EMERGENCE OF EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union (EU) is the political entity toward which the countries of the European community have slowly moved. The European Union was known as the European Community until 1994. The name covers three organizations with common membership. The European Economic Community (Common market), European Coal and Steel Company and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).

The European Union has twenty-seven members.

The Headquarters of the European Union – Brussels, Belgium

The five main institutions of the European Union: 

The Council of Ministers is made up of ministers representing the governments of fifteen member states. Each member state assumes Presidency of the Council for a six-month period.

The European Commission is the executive civil service of the community. Twenty commissioners are appointed for a term of five years and act as guardians to ensure citizens rights. It is answer to the European Parliament for its actions.

European Parliament meets at Strasbourg and Brussels to comment on the legislative proposals of the European commission. Members are elected for five-year terms. The European Parliament has 626 seats.

European Court of Justice is responsible for interpreting community law and ruling on breaches by member states. It sits in Luxembourg with judges from the member state. European Court of Justice comprises of fifteen members, one from each member state and nine advocate generals to assist them.

Court of Auditors established in 1977. It comprises of fifteen representatives of member states. The Council appoints them for a six year term of office. The court draws up an annual report recording its activities, issues, observations in special reports and delivers opinions. Its seat is in Luxemburg.