EUROPEAN UNION

European Union

European Union

An international organization comprised of independent nations that share their sovereignty to be stronger and have a greater global influence, the European Union (EU) was created by the Maastricht Treaty (1992), and put into operation by 12 countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom) on November 1, 1993. The purpose was to form a continent united by common institutions, progressively harmonize national economies, establish a greater common market, and gradually coordinate social policy.

Since its emergence, Austria, Finland, and Sweden (1995) Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, and the Czech Republic (2004) and Bulgaria and Romania (2007) have been incorporated into the EU. The 27 members have a total population of 495 million people and a land extension of 4.2 million sq. km.

European Institutions

Institutions are essential in the assumption of decision making in the European Union: These are the European Council, the Council of the European Union (CEU), the European Commission, the European Parliament (EP), the European Court of Justice (ECJ), and the European Court of Auditors (ECA).

The European Council was created to make official the meetings of heads of state that had previously been convoked irregularly. It convened for the first time in 1975 in Dublin. Meeting at least twice a year, it is formed by the heads of government of member countries, and attended by foreign affairs ministers. The state that currently holds the presidency of the CEU presides over the function.

The Maastricht Treaty was the initiator of the Union's first policies, which granted arbitration power in questions of conflict between ministers who cannot reach an agreement in the CEU. It also addresses pressing international problems through the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), which is designed to allow the EU to speak with one voice on diplomatic issues.

The Council of the European Union (CEU), the Ministers Council, pertains to the defense of the interests of member states. Council presidency is held by one of the member states for six-month terms, which grants an essential role in the organization of work in the institution and is a driving force in the legislative and political decision process. The assemblies are held in the CEU and attended by the member states' ministers responsible for issues to be addressed (for example, foreign affairs, finance, social issues, transportation, agriculture). It executes a legislative power, generally in codecision with the European Parliament to assure economic policy coordination of member states; define and put common foreign and security policy into practice; observe international accords in the name of the Union; coordinate state movement and adopt measures in the scope of police cooperation and penal matters; and constitute the authority that passes the Community budget.

The most customary procedure to approve decisions is by a qualified majority of the 27 member states, whereby each country, depending on its population, has a portion of the 345 total votes ...