How the European Union works

European Commission Directorate-General For Communication

Description

Your guide to the EU institutions
Activities of the institutions and bodies
Target audience: General public

Sujets

• Union européenne
• Institutions of the European Union
• Guide

Informations

• Publié par: EUROPEAN-COMMISSION-DIRECTORATE-GENERAL-FOR-COMMUNICATION
• Nombre de lectures: 7
• Langue: English

Extrait

How EU works ok13/10/05 9:36 PageC1

EN

The European Union (EU) is not a federal state like the United States of America. Nor is it a purely intergovernmental organisation like the United Nations. It is, in fact, unique. Its member countries remain independent sovereign nations, but they pool their sovereignty  and thus gain much greater collective strength and influence.

This means taking joint decisions through shared institutions such as the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission. But what does each of these institutions do? How do they work together? Who is responsible for what?

This booklet sets out the answers in clear and simple language. It also gives a brief overview of the agencies and other bodies that are involved in the European Unions work. The aim is to provide you with a helpful guide to EU decisionmaking.

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How the European Union works Your guide to the EU institutions

European Union

How EU works ok13/10/05 9:36 PageC3

You can find this booklet and other short, clear explanations about the EU online at europa.eu.int/comm/publications

European Commission DirectorateGeneral for Press and Communication Publications B1049 Brussels

Manuscript completed in June 2005

Cover illustration: European Parliament

Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2005

ISBN 9289495243

European Communities, 2005 © Reproduction is authorised.

Printed in Belgium

P  RINTED ON WHITE CHLORINEFREE PAPER

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The European Union

Member states of the European Union Candidate countries