European Union (EU) (formerly European Community - EC)

Note on Usage: The European Union is now the umbrella term for the three pillars of European integration: Economic union, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and "justice and home affairs". The European Community still exists as a legal institution charged with implementing treaties for economic integration. However, the term "European Union" is now the accepted usage for describing the 27-member organization.

27 Current Members of the European Union (With Dates of Membership): Austria (1995), Belgium (1957), Bulgaria (2007), Croatia (2013), Cyprus (2004), Czech Republic (2004), Denmark (1973), Estonia (2004), Finland (1995), France (1957), Germany (1957), Greece (1981), Hungary (2004), Ireland (1973), Italy (1957), Latvia (2004), Lithuania (2004), Luxembourg (1957), Malta (2004), the Netherlands (1957), Poland (2004), Portugal (1986), Romania (2007), Slovakia (2004), Slovenia (2004), Spain (1986), Sweden (1995). Note: the United Kingdom joined the European Community in 1973 and left the European Union in 2020.

European Council: Heads of states of the 27 EU member countries. Rotating six-month presidencies. The European Council also includes meetings among the cabinet ministers from the 27 EU states (known as the Council of Ministers).

European Commission: Writes EU legislation. Made up of 27 Commissioners (1 from each of the 27 EU states), and a vast bureaucracy of functionaries. Headquarters in Brussels.

European Parliament: One of the legislative branches of the EU (the other being the European Commission). Representatives elected by universal suffrage since 1979. Headquarters in Strasbourg, France.

European Court of Justice: Increasingly seen as the EU parallel to the U.S. Supreme Court. Settles legal disputes between EU member countries and EU institutions. Comprised of 13 judges. Headquarters in Luxembourg.

European Coal and Steel Community (1951) (ECSC): The original institution for European integration. Led to the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957, later re-named the European Community (EC), European Union (EU).

Policy Institutions of the EU

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP): Sets subsidy levels, price support, surplus levels, etc. for EU farm products

Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): The eventual formulation of a single set of economic planning instruments.

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP): The proposed creation of a single foreign policy by the EU.

European Political Cooperation (EPC): Similar to the CFSP. Also includes domestic policy such as a common welfare policy.

Western European Union (WEU): The proposed security arm of the EU. Currently has little authority.

Single European Act (SEA): Signed in 1986

Maastricht Treaty (also known as the Treaty of European Union -TEU): Signed in 1991

Nice Treaty: Approved in 2003

EU Reform Treaty (the Lisbon Treaty): Creates a full-time president of the European Council, a foreign minister (High Representative) for the EU, and streamlines decision-making in the European Commission. The treaty also limits the ability of member states to veto new measures and gives the EU the ability to sign international treaties. Signed in 2007.  Ratified in 2009.

European financial crisis begins in 2008.

Other European Institutions

European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Current members include Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Now largely defunct after Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU.

European Economic Area (EEA): A customs union between the EU and the rump EFTA. Largely defunct after Swiss voters rejected the EEA in a referendum.

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): Formerly known as the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). Initiated in 1975 with the Helsinki Accords. Also includes the United States and Canada.

The Council of Europe: A largely symbolic human rights body that includes all European democracies. Sort of like a powerless European version of the United Nations.