor

Sharedcompetence
"MemberStatescannotexercisecompetenceinareaswhere
theUnionhasdoneso."
theinternalmarket
socialpolicy,fortheaspectsdefinedinthisTreaty
economic,socialandterritorialcohesion

"UnionexerciseofcompetenceshallnotresultinMember
Statesbeingpreventedfromexercisingtheirsin"
research,technologicaldevelopmentand(outer)space
developmentcooperation,humanitarianaid

Supportingcompetence
"TheUnioncancarryoutactionstosupport,coordinateor
supplementMemberStates'actionsin"
theprotectionandimprovementofhumanhealth
industry
culture

thefunctioningoftheinternalmarket
monetarypolicyfortheMemberStateswhose
currencyistheeuro
theconservationofmarinebiologicalresourcesunder
thecommonfisheriespolicy
commoncommercialpolicy
conclusionofcertaininternationalagreements

agricultureandfisheries,excludingtheconservationof
marinebiologicalresources
environment
consumerprotection
transport
transEuropeannetworks
energy
theareaoffreedom,securityandjustice
commonsafetyconcernsinpublichealthmatters,for
theaspectsdefinedinthisTreaty

"TheUnioncoordinatesMemberStatespoliciesor
implementssupplementaltotheirscommonpolicies,not
coveredelsewhere"

tourism
education,youth,sportandvocationaltraining
civilprotection(disasterprevention)
administrativecooperation

coordinationofeconomic,employmentandsocial
policies
commonforeign,securityanddefencepolicies

Legalsystem
Furtherinformation:EuropeanUnionlaw,TreatiesoftheEuropeanUnionandCharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion
TheEUisbasedonaseriesoftreaties.ThesefirstestablishedtheEuropeanCommunityandtheEU,andthenmadeamendmentstothosefoundingtreaties.[100]Thesearepower
givingtreatieswhichsetbroadpolicygoalsandestablishinstitutionswiththenecessarylegalpowerstoimplementthosegoals.Theselegalpowersincludetheabilitytoenact
legislation[f]whichcandirectlyaffectallmemberstatesandtheirinhabitants.[g]TheEUhaslegalpersonality,withtherighttosignagreementsandinternationaltreaties.[101]
Undertheprincipleofsupremacy,nationalcourtsarerequiredtoenforcethetreatiesthattheirmemberstateshaveratified,andthusthelawsenactedunderthem,evenifdoingso
requiresthemtoignoreconflictingnationallaw,and(withinlimits)evenconstitutionalprovisions.[h]

CourtsofJustice

TheCourtofJustice,seatedinLuxembourg.

ThejudicialbranchoftheEUformallycalledtheCourtofJusticeoftheEuropeanUnionconsistsofthreecourts:theCourtofJustice,theGeneralCourt,andtheEuropean
UnionCivilServiceTribunal.TogethertheyinterpretandapplythetreatiesandthelawoftheEU.[102]
TheCourtofJusticeprimarilydealswithcasestakenbymemberstates,theinstitutions,andcasesreferredtoitbythecourtsofmemberstates.[103]TheGeneralCourtmainlydealswithcasestakenbyindividualsandcompanies
directlybeforetheEU'scourts,[104]andtheEuropeanUnionCivilServiceTribunaladjudicatesindisputesbetweentheEuropeanUnionanditscivilservice.[105]DecisionsfromtheGeneralCourtcanbeappealedtotheCourtof
Justicebutonlyonapointoflaw.[106]

Fundamentalrights
ThetreatiesdeclarethattheEUitselfis"foundedonthevaluesofrespectforhumandignity,freedom,democracy,equality,theruleoflawandrespectforhumanrights,includingtherightsofpersonsbelongingtominorities...
inasocietyinwhichpluralism,nondiscrimination,tolerance,justice,solidarityandequalitybetweenwomenandmenprevail."[107]
In2009theLisbonTreatygavelegaleffecttotheCharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion.ThecharterisacodifiedcatalogueoffundamentalrightsagainstwhichtheEU'slegalactscanbejudged.Itconsolidates
manyrightswhichwerepreviouslyrecognisedbytheCourtofJusticeandderivedfromthe"constitutionaltraditionscommontothememberstates."[108]TheCourtofJusticehaslongrecognisedfundamentalrightsandhas,on
occasion,invalidatedEUlegislationbasedonitsfailuretoadheretothosefundamentalrights.[109]TheCharterofFundamentalRightswasdrawnupin2000.AlthoughoriginallynotlegallybindingtheCharterwasfrequently
citedbytheEU'scourtsasencapsulatingrightswhichthecourtshadlongrecognisedasthefundamentalprinciplesofEUlaw.AlthoughsigningtheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights(ECHR)isaconditionforEU
membership,[i]previously,theEUitselfcouldnotaccedetotheConventionasitisneitherastate[j]norhadthecompetencetoaccede.[k]TheLisbonTreatyandProtocol14totheECHRhavechangedthis:theformerbindsthe
EUtoaccedetotheConventionwhilethelatterformallypermitsit.

Although,theEUisindependentfromCouncilofEurope,theysharepurposeandideasespeciallyonruleoflaw,humanrightsanddemocracy.FurtherEuropeanConventiononHuman
RightsandEuropeanSocialCharter,thesourceoflawofCharterofFundamentalRightsarecreatedbyCouncilofEurope.TheEUalsopromotedhumanrightsissuesinthewiderworld.
TheEUopposesthedeathpenaltyandhasproposeditsworldwideabolition.AbolitionofthedeathpenaltyisaconditionforEUmembership.[110]

Acts
ThemainlegalactsoftheEUcomeinthreeforms:regulations,directives,anddecisions.Regulationsbecomelawinallmemberstatesthemomenttheycomeintoforce,withoutthe
requirementforanyimplementingmeasures,[l]andautomaticallyoverrideconflictingdomesticprovisions.[f]Directivesrequirememberstatestoachieveacertainresultwhileleaving
themdiscretionastohowtoachievetheresult.Thedetailsofhowtheyaretobeimplementedarelefttomemberstates.[m]Whenthetimelimitforimplementingdirectivespasses,they
may,undercertainconditions,havedirecteffectinnationallawagainstmemberstates.
Decisionsofferanalternativetothetwoabovemodesoflegislation.Theyarelegalactswhichonlyapplytospecifiedindividuals,companiesoraparticularmemberstate.Theyaremost
oftenusedincompetitionlaw,oronrulingsonStateAid,butarealsofrequentlyusedforproceduraloradministrativematterswithintheinstitutions.Regulations,directives,anddecisions
areofequallegalvalueandapplywithoutanyformalhierarchy.[111]

Theawardingceremonyofthe1990
SakharovPrizeawardedtoAungSan
SuuKyi(herebyMartinSchulz)
insidetheParliament'sStrasbourg
hemicycle,in2013.

Areaoffreedom,securityandjustice
Furtherinformation:Areaoffreedom,securityandjustice
SincethecreationoftheEUin1993,ithasdevelopeditscompetenciesintheareaoffreedom,securityandjustice,initiallyatanintergovernmentallevelandlaterbysupranationalism.To
thisend,agencieshavebeenestablishedthatcoordinateassociatedactions:Europolforcooperationofpoliceforces,[112]Eurojustforcooperationbetweenprosecutors,[113]andFrontex
forcooperationbetweenbordercontrolauthorities.[114]TheEUalsooperatestheSchengenInformationSystem[17]whichprovidesacommondatabaseforpoliceandimmigration
authorities.ThiscooperationhadtoparticularlybedevelopedwiththeadventofopenbordersthroughtheSchengenAgreementandtheassociatedcrossbordercrime.
Furthermore,theUnionhaslegislatedinareassuchasextradition,[115]familylaw,[116]asylumlaw,[117]andcriminaljustice.[118]Prohibitionsagainstsexualandnationalitydiscrimination
havealongstandinginthetreaties.[n]Inmorerecentyears,thesehavebeensupplementedbypowerstolegislateagainstdiscriminationbasedonrace,religion,disability,age,andsexual
orientation.[o]Byvirtueofthesepowers,theEUhasenactedlegislationonsexualdiscriminationintheworkplace,agediscrimination,andracialdiscrimination.[p]

Foreignrelations

ThebordersinsidetheSchengenArea
betweenGermanyandAustria

Mainarticles:ForeignrelationsoftheEuropeanUnion,CommonForeignandSecurityPolicyandEuropeanExternalActionService
ForeignpolicycooperationbetweenmemberstatesdatesfromtheestablishmentoftheCommunityin1957,whenmemberstatesnegotiatedasablocininternationaltradenegotiationsundertheCommonCommercial
policy.[119]Stepsforamorewiderangingcoordinationinforeignrelationsbeganin1970withtheestablishmentofEuropeanPoliticalCooperationwhichcreatedaninformalconsultationprocessbetweenmemberstateswith
theaimofformingcommonforeignpolicies.Itwasnot,however,until1987whenEuropeanPoliticalCooperationwasintroducedonaformalbasisbytheSingleEuropeanAct.EPCwasrenamedastheCommonForeignand
SecurityPolicy(CFSP)bytheMaastrichtTreaty.[120]
TheaimsoftheCFSParetopromoteboththeEU'sowninterestsandthoseoftheinternationalcommunityasawhole,includingthefurtheranceofinternationalcooperation,respectforhumanrights,democracy,andtheruleof
law.[121]TheCFSPrequiresunanimityamongthememberstatesontheappropriatepolicytofollowonanyparticularissue.TheunanimityanddifficultissuestreatedundertheCFSPsometimesleadtodisagreements,suchas
thosewhichoccurredoverthewarinIraq.[122]
ThecoordinatorandrepresentativeoftheCFSPwithintheEUistheHighRepresentativeoftheUnionforForeignAffairsandSecurityPolicy(currentlyFedericaMogherini)whospeaksonbehalfoftheEUinforeignpolicy
anddefencematters,andhasthetaskofarticulatingthepositionsexpressedbythememberstatesonthesefieldsofpolicyintoacommonalignment.TheHighRepresentativeheadsuptheEuropeanExternalActionService
(EEAS),auniqueEUdepartment[123]thathasbeenofficiallyimplementedandoperationalsince1December2010ontheoccasionofthefirstanniversaryoftheentryintoforceoftheTreatyofLisbon.[124]TheEEASwillserve
asaforeignministryanddiplomaticcorpsfortheEuropeanUnion.[125]

BesidestheemerginginternationalpolicyoftheEuropeanUnion,theinternationalinfluenceoftheEUisalsofeltthroughenlargement.Theperceivedbenefits
ofbecomingamemberoftheEUactasanincentiveforbothpoliticalandeconomicreforminstateswishingtofulfiltheEU'saccessioncriteria,andare
consideredanimportantfactorcontributingtothereformofEuropeanformerlyCommunistcountries.[126]Thisinfluenceontheinternalaffairsofother
countriesisgenerallyreferredtoas"softpower",asopposedtomilitary"hardpower".[127]

Military
Mainarticle:MilitaryoftheEuropeanUnion
TheHighRepresentative
oftheUnionforForeign
AffairsandSecurity
Policy,Federica
Mogherini.

TheEUparticipatesinallG8and
G20summits.(G20summitinSeoul)

TheEuropeanUniondoesnothaveoneunifiedmilitary.ThepredecessorsoftheEuropeanUnionwerenotdevisedasastrongmilitaryalliancebecauseNATO
waslargelyseenasappropriateandsufficientfordefencepurposes.[128]22EUmembersaremembersofNATO[129]whiletheremainingmemberstatesfollow
policiesofneutrality.[130]TheWesternEuropeanUnion,amilitaryalliancewithamutualdefenceclause,wasdisbandedin2010asitsrolehadbeentransferredtotheEU.[131]

AccordingtotheStockholmInternationalPeaceResearchInstitute(SIPRI),Francespentmorethan44billion($59bn)ondefencein2010,placingitthirdintheworldaftertheUSandChina,while
theUnitedKingdomspentalmost38billion($58bn),thefourthlargest.[132]Together,FranceandtheUnitedKingdomaccountfor45percentofEurope'sdefencebudget,50percentofitsmilitary
capacityand70percentofallspendinginmilitaryresearchanddevelopment.[133]BritainandFrancearealsoofficiallyrecognisednuclearweaponstatesandaretheonlytwoEuropean
nationstoholdpermanentseatsontheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil.In2000,theUnitedKingdom,France,Spain,andGermanyaccountedfor97%ofthetotalmilitaryresearchbudget
ofthethen15EUmemberstates.[134]

NATOSummit2006inRiga,Latvia.

FollowingtheKosovoWarin1999,theEuropeanCouncilagreedthat"theUnionmusthavethecapacityforautonomousaction,backedbycredible
militaryforces,themeanstodecidetousethem,andthereadinesstodoso,inordertorespondtointernationalcriseswithoutprejudicetoactionsby
NATO".Tothatend,anumberofeffortsweremadetoincreasetheEU'smilitarycapability,notablytheHelsinkiHeadlineGoalprocess.After
muchdiscussion,themostconcreteresultwastheEUBattlegroupsinitiative,eachofwhichisplannedtobeabletodeployquicklyabout
1500personnel.[135]

EUforceshavebeendeployedonpeacekeepingmissionsfrommiddleandnorthernAfricatothewesternBalkansandwesternAsia.[136]EU
militaryoperationsaresupportedbyanumberofbodies,includingtheEuropeanDefenceAgency,EuropeanUnionSatelliteCentreandtheEuropeanUnionMilitaryStaff.[137]InanEU
consistingof28members,substantialsecurityanddefencecooperationisincreasinglyrelyingoncooperationofthegreatpowers.[138]

Humanitarianaid
Furtherinformation:ECHO(EuropeanCommission)

AnA400Mmilitarytransportaircraft
builtbyAirbusGroupSE(societas
EuropaeaLatin:Europeancompany)

TheEuropeanCommission'sHumanitarianAidandCivilProtectiondepartment,or"ECHO",provideshumanitarianaidfromtheEUtodevelopingcountries.In2012,itsbudgetamounted
to874million,51%ofthebudgetwenttoAfricaand20%toAsia,LatinAmerica,theCaribbeanandPacific,and20%totheMiddleEastandMediterranean.[141]

Collectively,theEUisthelargest
contributorofforeignaidinthe
world. [139] [140]

Humanitarianaidisfinanceddirectlybythebudget(70%)aspartofthefinancialinstrumentsforexternalactionandalsobytheEuropeanDevelopmentFund(30%).[142]TheEU's
externalactionfinancingisdividedinto'geographic'instrumentsand'thematic'instruments.[142]The'geographic'instrumentsprovideaidthroughtheDevelopmentCooperationInstrument
(DCI,16.9billion,20072013),whichmustspend95%ofitsbudgetonoverseasdevelopmentassistance(ODA),andfromtheEuropeanNeighbourhoodandPartnershipInstrument
(ENPI),whichcontainssomerelevantprogrammes.[142]TheEuropeanDevelopmentFund(EDF,22.7bn,20082013)ismadeupofvoluntarycontributionsbymemberstates,butthere
ispressuretomergetheEDFintothebudgetfinancedinstrumentstoencourageincreasedcontributionstomatchthe0.7%targetandallowtheEuropeanParliamentgreateroversight.[142]
However,fivecountrieshavereachedthe0.7%target:Sweden,Luxembourg,theNetherlands,DenmarkandtheUnitedKingdom.[143][144]In2011,EUaidwas0.42%oftheEU'sGNI
makingittheworld'smostgenerousaiddonor.[145]ThepreviousCommissionerforAid,LouisMichel,hascalledforaidtobedeliveredmorerapidly,togreatereffect,andon
humanitarianprinciples.[146]

Economy
Mainarticles:EconomyoftheEuropeanUnionandRegionalpolicyoftheEuropeanUnion
TheEUhasestablishedasinglemarketacrosstheterritoryofallitsmembers.19memberstateshavealsojoinedamonetaryunionknownastheeurozone,whichusestheEuro
asasinglecurrency.[148]In2012,theEUhadacombinedGDPof16.073trillionsinternationaldollars,a20%shareoftheglobalgrossdomesticproduct(intermsofpurchasing
powerparity).[149]AccordingtoCreditSuisseGlobalWealthReport2012,theEUownsthelargestnetwealthintheworlditisestimatedtoequal30%ofthe$223trillion
globalwealth.
Ofthetop500largestcorporationsmeasuredbyrevenue(FortuneGlobal500in2010),161havetheirheadquartersintheEU.[150]In
2007,unemploymentintheEUstoodat7%[151]whileinvestmentwasat21.4%ofGDP,inflationat2.2%,andcurrentaccountbalanceat
0.9%ofGDP(i.e.,slightlymoreimportthanexport).In2012,unemploymentintheEUstood,perAugust2012,at11.4%[151]
Thefivelargesteconomiesintheworldaccording
ThereisasignificantvarianceforGDP(PPP)percapitawithinindividualEUstates,theserangefrom11,300to69,800(about
totheIMFbyGDPin2011. [147]
US$15,700toUS$97,000).[152]Thedifferencebetweentherichestandpoorestregions(271NUTS2regionsoftheNomenclatureof
TerritorialUnitsforStatistics)ranged,in2009,from27%oftheEU27averageintheregionofSeverozapadeninBulgaria,to332%of
theaverageinInnerLondonintheUnitedKingdom.Onthehighend,InnerLondonhas78,000PPPpercapita,Luxembourg62,500,andBruxellesCap52,500,whilethepoorest
regions,areSeverozapadenwith6,400PPPpercapita,NordEstwith6,900PPPpercapita,Severentsentralenwith6,900andYuzhentsentralenwith7,200.[152]

StructuralFundsandCohesionFundsaresupportingthedevelopmentofunderdevelopedregionsoftheEU.Suchregionsareprimarilylocatedinthestatesofcentralandsouthern
Europe.[153][154]Severalfundsprovideemergencyaid,supportforcandidatememberstotransformtheircountrytoconformtotheEU'sstandard(Phare,ISPA,andSAPARD),andsupport
totheformerUSSRCommonwealthofIndependentStates(TACIS).TACIShasnowbecomepartoftheworldwideEuropeAidprogramme.EUresearchandtechnologicalframework
programmessponsorresearchconductedbyconsortiafromallEUmemberstoworktowardsasingleEuropeanResearchArea.[155]
GDP(inPPS)perinhabitantby
NUTS2regionsin2009.

Internalmarket
Mainarticle:Internalmarket

TwooftheoriginalcoreobjectivesoftheEuropeanEconomicCommunitywerethedevelopmentofacommonmarket,subsequentlyrenamedthesinglemarket,andacustomsunionbetweenitsmemberstates.Thesingle
marketinvolvesthefreecirculationofgoods,capital,people,andserviceswithintheEU,[148]andthecustomsunioninvolvestheapplicationofacommonexternaltariffonallgoodsenteringthemarket.Oncegoodshavebeen
admittedintothemarkettheycannotbesubjectedtocustomsduties,discriminatorytaxesorimportquotas,astheytravelinternally.ThenonEUmemberstatesofIceland,Norway,LiechtensteinandSwitzerlandparticipatein
thesinglemarketbutnotinthecustomsunion.[59]HalfthetradeintheEUiscoveredbylegislationharmonisedbytheEU.[156]
Freemovementofcapitalisintendedtopermitmovementofinvestmentssuchaspropertypurchasesandbuyingofsharesbetweencountries.[157]Untilthedrivetowardseconomicandmonetaryunionthedevelopmentofthe
capitalprovisionshadbeenslow.PostMaastrichttherehasbeenarapidlydevelopingcorpusofECJjudgementsregardingthisinitiallyneglectedfreedom.Thefreemovementofcapitalisuniqueinsofarasitisgrantedequally
tononmemberstates.
ThefreemovementofpersonsmeansthatEUcitizenscanmovefreelybetweenmemberstatestolive,work,studyorretireinanothercountry.Thisrequiredtheloweringofadministrativeformalitiesandrecognitionof
professionalqualificationsofotherstates.[158]
Thefreemovementofservicesandofestablishmentallowsselfemployedpersonstomovebetweenmemberstatestoprovideservicesonatemporaryorpermanentbasis.Whileservicesaccountfor6070%ofGDP,legislation
intheareaisnotasdevelopedasinotherareas.ThislacunahasbeenaddressedbytherecentlypassedDirectiveonservicesintheinternalmarketwhichaimstoliberalisethecrossborderprovisionofservices.[159]Accordingto
theTreatytheprovisionofservicesisaresidualfreedomthatonlyappliesifnootherfreedomisbeingexercised.

Competition

Furtherinformation:EuropeanUnioncompetitionlawandEuropeanCommissionerforCompetition
TheEUoperatesacompetitionpolicyintendedtoensureundistortedcompetitionwithinthesinglemarket.[q]TheCommissionasthecompetitionregulatorforthesinglemarketisresponsiblefor
antitrustissues,approvingmergers,breakingupcartels,workingforeconomicliberalisationandpreventingstateaid.[160]
TheCompetitionCommissioner,currentlyJoaqunAlmunia,isoneofthemostpowerfulpositionsintheCommission,notablefortheabilitytoaffectthecommercialinterestsoftransnational
corporations.[161]Forexample,in2001theCommissionforthefirsttimepreventedamergerbetweentwocompaniesbasedintheUnitedStates(GEandHoneywell)whichhadalreadybeen
approvedbytheirnationalauthority.[162]AnotherhighprofilecaseagainstMicrosoft,resultedintheCommissionfiningMicrosoftover777millionfollowingnineyearsoflegalaction.[163]

Monetaryunion
Mainarticles:EurozoneandEconomicandMonetaryUnionoftheEuropeanUnion
ThecreationofaEuropeansinglecurrencybecameanofficialobjectiveoftheEuropeanEconomicCommunityin1969.In1992,afterhavingnegotiatedthestructureandproceduresofacurrency
union,thememberstatessignedtheMaastrichtTreatyandwerelegallyboundtofulfilltheagreedonrulesincludingtheconvergencecriteriaiftheywantedtojointhemonetaryunion.Thestates
wantingtoparticipatehadfirsttojointheEuropeanExchangeRateMechanism.
In1999thecurrencyunionstarted,firstasanaccountingcurrencywithelevenmemberstatesjoining.In2002,thecurrencywasfullyputintoplace,wheneuronotesandcoinswereissuedand
nationalcurrenciesbegantophaseoutintheeurozone,whichbythenconsistedof12memberstates.Theeurozone(constitutedbytheEUmemberstateswhichhaveadoptedtheeuro)hassince
grownto19countries,themostrecentbeingLithuaniawhichjoinedon1January2015.Denmark,theUnitedKingdom,andSwedendecidednottojointheeuro.[164][r]

Astandardisedpassport
design,displayingthe
nameofthememberstate,
thenationalarmsandthe
words"EuropeanUnion"
givenintheirofficial
language(s).(Irishmodel)

Sinceitslaunchtheeurohasbecomethesecondreservecurrencyintheworldwithaquarterofforeignexchangesreservesbeingineuro.[165]Theeuro,andthemonetarypoliciesofthosewho
haveadopteditinagreementwiththeEU,areunderthecontroloftheEuropeanCentralBank(ECB).[166]
TheECBisthecentralbankfortheeurozone,andthuscontrolsmonetarypolicyinthatareawithanagendatomaintainpricestability.ItisatthecentreoftheEuropeanSystemofCentralBanks,
whichcomprehendsallEUnationalcentralbanksandiscontrolledbyitsGeneralCouncil,consistingofthePresidentoftheECB,whoisappointedbytheEuropeanCouncil,theVicePresidentof
theECB,andthegovernorsofthenationalcentralbanksofall28EUmemberstates.[167]
TheEuropeanSystemofFinancialSupervisionisaninstitutionalarchitectureoftheEU'sframeworkoffinancialsupervisioncomposedbythreeauthorities:theEuropeanBankingAuthority,the
EuropeanInsuranceandOccupationalPensionsAuthorityandtheEuropeanSecuritiesandMarketsAuthority.Tocomplementthisframework,thereisalsoaEuropeanSystemicRiskBoardunder
theresponsibilityoftheECB.TheaimofthisfinancialcontrolsystemistoensuretheeconomicstabilityoftheEU.[168]
Topreventthejoiningstatesfromgettingintofinancialtroubleorcrisisafterenteringthemonetaryunion,theywereobligedintheMaastrichttreatytofulfillimportantfinancialobligationsand
procedures,especiallytoshowbudgetarydisciplineandahighdegreeofsustainableeconomicconvergence,aswellastoavoidexcessivegovernmentdeficitsandlimitthegovernmentdebttoa
sustainablelevel.
Somestatesjoinedtheeurobutviolatedtheserulesandcontractstoanextentthattheyslidintoadebtcrisisandhadtobefinanciallysupportedwithemergencyrescuefunds.Thesestateswere
Greece,Ireland,Portugal,CyprusandSpain.
EventhoughtheMaastrichttreatyforbidseurozonestatestoassumethedebtsofotherstates("bailout"),variousemergencyrescuefundshadbeencreatedbythememberstosupportthedebt
crisisstatestomeettheirfinancialobligationsandbuytimeforreformsthatthosestatescangainbacktheircompetitiveness.

Energy
Mainarticle:EnergypolicyoftheEuropeanUnion

TheseatoftheCentralBank
inFrankfurt.19ofthe28
memberstatesoftheunion
haveadoptedtheeuroas
theirlegaltender.

In2006,theEU27hadagrossinlandenergyconsumptionof1,825milliontonnesofoilequivalent(toe).[170]Around46%oftheenergyconsumedwasproducedwithinthememberstates
while54%wasimported.[170]Inthesestatistics,nuclearenergyistreatedasprimaryenergyproducedintheEU,regardlessofthesourceoftheuranium,ofwhichlessthan3%isproducedin
theEU.[171]
TheEUhashadlegislativepowerintheareaofenergypolicyformostofitsexistencethishasitsrootsintheoriginalEuropeanCoalandSteelCommunity.Theintroductionofamandatory
andcomprehensiveEuropeanenergypolicywasapprovedatthemeetingoftheEuropeanCouncilinOctober2005,andthefirstdraftpolicywaspublishedinJanuary2007.[172]
TheEUhasfivekeypointsinitsenergypolicy:increasecompetitionintheinternalmarket,encourageinvestmentandboostinterconnectionsbetweenelectricitygridsdiversifyenergy
resourceswithbettersystemstorespondtoacrisisestablishanewtreatyframeworkforenergycooperationwithRussiawhileimprovingrelationswithenergyrichstatesinCentralAsia[173]
andNorthAfricauseexistingenergysuppliesmoreefficientlywhileincreasingrenewableenergycommercialisationandfinallyincreasefundingfornewenergytechnologies.[172]
TheEUcurrentlyimports82%ofitsoil,57%ofitsnaturalgas[174]and97.48%ofitsuranium[171]demands.ThereareconcernsthatEurope'sdependenceonRussianenergyisendangering
theUnionanditsmembercountries.TheEUisattemptingtodiversifyitsenergysupply.[175]

Consumedenergy(2012)[169]

Infrastructure

(7%)
Nuclear[s](dom.prod.)

Furtherinformation:EuropeanCommissionerforTransport,EuropeanCommissionerforIndustryandEntrepreneurshipandEuropeanInvestmentBank
TheEUisworkingtoimprovecrossborderinfrastructurewithintheEU,forexamplethroughtheTransEuropeanNetworks(TEN).Projectsunder
TENincludetheChannelTunnel,LGVEst,theFrjusRailTunnel,theresundBridge,theBrennerBaseTunnelandtheStraitofMessinaBridge.In
2001itwasestimatedthatby2010thenetworkwouldcover:75,200kilometres(46,700mi)ofroads78,000kilometres(48,000mi)ofrailways330
airports270maritimeharboursand210internalharbours.[176][177]

TheresundBridgebetween
DenmarkandSwedenispartofthe
TransEuropeanNetworks.

Renewable(dom.prod.)

ThedevelopingEuropeantransportpolicieswillincreasethepressureontheenvironmentinmanyregionsbytheincreasedtransportnetwork.Inthe
pre2004EUmembers,themajorproblemintransportdealswithcongestionandpollution.Aftertherecentenlargement,thenewstatesthatjoined
since2004addedtheproblemofsolvingaccessibilitytothetransportagenda.[178]ThePolishroadnetworkinparticularwasinpoorcondition:at
Poland'saccessiontotheEU,anumberofroadsneededtobeupgraded,particularlytheA4autostrada,requiringapproximately13billion.[179][180]

(13%)
Coalandlignite(dom.prod.)
(10%)
Gas(dom.prod.)(9%)
Gas(import)(14%)
Oil(dom.prod.)(6%)
Oil(import)(33%)
Other(dom.prod.)(1%)
Other(import)(7%)

TheGalileopositioningsystemisanotherEUinfrastructureproject.GalileoisaproposedSatellitenavigationsystem,tobebuiltbytheEUand
launchedbytheEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA),andistobeoperationalby2012.TheGalileoprojectwaslaunchedpartlytoreducetheEU'sdependencyontheUSoperatedGlobal
PositioningSystem,butalsotogivemorecompleteglobalcoverageandallowforfargreateraccuracy,giventheagednatureoftheGPSsystem.[181]Ithasbeencriticisedbysomeduetocosts,delays,andtheirperceptionof
redundancygiventheexistenceoftheGPSsystem.[182]

Agriculture
Mainarticle:CommonAgriculturalPolicy
TheCommonAgriculturalPolicy(CAP)isoneoftheoldestpoliciesoftheEuropeanCommunity,andwasoneofitscoreaims.[183]Thepolicyhastheobjectivesofincreasingagriculturalproduction,providingcertaintyinfood
supplies,ensuringahighqualityoflifeforfarmers,stabilisingmarkets,andensuringreasonablepricesforconsumers.[t]Itwas,untilrecently,operatedbyasystemofsubsidiesandmarketintervention.Untilthe1990s,the
policyaccountedforover60%ofthethenEuropeanCommunity'sannualbudget,andstillaccountsforaround34%.[184]
Thepolicy'spricecontrolsandmarketinterventionsledtoconsiderableoverproduction,resultinginsocalledbuttermountainsandwinelakes.ThesewereinterventionstoresofproductsboughtupbytheCommunityto
maintainminimumpricelevels.Todisposeofsurplusstores,theywereoftensoldontheworldmarketatpricesconsiderablybelowCommunityguaranteedprices,orfarmerswereofferedsubsidies(amountingtothedifference
betweentheCommunityandworldprices)toexporttheirproductsoutsidetheCommunity.ThissystemhasbeencriticisedforundercuttingfarmersoutsideEurope,especiallythoseinthedevelopingworld.[185]

Theoverproductionhasalsobeencriticisedforencouragingenvironmentallyunfriendlyintensivefarmingmethods.[185]SupportersofCAPsaythattheeconomicsupportwhichitgivesto
farmersprovidesthemwithareasonablestandardofliving,inwhatwouldotherwisebeaneconomicallyunviablewayoflife.However,theEU'ssmallfarmersreceiveonly8%ofCAP's
availablesubsidies.[185]
Sincethebeginningofthe1990s,theCAPhasbeensubjecttoaseriesofreforms.Initially,thesereformsincludedtheintroductionofsetasidein1988,whereaproportionoffarmland
wasdeliberatelywithdrawnfromproduction,milkquotas(bytheMcSharryreformsin1992)and,morerecently,the'decoupling'(ordisassociation)ofthemoneyfarmersreceivefrom
theEUandtheamounttheyproduce(bytheFischlerreformsin2004).Agricultureexpenditurewillmoveawayfromsubsidypaymentslinkedtospecificproduce,towarddirectpayments
basedonfarmsize.Thisisintendedtoallowthemarkettodictateproductionlevels,whilemaintainingagriculturalincomelevels.[183]Oneofthesereformsentailedtheabolitionofthe
EU'ssugarregime,whichpreviouslydividedthesugarmarketbetweenmemberstatesandcertainAfricanCaribbeannationswithaprivilegedrelationshipwiththeEU.[152]

Demographics

VineyardsinRomaniaEUfarmsare
supportedbytheCAP,thelargest
budgetaryexpenditure.

Mainarticles:DemographicsoftheEuropeanUnionandLargestpopulationcentresintheEuropeanUnion
Asof1January2015,thepopulationoftheEUisabout508.2millionpeople.[7]

TheEUcontains16citieswithpopulationsofoveronemillion,thelargestbeingLondon.
Besidesmanylargecities,theEUalsoincludesseveraldenselypopulatedregionsthathavenosinglecorebuthaveemergedfromtheconnectionofseveralcitesandnowencompasslargemetropolitanareas.Thelargestare
RhineRuhrhavingapproximately11.5millioninhabitants(Cologne,Dortmund,Dsseldorfetal.),Randstadapprox.7million(Amsterdam,Rotterdam,TheHague,Utrechtetal.),FrankfurtRhineMainMetropolitanRegion
approx.5.8million(Frankfurt,Wiesbadenetal.),theFlemishDiamondapprox.5.5million(urbanareainbetweenAntwerp,Brussels,LeuvenandGhent),KatowiceanditsUpperSilesianmetropolitanareaapprox.5.3million
andtheresundRegionapprox.3.7million(Copenhagen,DenmarkandMalm,Sweden).[188]
In2010,47.3millionpeoplelivedintheEU,whowerebornoutsidetheirresidentcountry.Thiscorrespondsto9.4%ofthetotalEUpopulation.Ofthese,31.4million(6.3%)werebornoutsidetheEUand16.0million(3.2%)
wereborninanotherEUmemberstate.ThelargestabsolutenumbersofpeoplebornoutsidetheEUwereinGermany(6.4million),France(5.1million),theUnitedKingdom(4.7million),Spain(4.1million),Italy(3.2million),
andtheNetherlands(1.4million).[189]
Vitalstatisticsinrecentyears[190][191](inthousands)
Year Population

Live
births

2012 505730.5

5231,1 10.4 5013,9 9.9 217,3

0.4 882,2

1099,5

2013 507416.6

5075,7 10.0 4999,2 9.9 76,5

0.1 653,1

729,6

Deaths

Natural
Net
Total

change
migration change

Languages
Mainarticle:LanguagesoftheEuropeanUnion
AmongthemanylanguagesanddialectsusedintheEU,ithas24officialandworkinglanguages:Bulgarian,Croatian,Czech,Danish,Dutch,English,Estonian,Finnish,French,German,Greek,Hungarian,Italian,Irish,
Latvian,Lithuanian,Maltese,Polish,Portuguese,Romanian,Slovak,Slovene,Spanish,andSwedish.[195][196]Importantdocuments,suchaslegislation,aretranslatedintoeveryofficiallanguage.

TheEuropeanParliamentprovidestranslationintoalllanguagesfordocumentsanditsplenarysessions.[197]Someinstitutionsuseonlyahandfuloflanguagesasinternalworking
languages.[198]Catalan,Galician,Basque,ScottishGaelicandWelsharenotofficiallanguagesoftheEUbuthavesemiofficialstatusinthatofficialtranslationsofthetreatiesaremadeinto Language
themandcitizensoftheEUhavetherighttocorrespondwiththeinstitutionsusingthem.
English
German
French
[200]
Italian
51%oftheEUpopulationwhencountingbothnativeandnonnativespeakers.
Germanisthemostwidelyspokenmothertongue(about88.7millionpeoplein2006).56%ofEU
Spanish
citizensareabletoengageinaconversationinalanguageotherthantheirmothertongue.[201]MostofficiallanguagesoftheEUbelongtotheIndoEuropeanlanguagefamily,except
Estonian,Finnish,andHungarian,whichbelongtotheUraliclanguagefamily,andMaltese,whichisaSemiticlanguage.MostEUofficiallanguagesarewrittenintheLatinalphabetexcept Polish
Romanian
Bulgarian,writteninCyrillic,andGreek,writtenintheGreekalphabet.[202]WiththeaccessionofBulgariatotheEuropeanUnionon1January2007,Cyrillicbecamethethirdofficialscript Dutch
oftheEuropeanUnion,followingtheLatinandGreekscripts.[203]
Greek
Hungarian
[202]
Besidesthe24officiallanguages,thereareabout150regionalandminoritylanguages,spokenbyupto50millionpeople.
Ofthese,onlytheSpanishregionallanguages(Catalan,
Portuguese
[204]
[205]
Czech
Galician,andBasque),ScottishGaelic,andWelsh
canbeusedbycitizensincommunicationwiththemainEuropeaninstitutions.
AlthoughEUprogrammescansupportregional
andminoritylanguages,theprotectionoflinguisticrightsisamatterfortheindividualmemberstates.TheEuropeanCharterforRegionalorMinorityLanguagesratifiedbymostEUstates Swedish
Bulgarian
providesgeneralguidelinesthatstatescanfollowtoprotecttheirlinguisticheritage.
Slovak
TheEuropeanDayofLanguagesisheldannuallyon26SeptemberandisaimedatencouraginglanguagelearningacrossEurope.
Danish
Finnish
Lithuanian
Religion
Croatian
Slovenian
TheEUisasecularbodywithnoformalconnectiontoanyreligion.TheArticle17oftheTreatyontheFunctioningoftheEuropeanUnionrecognisesthe"statusundernationallawof
Estonian
churchesandreligiousassociations"aswellasthatof"philosophicalandnonconfessionalorganisations".[207]
Irish
ThepreambletotheTreatyonEuropeanUnionmentionsthe"cultural,religiousandhumanistinheritanceofEurope".[207]DiscussionoverthedrafttextsoftheEuropeanConstitutionand Latvian
Maltese
[208]

Languagepolicyistheresponsibilityofmemberstates,butEUinstitutionspromotethelearningofotherlanguages.[u][199]EnglishisthemostspokenlanguageintheEU,beingspokenby

latertheTreatyofLisbonincludedproposalstomentionChristianityorGod,orboth,inthepreambleofthetext,buttheideafacedoppositionandwasdropped.

ChristiansintheEUaredividedamongmembersofCatholicism(bothRomanandEasternRite),numerousProtestantdenominations,andtheEasternOrthodoxChurch.In2009,theEUhad
anestimatedMuslimpopulationof13million,[209]andanestimatedJewishpopulationofoveramillion.[210]TheotherworldreligionsofBuddhism,HinduismandSikhismarealso
representedintheEUpopulation.

Native
speakers
13%
16%
12%
13%
8%
8%
5%
4%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
<1%
<1%
<1%
<1%
<1%

Total
51%
27%
24%
16%
15%
9%
5%
5%
4%
3%
3%
3%
3%
2%
2%
1%
1%
1%
1%
<1%
<1%
<1%
<1%
<1%

Survey2012.[192]
Native:Nativelanguage[193]
Total:EUcitizensabletoholda
conversationinthislanguage[194]

AccordingtonewpollsaboutReligiosityintheEuropeanUnionin2012byEurobarometer,ChristianityisthelargestreligionintheEuropeanUnionaccounting72%forEUpopulation.[206]
CatholicsarethelargestChristiangroupinEU,accountingfor48%EUcitizens,whileProtestantsmakeup12%,andEasternOrthodoxmakeup8%,andotherChristiansaccountfor4%of
theEUpopulation.[211]
Eurostat'sEurobarometeropinionpollsshowedin2005that52%ofEUcitizensbelievedinaGod,27%in"somesortofspiritorlifeforce",and18%hadnoformofbelief.[212]Manycountrieshaveexperiencedfallingchurch
attendanceandmembershipinrecentyears.[213]ThecountrieswherethefewestpeoplereportedareligiousbeliefwereEstonia(16%)andtheCzechRepublic(19%).[212]ThemostreligiouscountriesareMalta(95%,
predominantlyRomanCatholic)aswellasCyprusandRomania(bothpredominantlyOrthodox)eachwithabout90%ofthecitizensprofessingabeliefinGod.AcrosstheEU,beliefwashigheramongwomen,increasedwith
age,thosewithreligiousupbringing,thosewholeftschoolat15or16,andthose"positioningthemselvesontherightofthepoliticalscale(57%)."[212]

Educationandscience
Mainarticles:EducationalpoliciesandinitiativesoftheEuropeanUnionandFrameworkProgrammesforResearchandTechnologicalDevelopment

BasiceducationisanareawheretheEU'sroleislimitedtosupportingnationalgovernments.Inhighereducation,thepolicywasdevelopedinthe1980sin
programmessupportingexchangesandmobility.ThemostvisibleofthesehasbeentheErasmusProgramme,auniversityexchangeprogrammewhich
beganin1987.Initsfirst20years,ithassupportedinternationalexchangeopportunitiesforwellover1.5millionuniversityandcollegestudentsandhas
becomeasymbolofEuropeanstudentlife.[214]
Therearenowsimilarprogrammesforschoolpupilsandteachers,fortraineesinvocationaleducationandtraining,andforadultlearnersintheLifelong
LearningProgramme20072013.Theseprogrammesaredesignedtoencourageawiderknowledgeofothercountriesandtospreadgoodpracticesinthe
educationandtrainingfieldsacrosstheEU.[215][216]ThroughitssupportoftheBolognaProcess,theEUissupportingcomparablestandardsand
compatibledegreesacrossEurope.

Selfdescribedreligioninthe
EuropeanUnion(2012)[206]
Catholic(48%)

ScientificdevelopmentisfacilitatedthroughtheEU'sFrameworkProgrammes,thefirstofwhichstartedin1984.TheaimsofEUpolicyinthisareaareto
coordinateandstimulateresearch.TheindependentEuropeanResearchCouncilallocatesEUfundstoEuropeanornationalresearchprojects.[217]EU
researchandtechnologicalframeworkprogrammesdealinanumberofareas,forexampleenergywhereitaimstodevelopadiversemixofrenewable
energyfortheenvironmentandtoreducedependenceonimportedfuels.[218]

Protestant(12%)

Healthcare

Orthodox(8%)

Furtherinformation:HealthcareinEurope

OtherChristian(4%)
Nonbeliever/Agnostic(16%)
Atheist(7%)
Muslim(2%)
Otherreligion/Nonestated
(3%)

ErasmusProgrammelogo,
representingthehumanist
DesideriusErasmusofRotterdam.

AlthoughtheEUhasnomajorcompetencesinthefieldofhealthcare,Article35oftheCharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnionaffirmsthat"Ahighlevelofhumanhealth
protectionshallbeensuredinthedefinitionandimplementationofallUnionpoliciesandactivities".Allthememberstateshaveeitherpubliclysponsoredandregulateduniversalhealthcare
orpubliclyprovideduniversalhealthcare.TheEuropeanCommission'sDirectorateGeneralforHealthandConsumersseekstoalignnationallawsontheprotectionofpeople'shealth,onthe
consumers'rights,onthesafetyoffoodandotherproducts.[219][220][221]
HealthcareintheEUisprovidedthroughawiderangeofdifferentsystemsrunatthenationallevel.Thesystemsareprimarilypubliclyfundedthroughtaxation(universalhealthcare).
Privatefundingforhealthcaremayrepresentpersonalcontributionstowardsmeetingthenontaxpayerrefundedportionofhealthcareormayreflecttotallyprivate(nonsubsidised)health
careeitherpaidoutofpocketormetbysomeformofpersonaloremployerfundedinsurance.
AllEUandmanyotherEuropeancountriesoffertheircitizensafreeEuropeanHealthInsuranceCardwhich,onareciprocalbasis,providesinsuranceforemergencymedicaltreatment
insurancewhenvisitingotherparticipatingEuropeancountries.[222]Adirectiveoncrossborderhealthcareaimsatpromotingcooperationonhealthcarebetweenmemberstatesand
facilitatingaccesstosafeandhighqualitycrossborderhealthcareforEuropeanpatients.[223][224][225]

Culture
EuropeanHealthInsuranceCard.
(Frenchversionpictured)

Mainarticles:CultureofEurope,WesterncultureandCulturalpoliciesoftheEuropeanUnion

CulturalcooperationbetweenmemberstateshasbeenaconcernoftheEUsinceitsinclusionasacommunity
competencyintheMaastrichtTreaty.[226]ActionstakenintheculturalareabytheEUincludetheCulture20007year
programme,[226]theEuropeanCulturalMonthevent,[227]theMEDIAProgramme,[228]orchestrassuchastheEuropeanUnionYouthOrchestra[229]andthe
EuropeanCapitalofCultureprogrammewhereoneormorecitiesintheEUareselectedforoneyeartoassisttheculturaldevelopmentofthatcity.[230]

Sport
Mainarticles:SportpoliciesoftheEuropeanUnionandSportinEurope

AcropolisandColosseum,symbolsoftheGraecoRomanworld

SportismainlytheresponsibilityofanindividualmemberstatesorotherinternationalorganisationsratherthanthatoftheEU.However,therearesomeEUpoliciesthathavehadanimpactonsport,suchasthefreemovement
ofworkerswhichwasatthecoreoftheBosmanruling,whichprohibitednationalfootballleaguesfromimposingquotasonforeignplayerswithEuropeancitizenship.[231]TheTreatyofLisbonrequiresanyapplicationof
economicrulestotakeintoaccountthespecificnatureofsportanditsstructuresbasedonvoluntaryactivity.[232]ThisfollowedlobbyingbygoverningorganisationssuchastheInternationalOlympicCommitteeandFIFA,due
toobjectionsovertheapplicationsoffreemarketprinciplestosportwhichledtoanincreasinggapbetweenrichandpoorclubs.[233]TheEUdoesfundaprogrammeforIsraeli,Jordanian,Irish,andBritishfootballcoaches,as
partoftheFootball4Peaceproject.[234]

Symbols
Mainarticle:SymbolsofEurope
Theflagoftheunionconsistsofacircleof12goldenstarsonabluefield.Thebluerepresentsthewest,whilethenumberandpositionofthestarsrepresentcompletenessand
unity,respectively.[235]Originallydesignedin1955fortheCouncilofEurope,theflagwasadoptedbytheEuropeanCommunities,thepredecessorsofthepresentunion,in1986.
UnitedinDiversitywasadoptedasthemottooftheunionintheyear2000,havingbeenselectedfromproposalssubmittedbyschoolpupils.[236]Since1985,theflagdayofthe
unionhasbeenEuropeDay,on9May,i.e.thedateofthe1950Schumandeclaration.TheanthemoftheunionisaninstrumentalversionofthepreludetotheOdetoJoy,the4th
movementofLudwigvanBeethoven'sninthsymphony.TheanthemwasadoptedbyEuropeanCommunityleadersin1985andhassincebeenplayedonofficialoccasions.[237]
Besidesnamingthecontinent,theGreekmythologicalfigureofEuropahasfrequentlybeenemployedasapersonificationofEurope.KnownfromthemythinwhichZeus
seducesherintheguiseofawhitebull,Europahasalsobeenreferredtoinrelationtothepresentunion.StatuesofEuropaandthebulldecorateseveraloftheUnion'sinstitutions,
andaportraitofherisseenonthe2013seriesofEurobanknotes.Thebullisforitspartdepictedonallresidencepermitcards.[238]
CharlestheGreat,alsoknownasCharlemagne(Latin:CarolusMagnus),establishedanempirethatrepresentedthemostexpansiveEuropeanunificationsincetheRomanera,
andtherebyfoundedwhatbecametheFrenchandGermanmonarchies.[239][239][240][241][242]KnownasPaterEuropae(FatherofEurope),[239][243]heenjoyedanimportant
afterlifeinEuropeanculture.ThepresentsymbolicrelevanceofCharlemagnepertainstohisembodimentofFrancoGermanrelations,onwhichEuropeanintegrationrelies.The
CommissionhasnamedoneofitscentralbuildingsinBrusselsafterCharlemagne,andtheGermancityofAachenhassince1949awardedtheCharlemagnePrizetochampions
ofEuropeanunification.[244]Since2008,theorganisersofthisprize,inconjunctionwiththeEuropeanParliament,haveawardedtheCharlemagneYouthPrizeinrecognitionof
similareffortsbyyoungpeople.[245]
ReligioussymbolsofEuropeanditsintegrationincludeSaintBenedict,whoin1964wasnamedpatronsaintofEuropebyPopePaulVI,andSaintHedwig,whoin1997was
canonisedaspatronsaintofEuropeanunificationbyPopeJohnPaulII.[246][247]

Seealso
OutlineoftheEuropeanUnion
EuropeanUnionWikipediabook

Clockwisefromtopleft:TheEuropeanflag
seenattheoccasionofthe2004enlargement
thereliquarybustofCharlemagne(c.1350)
Europaandthebull,depictedasthe
personificationofEuropeina1700mapby
FredericusdeWit.

Notes
a. Notincludingoverseasterritories
b. .euisrepresentativeofthewholeoftheEUmemberstatesalsohavetheirownTLDs.
c. ThisfigureincludestheextraEuropeanterritoriesofmemberstateswhicharepartoftheEuropeanUnionandexcludestheEuropeanterritoriesofmemberstateswhicharenotpartoftheUnion.FormoreinformationseeSpecialmemberstate
territoriesandtheEuropeanUnion.
d. OnOctober3,1990,theconstituentstatesoftheformerGermanDemocraticRepublicaccededtotheFederalRepublicofGermany,automaticallybecomingpartoftheEU.
e. ReferredtobytheEUasthe"formerYugoslavRepublicofMacedonia".
f. SeeArticle288(exArticle249TEC)oftheTreatyontheFunctioningoftheEuropeanUnion,oneurlex.europa.eu(http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0047:0200:EN:PDF)

g. AccordingtotheprincipleofDirectEffectfirstinvokedintheCourtofJustice'sdecisioninVanGendenLoosvNederlandseAdministratiederBelastingen,EurLex(http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?
uri=CELEX:61962J0026:EN:NOT)(EuropeanCourtofJustice1963).See:CraiganddeBrca,ch.5.
h. AccordingtotheprincipleofSupremacyasestablishedbytheECJinCase6/64,FalminioCostav.ENEL[1964]ECR585.SeeCraiganddeBrca,ch.7.Seealso:Factortamelitigation:FactortameLtd.v.SecretaryofStateforTransport(No.
2)[1991]1AC603,SolangeII(ReWuenscheHandelsgesellschaft,BVerfGdecisionof22October1986[1987]3CMLR225,265)andFrontiniv.MinisterodelleFinanze[1974]2CMLR372RaoulGeorgeNicolo[1990]1CMLR173.
i. ItiseffectivelytreatedasoneoftheCopenhagencriteria,Assembly.coe.int.(http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta08/ERES1610.htm)Itshouldbenotedthatthisisapoliticalandnotalegalrequirementfor
membership.
j. TheEuropeanConventiononHumanRightswaspreviouslyonlyopentomembersoftheCouncilofEurope(Article59.1oftheConvention(http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/005.htm)),andevennowonlystatesmaybecome
memberoftheCouncilofEurope(Article4oftheStatuteoftheCouncilofEurope(http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/001.htm)).
k. Opinion(2/92)oftheEuropeanCourtofJusticeon"AccessionbytheCommunitytotheEuropeanConventionfortheProtectionofHumanRightsandFundamentalFreedoms"1996E.C.R.I1759(http://eur
lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:61994V0002:FR:NOT)(inFrench),ruledthattheEuropeanCommunitydidnothavethecompetencetoaccedetotheECHR.
l. See:Case34/73,Variolav.AmministrazionedelleFinanze[1973]ECR981(http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:61973J0034:EN:NOT).
m. Todootherwisewouldrequirethedraftingoflegislationwhichwouldhavetocopewiththefrequentlydivergentlegalsystemsandadministrativesystemsofallofthenow28memberstates.SeeCraiganddeBrca,p.115
n. SeeArticles157(exArticle141)oftheTreatyontheFunctioningoftheEuropeanUnion,oneurlex.europa.eu(http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0013:0046:EN:PDF)
o. SeeArticle2(7)oftheAmsterdamTreatyoneurlex.europa.eu(http://eurlex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/11997D/htm/11997D.html#0001010001)
p. CouncilDirective2000/43/ECof29June2000implementingtheprincipleofequaltreatmentbetweenpersonsirrespectiveofracialorethnicorigin(OJL180,19July2000,p.2226)CouncilDirective2000/78/ECof27November2000
establishingageneralframeworkforequaltreatmentinemploymentandoccupation(OJL303,2December2000,p.1622).
q. Article3(1)(g)oftheTreatyofRome
r. InordertomeettheeuroconvergencecriteriaitisnecessaryfirsttojointheEuropeanExchangeRateMechanism,somethingSwedenhasdeclinedtodo:"ERMII".DanishFinanceMinistry.20March2009.Retrieved26December2009.
s. NotethatalthoughalmostallUraniumisimported,
NuclearPowerisconsideredprimaryenergyproducedintheEU
t. Article39(exArticle33)oftheTreatyontheFunctioningoftheEuropeanUnion,oneurlex.europa.eu(http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0047:0200:EN:PDF)
u. SeeArticles165and166(exArticles149and150)oftheTreatyontheFunctioningoftheEuropeanUnion,oneurlex.europa.eu(http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0047:0200:EN:PDF)

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ofthelegislative,executiveandjudicialpowertodisposeoftheessentialelementsoftheconstitution,i.e.oftheconstitutionalidentity(Article23.1sentence3,Article79.3GG).Theconstitutionalidentityisaninalienableelementofthe
democraticselfdeterminationofapeople."
TheoriginalGermanusesthewordStaatenverbund,whichtheytranslateas"associationofsovereignstates",ratherthanthewordStaatenbund(confederation)orBundesstaat(federation).
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Furtherreading
Bindi,Federiga,ed.TheForeignPolicyoftheEuropeanUnion:AssessingEurope'sRoleintheWorld(BrookingsInstitutionPress2010).TheE.U.'sforeignpolicymechanismsandforeignrelations,includingwithitsneighbours.
Bomberg,Elizabeth,Peterson,John,andRichardCorbett,eds.TheEuropeanUnion:HowDoesitWork?(3rded)(2012,OxfordUniversityPress).ISBN9780199570805andISBN0199570809.
Corbett,RichardJacobs,FrancisShackleton,Michael(2011).TheEuropeanParliament(8thed.).London:JohnHarperPublishing.ISBN9780956450852.
Craig,PauldeBrca,Grinne(2007).EULaw,Text,CasesandMaterials(4thed.).Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress.ISBN9780199273898.

Jordan,A.J.andAdelle,C.(eds)EnvironmentalPolicyintheEuropeanUnion:Contexts,ActorsandPolicyDynamics(3e).Earthscan:LondonandSterling,VA.
Kaiser,Wolfram.ChristianDemocracyandtheOriginsofEuropeanUnion(2007)
McCormick,John(2007).TheEuropeanUnion:PoliticsandPolicies.WestviewPress.ISBN9780813342023.
Pinder,John,andSimonUsherwood.TheEuropeanUnion:AVeryShortIntroduction(2008)excerptandtextsearch(http://www.amazon.com/dp/0199233977)
Rifkin,Jeremy(2004).TheEuropeanDream:HowEurope'sVisionoftheFutureIsQuietlyEclipsingtheAmericanDream.JeremyP.Tarcher.ISBN9781585423453.
Smith,Charles(2007).InternationalTradeandGlobalisation(3rded.).Stocksfield:Anforme.ISBN1905504101.
Staab,Andreas.TheEuropeanUnionExplained:Institutions,Actors,GlobalImpact(2008)excerptandtextsearch(http://www.amazon.com/dp/0253220181)
Steiner,JosephineWoods,LornaTwiggFlesner,Christian(2006).EULaw(9thed.).Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress.ISBN9780199279593.
Yesilada,BirolA.andDavidM.Wood.TheEmergingEuropeanUnion(5thed.2009)
Piris,JeanClaude(2010).LisbonTreaty.Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress.p.448.ISBN9780521197922.

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Tupy,MarianL.(2008)."EuropeanUnion".InDavidR.Henderson(ed.).ConciseEncyclopediaofEconomics(2nded.).Indianapolis:LibraryofEconomicsandLiberty.ISBN9780865976658.OCLC237794267.

Awards
Precededby
TawakkulKarman
LeymahGbowee
EllenJohnsonSirleaf

NobelPeacePrizeLaureate
2012

Succeededby
OrganisationfortheProhibitionofChemical
Weapons

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