About the EU

Overview

The beginning of the 1990s saw the establishment of the 'European Community'. The 'European Community' enabled individual member nations to unify whilst still maintaining individuality. This meant assuming a certain level of central governance, with policies, old and new, brought together under the title 'European Union' (EU) in 1992.

The European Union is described as 'a family of democratic European countries committed to working together for peace and prosperity'. Whilst not seeking to replace the individuality of existing states, it has established a set of common procedures and policies to which member states have delegated some of their responsibility. Decisions therefore, on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level.

The EU today

There are currently two 27 members of the EU with two 'candidate countries' seeking entry; Croatia and Turkey.

The EU27:

AustriaGermanyPortugalSwedenUnited Kingdom
SpainDenmarkIrelandLuxembourgLatvia
ItalyThe NetherlandsFranceCzech RepublicSlovenia
CyprusHungaryMaltaSlovakia 
PolandEstoniaLithuaniaGreece 
BulgariaRomaniaBelgiumFinland 

 

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