European Union (EU)

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic partnership based on treaties and consisting of 27 European member states. The process of European integration began after the Second World War in 1951, when Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), laying the foundations for European integration. The European Union in its present form was formally established in 1993 with the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty.

The EU is founded on core values including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. Its unique institutional structure comprises 7 European institutions, 9 EU bodies, and more than 30 decentralized agencies distributed across the European Union. Together, these institutions and bodies develop and implement common policies and legislation and work to advance the shared interests of the EU and its citizens.