Editing European Union (section)

==Politics {{anchor|competence}}==
<!--Section named and ordered by WikiProject Countries-->
{{Main|Politics of the European Union}}

The European Union operates through a hybrid system of [[Supranational union|supranational]] and [[intergovernmentalism|intergovernmental]] decision-making,<ref name="Britannica">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=European Union |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/196399/European-Union |access-date=3 July 2013 |quote=international organisation comprising 28 European countries and governing common economic, social, and security policies&nbsp;...}}</ref><ref name="CIA">{{Cite web |title=European Union |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/european-union/ |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> and according to the [[principle of conferral]] (which says that it should act only within the limits of the competences conferred on it by the [[Treaties of the European Union|treaties]]) and of [[Subsidiarity (European Union)|subsidiarity]] (which says that it should act only where an objective cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states acting alone). [[European Union law|Laws made by the EU institutions]] are passed in a variety of forms.<ref>According to P.C. Schmitter, Comparative Politics: Its Past, Present and Future (2016), 1 Chinese Political Science Review, 397, at 410, "European Union is the most complex polity in the world".</ref> Generally speaking, they can be classified into two groups: those which come into force without the necessity for national implementation measures (regulations) and those which specifically require national implementation measures (directives).<ref group="lower-alpha">These legislative instruments are dealt with in more detail [[#Acts|below]].</ref>

EU policy is in general promulgated by [[Directive (European Union)|EU directives]], which are then implemented in the [[Sovereignty|domestic legislation]] of its [[Member state of the European Union|member states]], and [[Regulation (European Union)|EU regulations]], which are immediately enforceable in all member states. [[Lobbying#European Union|Lobbying]] at the EU level by special interest groups is regulated to try to balance the aspirations of private initiatives with public interest decision-making process.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU Library Briefing:Lobbying the EU institutions |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/bibliotheque/briefing/2013/130558/LDM_BRI(2013)130558_REV1_EN.pdf |access-date=3 March 2018 |website=Europarl}}</ref>

=== Member states ===<!--Section named and ordered by WikiProject Countries-->
{{Main|Member state of the European Union}}

<imagemap>File:Member States of the European Union (polar stereographic projection) EN.svg|thumb|right|upright=2|Map showing the member states of the European Union (clickable)
poly 230 284 229 287 233 291 237 284 241 287 242 293 248 302 250 305 252 306 263 312 263 311 258 307 259 305 249 295 245 290 246 285 251 288 257 286 263 287 270 287 273 289 274 285 276 284 272 281 271 277 268 279 262 279 258 275 254 272 252 271 247 274 246 278 244 279 244 283 239 284 237 281 236 283 232 282 230 284 [[Croatia]]
poly 261 28 273 39 279 59 284 61 286 66 271 97 275 105 275 116 284 122 308 111 320 83 308 75 310 71 302 60 305 54 297 46 298 36 290 32 291 16 282 16 277 22 280 28 275 33 270 32 264 26 [[Finland]]
poly 260 29 259 38 252 37 252 42 248 41 244 54 238 64 238 72 235 77 237 83 226 83 223 100 227 106 230 111 227 115 229 121 223 127 220 141 229 160 227 163 231 173 238 171 238 168 242 164 250 164 254 135 261 130 262 117 252 115 257 93 270 83 271 66 279 59 273 39 [[Sweden]]
poly 312 142 307 131 311 123 294 123 279 132 280 142 290 137 295 138 304 141 [[Estonia]]
poly 310 164 319 155 318 148 313 142 295 140 298 153 288 149 282 142 277 161 295 158 [[Latvia]]
poly 288 180 295 184 301 184 309 178 307 170 312 168 308 162 294 157 279 161 279 174 289 174 [[Lithuania]]
poly 300 198 294 182 290 180 270 183 265 184 264 179 250 182 248 186 238 190 238 197 234 199 239 203 241 223 249 225 251 229 255 226 261 230 265 232 268 235 270 237 273 235 276 240 281 237 283 237 289 236 296 242 297 239 297 234 301 223 305 222 304 217 301 214 296 201 [[Poland]]
poly 254 250 257 245 261 244 269 236 272 235 276 240 279 238 289 235 297 243 274 250 269 253 269 257 259 254 [[Slovakia]]
poly 299 251 291 245 270 252 269 257 258 252 249 268 254 271 260 279 268 278 275 274 290 272 294 258 [[Hungary]]
poly 355 291 354 280 361 274 355 269 349 272 346 270 343 259 332 248 330 243 328 242 324 247 314 250 312 248 301 250 294 255 292 265 288 271 282 274 288 281 293 284 293 288 296 290 302 287 301 291 308 294 308 297 317 297 322 297 329 295 339 287 347 288 [[Romania]]
poly 309 327 312 322 309 318 305 316 305 310 308 305 302 298 304 294 309 295 310 298 328 297 340 287 354 291 350 297 352 301 348 304 355 309 348 314 347 311 340 316 339 317 339 321 329 324 323 321 316 325 [[Bulgaria]]
poly 308 383 305 376 306 374 293 368 294 359 289 351 289 344 294 339 295 333 301 332 304 328 310 326 317 326 322 322 329 325 340 321 340 316 342 319 340 328 328 329 320 331 325 335 339 340 336 342 348 344 350 348 347 358 344 353 348 352 349 348 343 347 345 344 334 341 335 338 328 335 317 341 313 337 311 342 320 350 332 359 339 365 358 359 340 377 331 380 335 376 337 378 342 373 340 370 345 372 353 362 337 366 328 363 327 367 320 367 326 372 319 374 320 382 334 393 355 393 372 372 372 378 368 383 368 377 364 384 365 390 361 387 355 396 340 400 339 395 329 397 329 393 332 392 320 380 314 384 311 378 [[Greece]]
poly 419 384 415 381 421 378 421 373 428 371 435 365 430 374 434 376 424 383 [[Cyprus]]
poly 236 248 224 238 221 231 225 227 236 221 240 220 249 225 254 226 260 231 266 230 267 236 261 243 249 245 244 243 [[Czech Republic]]
poly 198 263 201 257 204 260 207 258 213 260 224 255 233 248 238 248 241 244 245 244 248 246 255 246 253 250 256 254 250 265 249 268 238 272 229 271 220 268 218 263 210 264 208 266 [[Austria]]
poly 249 267 253 273 242 279 244 284 236 282 230 281 227 277 229 271 238 272 [[Slovenia]]
poly 179 298 180 293 174 292 176 287 173 283 178 282 178 278 176 275 181 274 185 273 189 269 189 273 195 273 197 269 199 272 204 269 207 267 210 265 218 263 220 269 230 271 226 281 219 283 222 289 219 290 220 297 231 304 236 319 247 323 253 325 250 327 274 341 273 349 269 341 260 341 257 348 262 355 261 358 257 360 257 364 251 371 248 369 244 377 244 378 244 386 237 386 237 383 230 381 222 375 219 376 219 370 226 368 238 370 245 367 250 365 253 358 248 346 246 347 241 342 241 341 237 340 234 336 230 332 224 331 184 357 181 355 183 343 182 333 185 333 190 329 193 330 196 339 194 340 193 352 224 331 211 317 209 317 203 309 204 308 202 298 190 292 184 297 [[Italy]]
rect 224 394 251 405 [[Malta]]
poly 14 333 21 334 24 337 27 339 29 333 36 329 33 325 40 319 39 311 43 312 49 298 57 295 54 292 55 289 43 284 42 281 39 280 36 291 36 292 19 313 24 314 20 317 23 318 19 324 19 327 [[Portugal]]
poly 41 358 38 355 35 355 37 345 32 338 28 338 29 333 37 329 33 326 39 319 39 311 42 312 49 300 56 295 55 292 54 290 43 283 39 280 42 270 39 269 45 266 50 268 51 264 58 266 69 274 71 272 80 279 89 280 95 283 99 287 102 287 114 299 119 301 120 298 124 301 124 304 127 305 135 308 140 309 140 314 145 339 140 337 133 343 126 339 116 349 113 342 120 345 128 337 132 335 136 338 143 335 139 312 136 316 131 317 128 317 114 320 116 322 104 331 100 338 106 345 98 346 92 353 92 356 85 354 76 361 73 357 71 361 66 357 53 354 53 357 46 355 [[Spain]]
poly 100 286 111 297 118 300 119 298 126 302 128 302 128 305 139 307 140 301 144 298 152 296 155 300 157 298 165 304 169 305 189 328 195 318 195 306 192 312 188 311 187 327 170 305 178 298 180 294 173 292 176 288 174 284 179 281 176 276 179 272 175 266 170 267 175 262 180 258 178 255 182 256 186 244 190 240 178 234 173 232 169 227 169 225 165 225 162 220 157 216 155 212 151 212 147 218 142 222 137 221 137 224 133 223 125 220 121 218 124 225 121 230 113 227 111 223 107 224 101 223 97 223 97 232 109 241 111 251 115 258 107 284 [[France]]
poly 202 178 209 178 211 181 218 182 216 185 218 187 231 181 235 184 231 187 238 189 238 197 235 201 238 203 240 222 236 220 234 224 223 228 221 230 224 238 232 247 224 255 217 258 211 259 207 257 203 261 199 256 189 255 183 256 185 244 190 241 181 235 178 224 181 214 180 207 185 201 190 195 192 187 197 187 199 189 202 186 [[Germany]]
poly 177 225 174 229 172 235 180 237 180 229 [[Luxembourg]]
poly 155 210 157 220 166 225 175 232 173 226 178 225 177 215 171 210 164 212 160 209 [[Belgium]]
poly 191 188 178 189 162 209 167 209 171 207 170 210 179 215 180 207 188 204 184 200 188 198 [[Netherlands]]
poly 201 177 209 177 222 181 228 176 227 159 219 170 221 177 216 175 214 163 218 158 215 143 202 157 [[Denmark]]
poly 102 181 92 179 82 181 79 179 75 173 78 168 89 162 84 159 89 151 98 154 100 153 97 150 104 146 109 147 100 156 108 166 106 174 103 177 [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
desc bottom-left
</imagemap>

Through successive [[Enlargement of the European Union|enlargements]], the EU and its predecessors have grown from the [[Inner Six|six founding states]] of the EEC to {{EUnum}} members. Countries accede to the union by becoming a party to the founding [[Treaties of the European Union|treaties]], thereby subjecting themselves to the privileges and obligations of EU membership. This entails a partial delegation of sovereignty to the institutions in return for representation within those institutions, a practice often referred to as "pooling of sovereignty".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Answers {{ndash}} The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/pooled-sovereignty |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120091030/http://www.answers.com/topic/pooled-sovereignty |archive-date=20 January 2016 |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=Answers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EU institutions and other bodies |url=http://europa.eu/institutions/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601191547/http://europa.eu/institutions/index_en.htm |archive-date=1 June 2009 |access-date=4 September 2009 |publisher=Europa}}</ref> In some policies, there are several member states that ally with strategic partners within the union. Examples of such alliances include the [[Baltic Assembly]], the [[Benelux Union]], the [[Bucharest Nine]], the [[Craiova Group]], the [[EU Med Group]], the [[Lublin Triangle]], the [[New Hanseatic League]], the [[Three Seas Initiative]], the [[Visegrád Group]], and the [[Weimar Triangle]].

To become a member, a country must meet the [[Copenhagen criteria]], defined at the 1993 meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen. These require a stable democracy that respects human rights and the [[rule of law]]; a functioning [[market economy]]; and the acceptance of the obligations of membership, including EU law. Evaluation of a country's fulfilment of the criteria is the responsibility of the [[European Council]].<ref name="Accession Criteria">{{Cite web |title=Accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria) |url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/accession_criteria_copenhague_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705172736/http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/accession_criteria_copenhague_en.htm |archive-date=5 July 2007 |access-date=26 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>

The four countries forming the [[European Free Trade Association]] (EFTA) are not EU members, but have partly committed to the EU's economy and regulations: Iceland, [[Liechtenstein]] and Norway, which are a part of the [[single market]] through the [[European Economic Area]], and [[Switzerland]], which has similar ties through [[Switzerland–European Union relations|bilateral treaties]].<ref name="EEA" /><ref name="CH">{{Cite web |title=The EU's relations with Switzerland |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/switzerland/index_en.htm |access-date=3 November 2010 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The relationships of the [[Microstates and the European Union|European microstates]] [[Andorra]], [[Monaco]], [[San Marino]], and [[Vatican City]] include the use of the euro and other areas of co-operation.<ref name="euro use world">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=Use of the euro in the world |url=http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/world/outside_euro_area/index_en.htm |access-date=27 February 2008 |website=The euro outside the euro area |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>

{{Sticky header}}{{Table alignment}}{{Sort under}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed plainrowheaders sortable sticky-header sort-under col1left col2center col3center" {{right}} |
|+ {{Nowrap|List of member states in the European Union}}{{Anchor|Details of member states}}
! scope="col" | [[Member state of the European Union|State]]
! scope="col" | [[Enlargement of the European Union#Detail|Accession{{br}}to EU]]
! scope="col" | [[Enlargement of the European Union#Detail|Accession{{br}}to EU{{br}}predecessor]]
! scope="col" | Population{{br}}(2024)<ref name="population" />
! scope="col" | Area
! scope="col" | Population{{br}}density
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Austria}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1995}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|9158750}}
| {{Cvt|83855|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(9158750/83855) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Belgium}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
| {{Number table sorting|11832049}}
| {{Cvt|30528|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(11832049/30528) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Bulgaria}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 2007}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|6445481}}
| {{Cvt|110994|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(6445481/110994) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Croatia}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 July 2013}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|3861967}}
| {{Cvt|56594|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(3861967/56594) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Cyprus}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|933505}}
| {{Cvt|9251|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(933505/9251) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Czech Republic}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|10900555}}
| {{Cvt|78866|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(10900555/78866) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Denmark}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1973}}
| {{Number table sorting|5961249}}
| {{Cvt|43075|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(5961249/43075) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Estonia}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|1374687}}
| {{Cvt|45227|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(1374687/45227) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Finland}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1995}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|5603851}}
| {{Cvt|338424|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(5603851/338424) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|France}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
| {{Number table sorting|68401997}}
| {{Cvt|640679|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(68401997/640679) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Germany}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}<ref group="lower-alpha">On {{Date table sorting|format=dmy|1990|10|3}}, the constituent states of the former [[East Germany|German Democratic Republic]] [[German reunification|acceded]] to the [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]], automatically becoming part of the EU.</ref>
| {{Number table sorting|83445000}}
| {{Cvt|357021|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(83445000/357021) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Greece}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1981}}
| {{Number table sorting|10397193}}
| {{Cvt|131990|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(10397193/131990) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Hungary}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|9584627}}
| {{Cvt|93030|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(9584627/93030) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Ireland}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1973}}
| {{Number table sorting|5343805}}
| {{Cvt|70273|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(5343805/70273) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Italy}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
| {{Number table sorting|58989749}}
| {{Cvt|301338|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(58989749/301338) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Latvia}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|1871882}}
| {{Cvt|64589|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(1871882/64589) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Lithuania}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|2885891}}
| {{Cvt|65200|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(2885891/65200) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Luxembourg}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
| {{Number table sorting|672050}}
| {{Cvt|2586|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(672050/2586) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Malta}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|563443}}
| {{Cvt|316|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(563443/316) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Netherlands}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
| {{Number table sorting|17942942}}
| {{Cvt|41543|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(17942942/41543) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Poland}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|36620970}}
| {{Cvt|312685|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(36620970/312685) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Portugal}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1986}}
| {{Number table sorting|10639726}}
| {{Cvt|92390|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(10639726/92390) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Romania}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 2007}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|19064409}}
| {{Cvt|238391|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(19064409/238391) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Slovakia}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|5424687}}
| {{Cvt|49035|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(5424687/49035) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Slovenia}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|2123949}}
| {{Cvt|20273|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(2123949/20273) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Spain}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1986}}
| {{Number table sorting|48610458}}
| {{Cvt|504030|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(48610458/504030) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flag|Sweden}}
| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1995}}
|
| {{Number table sorting|10551707}}
| {{Cvt|449964|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(10551707/449964) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|- class="sortbottom static-row-numbers-norank"
! colspan="3" | European Union
| {{right}} {{Number table sorting|449206579}}
| {{right}} {{Cvt|4233262|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
| {{Cvt |{{formatnum: {{#expr:(449206579/4233262) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
|}

==== Subdivisions ====
{{Main|Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics}}

[[Country subdivision|Subdivisions of member-states]] are based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS), a [[geocode]] standard for statistical purposes. The [[Standardization|standard]], adopted in 2003, is developed and regulated by the European Union, and thus only covers the [[Member State of the European Union|member states of the EU]] in detail. The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics is instrumental in the European Union's [[Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund]] delivery mechanisms and for locating the area where goods and services subject to European [[Government procurement in the European Union|public procurement]] legislation are to be delivered.

{{Gallery
| title = Maps of Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) subdivisions (prior to 2018, including non-EU member states)
| align = center
| mode = nolines
| File:NUTS 1 regions.svg
 | NUTS 1
| File:NUTS 2 regions.svg
 | NUTS 2
| File:NUTS 3 region (2017).svg
 | NUTS 3
}}

==== Candidate countries ====
{{Main|Potential enlargement of the European Union}}

There are nine countries that are recognised as [[Future enlargement of the European Union|candidates for membership]]: [[Accession of Albania to the European Union|Albania]], [[Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union|Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Accession of Georgia to the European Union|Georgia]], [[Accession of Moldova to the European Union|Moldova]], [[Accession of Montenegro to the European Union|Montenegro]], [[Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union|North Macedonia]], [[Accession of Serbia to the European Union|Serbia]], [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey]], and [[Accession of Ukraine to the European Union|Ukraine]].<ref name="Europa Enlargement">{{Cite web |title=European Commission – Enlargement – Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408221338/http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/index_en.htm |archive-date=8 April 2012 |access-date=13 March 2012 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Luke McGee |date=23 June 2022 |title=Ukraine's EU hopes rise as bloc's leaders approve candidate status |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/23/europe/eu-approves-ukraine-candidateship-intl/index.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2022 |title=Bosnia and Herzegovina set for EU candidate status |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/bosnia-and-herzegovina-set-to-receive-eu-candidate-status/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2023 |title=EU to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67722252 |access-date=14 December 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bayer |first=Lili |date=14 December 2023 |title=Deal reached to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova – Europe live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/dec/14/eu-summit-viktor-orban-aid-ukraine-live-latest-updates |access-date=14 December 2023 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Norway–European Union relations|Norway]], [[Switzerland–European Union relations|Switzerland]] and [[Accession of Iceland to the European Union|Iceland]] have submitted membership applications in the past, but subsequently frozen or withdrawn them.<ref name="icelandover">{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Benjamin |date=16 June 2013 |title=Iceland's EU bid is over, commission told |url=http://euobserver.com/political/120501 |access-date=16 June 2013 |agency=Reuters}}</ref> Additionally [[Accession of Kosovo to the European Union|Kosovo]] is officially recognised as a potential candidate,<ref name="Europa Enlargement" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2014 |title=Georgia can apply for EU membership if it complies with democratic principles |url=https://en.trend.az/scaucasus/georgia/2264637.html |website=Trend.Az}}</ref> and submitted a membership application.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 March 2022 |title=Georgia, Moldova Formally Apply For EU Membership Amid Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-moldova-eu-applications/31734092.html |access-date=11 April 2022 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}</ref>

==== Former members ====
[[Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union|Article 50]] of the [[Treaty of Lisbon|Lisbon Treaty]] provides the basis for a member to [[Withdrawal from the European Union|leave the EU]]. Two territories have left the union: [[Greenland]] (an [[autonomous area|autonomous province]] of Denmark) withdrew in 1985;<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Greenland Treaty of 1985 |url=http://eu.nanoq.gl/Emner/EuGl/The%20Greenland%20Treaty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503185125/http://eu.nanoq.gl/Emner/EuGl/The%20Greenland%20Treaty.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2011 |access-date=10 November 2010 |website=The European Union and Greenland |publisher=Greenland Home Rule Government}}</ref> the [[United Kingdom]] formally invoked Article 50 of the Consolidated Treaty on European Union in 2017, and became the only sovereign state to leave when it [[Brexit|withdrew]] from the EU in 2020.

===Governance===
{{Main|Bodies of the European Union and the Euratom|Institutions of the European Union|Subsidiarity (European Union)#EU competences}}

Member states retain in principle all powers except those that they have agreed collectively to delegate to the Union as a whole, though the exact delimitation has on occasions become a subject of scholarly or legal disputes.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-35005-5 |title=The European Union and the Return of the Nation State |date=2020 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-35005-5 |isbn=978-3-030-35004-8 |editor-last1=Bakardjieva Engelbrekt |editor-last2=Leijon |editor-last3=Michalski |editor-last4=Oxelheim |editor-first1=Antonina |editor-first2=Karin |editor-first3=Anna |editor-first4=Lars }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zglinski |first=Jan |date=31 October 2023 |title=The new judicial federalism: the evolving relationship between EU and Member State courts |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-law-open/article/new-judicial-federalism-the-evolving-relationship-between-eu-and-member-state-courts/92E688990FD99AF0EF6CB4DE93D2D41F |journal=European Law Open |language=en |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=345–371 |doi=10.1017/elo.2023.27 |issn=2752-6135|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In certain fields, members have awarded [[Subsidiarity (European Union)#EU competences|exclusive competence and exclusive mandate]] to the Union. These are areas in which member states have entirely renounced their own capacity to enact legislation. In other areas, the EU and its member states share the competence to legislate. While both can legislate, the member states can only legislate to the extent to which the EU has not. In other policy areas, the EU can only co-ordinate, support and supplement member state action but cannot enact legislation with the aim of harmonising national laws.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Competences and consumers |url=http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consumers/events/2009/index.html |access-date=25 November 2010}}</ref> That a particular policy area falls into a certain category of competence is not necessarily indicative of what [[Legislature of the European Union|legislative procedure]] is used for enacting legislation within that policy area. Different legislative procedures are used within the same category of competence, and even with the same policy area. The distribution of competences in various policy areas between member states and the union is divided into the following three categories:

{{EU competences}}

The European Union has seven principal decision-making bodies, its [[Institutions of the European Union|institutions]]: the [[European Parliament]], the [[European Council]], the [[Council of the European Union]], the [[European Commission]], the [[Court of Justice of the European Union]], the [[European Central Bank]] and the [[European Court of Auditors]]. Competence in scrutinising and amending legislation is shared between the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, while executive tasks are performed by the European Commission and in a limited capacity by the European Council (not to be confused with the aforementioned Council of the European Union). The [[monetary policy]] of the eurozone is determined by the European Central Bank. The interpretation and the application of EU law and the treaties are ensured by the Court of Justice of the European Union. The EU budget is scrutinised by the European Court of Auditors. There are also a number of ancillary bodies which advise the EU or operate in a specific area.

===Branches of power===
{{Main|Bodies of the European Union and the Euratom}}

====Executive branch====
{{Main|European Council|European Commission}}

{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = horizontal
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = Antonio Costa Portrait 2024 (cropped).jpg
| width1            = 160
| alt1              = Portrait of António Costa
| caption1          = [[António Costa]],<br /><small>[[President of the European Council]]</small>
| image2            = Official Portrait of Ursula von der Leyen (cropped).jpg
| width2            = 170
| alt2              = Portrait of Ursula von der Leyen
| caption2          = [[Ursula von der Leyen]],<br /><small>[[President of the European Commission]]</small>
}}

The Union's executive branch is organised as a [[directorial system]], where the executive power is jointly exercised by several people. The executive branch consists of the European Council and European Commission.

<!-- European Council -->
The European Council sets the broad political direction of the Union. It convenes at least four times a year and comprises the [[president of the European Council]] (presently [[António Costa]]), the [[president of the European Commission]] and one representative per [[member state of the European Union|member state]] (either its [[head of state]] or [[head of government]]). The [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy]] (presently [[Kaja Kallas]]) also takes part in its meetings. Described by some as the union's "supreme political leadership",<ref name="How work">{{Cite book |url=http://europa.eu/abc/12lessons/lesson_4/index_en.htm |title=How does the EU work |publisher=Europa (web portal) |year=2012 |isbn=9789279205125 |access-date=12 July 2007}}</ref> it is actively involved in the negotiation of [[Treaties of the European Union|treaty changes]] and defines the EU's policy agenda and strategies. Its leadership role involves solving disputes between member states and the institutions, and to resolving any political crises or disagreements over controversial issues and policies. It acts as a "[[head of state|collective head of state]]" and [[ratification|ratifies]] important documents (for example, international agreements and treaties).<ref name="Oxford University Press">{{Cite book |last1=Parsons |first1=Craig |url={{GBurl|id=aMsWxEnaqrUC|p=146}} |title=With US Or Against US?: European Trends in American Perspective |last2=Jabko |first2=Nicolas |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-928395-8 |page=146 |language=en |quote=Fourth, the European Council acts a "collective head of state" for the EU.}}</ref> Tasks for the president of the European Council are ensuring the external representation of the EU,<ref name="Council Press Release">{{Cite web |date=24 November 2009 |title=President of the European Council |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/111298.pdf |access-date=24 November 2009 |publisher=General Secretariat of the Council of the EU}}</ref> driving consensus and resolving divergences among member states, both during meetings of the European Council and over the periods between them. The European Council should not be mistaken for the [[Council of Europe]], an international organisation independent of the EU and based in Strasbourg.

<!-- European Commission -->
The [[European Commission]] acts both as the EU's [[executive (government)|executive arm]], responsible for the day-to-day running of the EU, and also the [[Right of initiative (legislative)|legislative initiator]], with the sole power to propose laws for debate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legislative powers |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/en/powers-and-procedures/legislative-powers |access-date=13 February 2019 |website=European Parliament}}</ref><ref name="Library of European Parliament">{{Cite web |date=24 October 2013 |title=Parliament's legislative initiative |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/bibliotheque/briefing/2013/130619/LDM_BRI(2013)130619_REV2_EN.pdf |access-date=13 February 2019 |website=Library of the European Parliament}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 April 2019 |title=Planning and proposing law |url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-making-process/planning-and-proposing-law_en |website=European Commission}}</ref> The commission is 'guardian of the Treaties' and is responsible for their efficient operation and policing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guardian of the Treaties |url=https://www.cvce.eu/en/education/unit-content/-/unit/d5906df5-4f83-4603-85f7-0cabc24b9fe1/28d57ad3-6f5e-4f9c-82a8-be9535febad5 |access-date=8 June 2019 |website=CVCE Education Unit |publisher=University of Luxembourg}}</ref> It has 27 [[European Commissioner|European commissioners]] for different areas of policy, one from each member state, though commissioners are bound to represent the interests of the EU as a whole rather than their home state. The leader of the 27 is the [[president of the European Commission]] (presently [[Ursula von der Leyen]] for 2019{{ndash}}2024, reelected for the 2024–2029 term), [[President of the European Commission#Appointment|proposed by the European Council]], following and taking into account the result of the European elections, and is then elected by the European Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elections and appointments |url=https://european-union.europa.eu/institutions-law-budget/leadership/elections-and-appointments_en |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=European Union}}</ref> The President retains, as the leader responsible for the entire cabinet, the final say in accepting or rejecting a candidate submitted for a given portfolio by a member state, and oversees the commission's permanent civil service. After the President, the most prominent commissioner is the high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy, who is ''ex-officio'' a [[Vice-President of the European Commission|vice-president of the European Commission]] and is also chosen by the European Council.<ref>[[s:Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union/Title III: Provisions on the Institutions#Article 17|Treaty on European Union: Article 17:7]]</ref> The other 25 commissioners are subsequently appointed by the [[Council of the European Union]] in agreement with the nominated president. The 27 commissioners as a single body are subject to approval (or otherwise) by a vote of the [[European Parliament]]. All commissioners are first nominated by the government of the respective member state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European commission |url=https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/european_government/eu_institutions/european_commission.html |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=Citizens Information Ireland}}</ref>

====Legislative branch====
{{Main|Council of the European Union|European Parliament}}

{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = horizontal
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = Official portrait of Roberta Metsola (cropped).jpg
| width1            = 160
| alt1              = Portrait of Roberta Metsola
| caption1          = [[Roberta Metsola]],<br /><small>[[President of the European Parliament]]</small>
}}

<!-- Council of the European Union -->
The council, as it is now simply called<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A12012E%2FTXT |access-date=1 August 2023}}</ref> (also called the Council of the European Union<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/ |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=www.consilium.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> and the "Council of Ministers", its former title),<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2010 |title=Institutional affairs: Council of the European Union |url=http://europa.eu/pol/inst/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112155537/http://europa.eu/pol/inst/index_en.htm |archive-date=12 January 2010 |access-date=16 January 2010 |website=Europa |publisher=European Commission |quote=It is commonly called the Council of Ministers}}.</ref> forms one half of the EU's legislature. It consists of a representative from each member state's government and meets in [[Council of the European Union#Configurations|different compositions depending on the policy area being addressed]]. Notwithstanding its different configurations, it is considered to be one single body. In addition to the legislative functions, members of the council also have [[Executive (government)|executive]] responsibilities, such as the development of a [[Common Foreign and Security Policy]] and the coordination of broad economic policies within the Union.<ref name="Europa Institutions Council">{{Cite web |title=Institutions: The Council of the European Union |url=http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/council/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703155822/http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/council/index_en.htm |archive-date=3 July 2007 |access-date=25 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union|Presidency of the council]] rotates between member states, with each holding it for six months. Beginning on 1 July 2024, the position is held by Hungary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hungarian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/|title=Hungarian presidency Council of the European Union|access-date=1 July 2024|publisher=Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union}}</ref>

<!-- European Parliament -->
The European Parliament is one of three [[Legislature of the European Union|legislative institutions]] of the EU, which together with the [[Council of the European Union]] is tasked with amending and approving the European Commission's proposals. 705 [[Member of the European Parliament|members of the European Parliament]] (MEPs) are directly [[Elections in the European Union|elected]] by [[Citizenship of the European Union|EU citizens]] every five years on the basis of [[proportional representation]]. MEPs are elected on a national basis and they sit according to [[Political groups of the European Parliament|political groups]] rather than their nationality. Each country has a set number of seats and is divided into [[European Parliament constituency|sub-national constituencies]] where this does not affect the proportional nature of the voting system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wellfire Interactive |date=9 March 2009 |title=MEPs must be elected on the basis of proportional representation, the threshold must not exceed 5%, and the electoral area may be subdivided in constituencies if this will not generally affect the proportional nature of the voting system |url=http://www.fairvote.org/european-parliament-to-be-elected-with-proportional-representation-systems |access-date=26 November 2010 |publisher=Fairvote.org}}</ref> In the [[ordinary legislative procedure]], the European Commission proposes legislation, which requires the joint approval of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to pass. This process applies to nearly all areas, including the [[budget of the European Union|EU budget]]. The parliament is the final body to approve or reject the proposed membership of the commission, and can attempt motions of censure on the commission by appeal to the [[European Court of Justice|Court of Justice]]. The [[president of the European Parliament]] carries out the role of speaker in Parliament and represents it externally. The president and [[Vice President of the European Parliament|vice-presidents]] are elected by MEPs every two and a half years.<ref name="Europa Institutions Parliament">{{Cite web |title=Institutions: The European Parliament |url=http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/parliament/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624114722/http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/parliament/index_en.htm |archive-date=24 June 2007 |access-date=25 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>

====Judicial branch====
{{Main|Court of Justice of the European Union}}

{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = horizontal
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = Koen Lenaerts 2022.jpg
| width1            = 160
| alt1              = Portrait of Koen Lenaerts
| caption1          = [[Koen Lenaerts]],<br /><small>[[European Court of Justice#President|President of the Court of Justice]]</small>
}}

<!-- Court of Justice -->
The [[judicial branch]] of the European Union is formally called the [[Court of Justice of the European Union]] (CJEU) and consists of two courts: the [[European Court of Justice|Court of Justice]] and the [[General Court (European Union)|General Court]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Article 19 of the Treaty on European Union |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0013:0046:EN:PDF |access-date=31 October 2010 |publisher=eur-lex.europa.eu}}</ref> The [[European Court of Justice|Court of Justice]] is the [[supreme court]] of the European Union in matters of [[European Union law]]. As a part of the CJEU, it is tasked with interpreting EU law and ensuring its uniform application across all [[Member state of the European Union|EU member states]] under Article 263 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The Court was established in 1952, and is based in [[Luxembourg City|Luxembourg]]. It is composed of one judge per [[Member state of the European Union|member state]] – currently 27 – although it normally hears cases in panels of three, five or fifteen judges. The Court has been led by president [[Koen Lenaerts]] since 2015. The CJEU is the highest court of the European Union in matters of [[European Union law|Union law]]. Its case-law provides that EU law has supremacy over any national law that is inconsistent with EU law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Judgment of the Court of 15 July 1964 in the case of Flaminio Costa v E.N.E.L. |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A61964CJ0006}}</ref> It is not possible to appeal against the decisions of national courts in the CJEU, but rather national courts refer questions of EU law to the CJEU. However, it is ultimately for the national court to apply the resulting interpretation to the facts of any given case. Although, only courts of final appeal are bound to refer a question of EU law when one is addressed. The treaties give the CJEU the power for consistent application of EU law across the EU as a whole. The court also acts as an administrative and constitutional court between the other EU institutions and the Member States and can annul or invalidate unlawful acts of EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies.

<!-- General Court -->
The [[General Court (European Union)|General Court]] is a constituent court of the European Union. It hears actions taken against the [[institutions of the European Union]] by individuals and member states, although certain matters are reserved for the Court of Justice. Decisions of the General Court can be appealed to the Court of Justice, but only on a point of law. Prior to the coming into force of the [[Lisbon Treaty]] on 1 December 2009, it was known as the Court of First Instance.

====Additional branches====
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2023}}
<!-- Monetary branch -->
{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = horizontal
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = EU2024BE 240223 Informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers Gent JNZT 0197 (53548338059) (cropped).jpg
| width1            = 160
| alt1              = Portrait of Christine Lagarde
| caption1          = [[Christine Lagarde]],<br /><small>[[President of the European Central Bank]]</small>
}}

The [[European Central Bank]] (ECB) is one of the institutions of the [[central bank|monetary branch]] of the European Union, the prime component of the [[Eurosystem]] and the European System of Central Banks. It is one of the world's [[Big Four (banking)#International use|most important central banks]]. The [[Governing Council of the European Central Bank|ECB Governing Council]] makes [[monetary policy]] for the [[eurozone]] and the European Union, administers the [[foreign exchange reserves]] of EU member states, engages in foreign exchange operations, and defines the intermediate monetary objectives and key interest rate of the EU. The [[Executive Board of the European Central Bank|ECB Executive Board]] enforces the policies and decisions of the Governing Council, and may direct the national central banks when doing so. The ECB has the exclusive right to authorise the issuance of [[euro banknotes]]. Member states can issue [[euro coins]], but the volume must be approved by the ECB beforehand. The bank also operates the [[T2 (RTGS)]] payments system. The [[European System of Central Banks]] (ESCB) consists of the ECB and the national central banks (NCBs) of all 27 member states of the European Union. The ESCB is not the monetary authority of the eurozone, because not all EU member states have joined the euro. The ESCB's objective is price stability throughout the European Union. Secondarily, the ESCB's goal is to improve monetary and financial cooperation between the Eurosystem and member states outside the eurozone.

<!-- Others -->
The [[European Court of Auditors]] (ECA) is the [[supreme audit institution|auditory branch]] of the European Union. It was established in 1975 in [[Luxembourg City|Luxembourg]] in order to improve EU financial management. It has 27 members (1 from each EU member-state) supported by approximately 800 civil servants. The [[European Personnel Selection Office]] (EPSO) is the EU's [[civil service commission|civil service recruitment body]] and operates its selection of candidates via generalist and specialist competitions. Each institution is then able to recruit staff from among the pool of candidates selected by EPSO. On average, EPSO receives around 60,000–70,000 applications a year with around 1,500–2,000 candidates recruited by the European Union institutions. The [[European Ombudsman]] is the [[ombudsman|ombudsman branch]] of the European Union that holds the institutions, bodies and agencies of the EU to account, and promotes good administration. The Ombudsman helps people, businesses and organisations facing problems with the EU administration by investigating complaints, as well as by proactively looking into broader systemic issues. The current Ombudsman is [[Emily O'Reilly]]. The [[European Public Prosecutor's Office]] (EPPO) is the [[attorney general|prosecutory branch]] of the union with juridical personality, established under the Treaty of Lisbon between 23 of the 27 states of the EU following the method of enhanced cooperation. It is based in Kirchberg, Luxembourg City alongside the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Auditors

===Budget===
{{Main|Budget of the European Union}}

{{Pie chart
| caption = <div style="text-align:center;">'''EU funding programmes 2014–2020<br />(€1,087 billion)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU funding programmes 2014–2020 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/eu-budget/spending/topic/eu-funding-programmes-2014-2020_en |access-date=2 January 2020 |website=European Commission}}</ref></div>
| label1 = Sustainable Growth/Natural Resources
| value1 = 38.6
| color1 = blue
| label2 = Competitiveness for Growth and Jobs
| value2 = 13.1
| color2 = yellow
| label3 = Global Europe
| value3 = 6.1
| color3 = brown
| label4 = Economic, Territorial and Social Cohesion
| value4 = 34.1
| color4 = red
| label5 = Administration
| value5 = 6.4
| color5 = green
| label6 = Security and Citizenship
| value6 = 1.7
| color6 = lightblue
}}

The European Union had an agreed budget of {{Euro|170.6}}&nbsp;billion in 2022. The EU had a long-term budget of €1,082.5 billion for the period 2014–2020, representing 1.02% of the EU-28's GNI. In 1960, the budget of the [[European Economic Community|European Community]] was 0.03 per cent of GDP.<ref>{{Cite book |last=David Smith. |first=David |url=https://archive.org/details/willeuropework0000smit |title=Will Europe work? |publisher=Profile Books |year=1999 |isbn=978-1-86197-102-9 |location=London}}</ref>

Of this, €54bn subsidised [[Common Agricultural Policy|agriculture enterprise]], €42bn was spent on [[Transport in the European Union|transport]], building and the environment, €16bn on [[Educational policies and initiatives of the European Union|education and research]], €13bn on welfare, €20bn on foreign and defence policy, €2bn in [[European banking union|finance]], €2bn in [[Renewable energy in the European Union|energy]], €1.5bn in communications, and €13bn in administration.

In November 2020, two members of the union, Hungary and Poland, blocked approval to the EU's budget at a meeting in the [[Committee of Permanent Representatives]] (Coreper), citing a [[Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation|proposal that linked funding with adherence to the rule of law]]. The budget included a [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] recovery fund of {{Euro|750}}{{nbsp}}billion.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2020 |title=Hungary and Poland block EU coronavirus recovery package |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-and-poland-block-progress-on-e1-8-trillion-package/ |access-date=16 November 2020 |work=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2020 |title=EU budget blocked by Hungary and Poland over rule of law issue |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54964858 |access-date=16 November 2020 |work=BBC News}}</ref> The budget was finally approved by 12 December when Hungary and Poland withdrew their vetoes after further negotiations in the council and the [[European Council]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tidey |first1=Alice |last2=Chadwick |first2=Lauren |date=10 December 2020 |title=EU agrees €1.8 tr budget - but what brought Hungary & Poland onboard? |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2020/12/10/eu-s-1-8-trillion-budget-approved-after-hungary-and-poland-had-earlier-blocked-it |url-status=live |access-date=1 March 2025 |website=[[Euronews]]}}</ref>

Bodies combatting fraud have also been established, including the [[European Anti-fraud Office]] and the [[European Public Prosecutor's Office]]. The latter is a decentralized independent body of the European Union (EU), established under the [[Treaty of Lisbon]] between 22 of the 27 states of the EU following the method of [[enhanced cooperation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 June 2017 |title=20 EU nations back plan for EU prosecutor's office |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/20-eu-nations-back-plan-for-eu-prosecutors-office.amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200125093003/https://www.foxnews.com/world/20-eu-nations-back-plan-for-eu-prosecutors-office.amp |archive-date=25 January 2020 |access-date=25 January 2020 |publisher=[[Fox News]]}}</ref> The European Public Prosecutor's Office investigate and prosecute fraud against the [[EU budget|budget of the European Union]] and other crimes against the EU's financial interests including fraud concerning EU funds of over €10,000 and cross-border [[value added tax|VAT]] fraud cases involving damages above €10 million.

===Law===
{{Main|European Union law}}
{{Further|European Union legislative procedure}}
{{See also|Treaties of the European Union|European Citizens' Initiative}}
[[File:Political System of the European Union.svg|thumb|right|upright=2|Organigram of the political system of the Union]]

Constitutionally, the EU bears some resemblance to both a [[confederation]] and a [[federation]],<ref>Kiljunen, Kimmo (2004). The European Constitution in the Making. Centre for European Policy Studies. pp. 21–26. {{ISBN|978-92-9079-493-6}}.</ref><ref>Burgess, Michael (2000). Federalism and European union: The building of Europe, 1950–2000. Routledge. p. 49. {{ISBN|0-415-22647-3}}. "Our theoretical analysis suggests that the EC/EU is neither a federation nor a confederation in the classical sense. But it does claim that the European political and economic elites have shaped and moulded the EC/EU into a new form of international organization, namely, a species of "new" confederation."</ref> but has not formally defined itself as either. (It does not have a formal constitution: its status is defined by the [[Treaty of European Union]] and the [[Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union]]). It is more integrated than a traditional confederation of states because the general level of government widely employs [[qualified majority voting]] in some decision-making among the member states, rather than relying exclusively on unanimity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qualified majority – Consilium |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/voting-system/qualified-majority/ |access-date=10 April 2019 |website=www.consilium.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Practical Law UK Signon |url=https://signon.thomsonreuters.com/?comp=pluk&productid=PLCUK&viewproductid=UKPL&lr=0&culture=en-US&returnto=https%3a%2f%2fuk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com%2fCosi%2fSignOn%3fcomp%3dpluk%26redirectTo%3d%252f9-503-0498%253ftransitionType%253dDefault%2526contextData%253d(sc.Default)%2526firstPage%253dtrue%2526comp%253dpluk%2526bhcp%253d1&tracetoken=0410191706400iocfH6ix9aDAXboKMKljGSEQbVenO3hRbkBiVwSpjK1nPrIZleK0m_ZYArfREaHTp00rbJNn9JJiUMtpuREV-tBpbDUn6jga8Zl9POgeorx-_ajnZ8E3JYaIx_LR8_3ZDgttQ2Na2blkP5wVQ4ab8NCop3kx46Kc2OAzz_TmEl3CC7PuHaHnrnMSp6Iff0Ha6hnq7X8w-OJXGJwNOPAhExqg5qLTz6c5ZWem1fKcj3l-9-h9cvMeVpfodmsngI5XZ8ruL99SM4ZCzGSNyROceid4Z3KboCsVabuZY0E-uiLtwSweJKfAwbVwR05UE0UIdD0SkAXveKEjxj9NIp2XCOCilihh1It2arRlZYHQ0Fc |access-date=10 April 2019 |website=signon.thomsonreuters.com}}</ref> It is less integrated than a federal state because it is not a state in its own right: sovereignty continues to flow 'from the bottom up', from the several peoples of the separate member states, rather than from a single undifferentiated whole. This is reflected in the fact that the member states remain the 'masters of the Treaties', retaining control over the allocation of competences to the union through constitutional change (thus retaining so-called ''Kompetenz-kompetenz''); in that they retain control of the use of armed force; they retain control of taxation; and in that they retain a right of unilateral withdrawal under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. In addition, the principle of [[subsidiarity]] requires that only those matters that need to be determined collectively are so determined.

Under the principle of [[Supremacy (European Union law)|supremacy]], national courts are required to enforce the treaties that their member states have ratified, even if doing so requires them to ignore conflicting national law, and (within limits) even constitutional provisions.<ref name="Supremacy" group="lower-alpha">According to the principle of [[Law of the European Union#Supremacy|supremacy]] as established by the ECJ in Case 6/64, ''Falminio Costa v. ENEL'' [1964] ECR 585. See Craig and de Búrca, ch. 7. See also: [[Factortame litigation]]: ''Factortame Ltd. v. Secretary of State for Transport (No. 2) [1991] 1 AC 603'', ''Solange II'' (''Re Wuensche Handelsgesellschaft'', BVerfG decision of 22 October 1986 [1987] 3 CMLR 225,265) and ''Frontini v. Ministero delle Finanze'' [1974] 2 CMLR 372; ''Raoul George Nicolo'' [1990] 1 CMLR 173.</ref> The [[direct effect]] and supremacy doctrines were not explicitly set out in the European Treaties but were developed by the Court of Justice itself over the 1960s, apparently under the influence of its then most influential judge, Frenchman [[Robert Lecourt]].<ref>William Phelan, ''Great Judgments of the European Court of Justice: Rethinking the Landmark Decisions of the Foundational Period'' (Cambridge, 2019).</ref> The question whether the secondary law enacted by the EU has a comparable status in relation to national legislation, has been a matter of debate among legal scholars.

====Primary law====
The European Union is based on a series of [[Treaties of the European Union|treaties]]. These first established the European Community and the EU, and then made amendments to those founding treaties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sources of EU law |url=http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/general_information/legal_information_and_eu_law/sources_eu_law/index_en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228193407/http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/general_information/legal_information_and_eu_law/sources_eu_law/index_en.htm |archive-date=28 February 2008 |access-date=5 September 2007 |publisher=European Commission}}</ref> These are power-giving treaties which set broad policy goals and establish institutions with the necessary legal powers to implement those goals. These legal powers include the ability to enact legislation<ref name="art249" group="lower-alpha">{{Cite web |date=30 March 2010 |title=Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ%253AC%253A2010%253A083%253A0047%253A0200%253AEN%253APDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117094809/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ%253AC%253A2010%253A083%253A0047%253A0200%253AEN%253APDF |archive-date=17 November 2013 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=Official Journal of the European Union |publisher=EUR-Lex |language=en}}</ref> which can directly affect all member states and their inhabitants.<ref name="Direct Effect" group="lower-alpha">According to the principle of Direct Effect first invoked in the Court of Justice's decision in {{cite court|litigants=Van Gend en Loos v Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen|reporter=Eur-Lex|court=European Court of Justice|year=1963|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:61962J0026:EN:NOT}} See: Craig and de Búrca, ch. 5.</ref> The EU has [[legal personality]], with the right to sign agreements and international treaties.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=de Schoutheete |first1=Philippe |last2=Andoura |first2=Sami |year=2007 |title=The Legal Personality of the European Union |url=http://aei.pitt.edu/9083/01/Legal.Personality.EU-PDS-SA.pdf |journal=Studia Diplomatica |volume=LX |issue=1 |access-date=15 November 2010}} Its examples are the ratifications of [[United Nations Convention against Corruption]] and [[Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]] by EU. And Article 47 of the Consolidated Treaty on European Union.</ref>

====Secondary law====
The main legal acts of the European Union come in three forms: [[Regulation (European Union)|regulations]], [[Directive (European Union)|directives]], and [[Decision (European Union)|decisions]]. Regulations become law in all member states the moment they come into force, without the requirement for any implementing measures,<ref group="lower-alpha">{{Cite web |title=? |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%253A61973J0034 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=EUR-Lex |language=en}}</ref> and automatically override conflicting domestic provisions.<ref name="art249" group="lower-alpha" /> Directives require member states to achieve a certain result while leaving them discretion as to how to achieve the result. The details of how they are to be implemented are left to member states.<ref group="lower-alpha">To do otherwise would require the drafting of legislation which would have to cope with the frequently divergent legal systems and administrative systems of all of the now 28 member states. See Craig and de Búrca, p. 115.</ref> When the time limit for implementing directives passes, they may, under certain conditions, have [[direct effect]] in national law against member states. Decisions offer an alternative to the two above modes of legislation. They are legal acts which only apply to specified individuals, companies or a particular member state. They are most often used in [[competition law]], or on rulings on State Aid, but are also frequently used for procedural or administrative matters within the institutions. Regulations, directives, and decisions are of equal legal value and apply without any formal hierarchy<!-- What does that mean i don't know what article to link it to. -->.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How EU takes decisions |url=http://europa.eu/institutions/decision-making/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102215021/http://europa.eu/institutions/decision-making/index_en.htm |archive-date=2 January 2011 |access-date=1 November 2010}}</ref>

===Foreign relations===
{{Main|Foreign relations of the European Union}}

{{See also|European External Action Service}}

{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = horizontal
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union, and Vice-President of the European Commission - P064583-775481 (cropped).jpg
| width1            = 160
| alt1              = Portrait of Kaja Kallas
| caption1          = [[Kaja Kallas]],<br /><small>[[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy]]</small>
}}

Foreign policy co-operation between member states dates from the establishment of the community in 1957, when member states negotiated as a bloc in international trade negotiations under the [[EU's common commercial policy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qualified-Majority Voting: Common commercial policy |url=http://ec.europa.eu/archives/igc2000/geninfo/fact-sheets/fact-sheet6/index_en.htm |access-date=3 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> Steps for more wide-ranging co-ordination in foreign relations began in 1970 with the establishment of [[European Political Cooperation]] which created an informal consultation process between member states with the aim of forming common foreign policies. In 1987 the European Political Cooperation was introduced on a formal basis by the [[Single European Act]]. EPC was renamed as the [[Common Foreign and Security Policy]] (CFSP) by the [[Maastricht Treaty]].<ref name="EPC">{{Cite web |last=The European commission |title=European political co-operation (EPC) |url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/european_political_cooperation_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708111806/http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/european_political_cooperation_en.htm |archive-date=8 July 2007 |access-date=3 September 2007 |website=Europa Glossary |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>

The stated aims of the CFSP are to promote both the EU's own interests and those of the [[international community]] as a whole, including the furtherance of international co-operation, respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.<ref name="art11 Union">{{Cite web |title=The requested document does not exist. |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ%253AC%253A2010%253A083%253A0013%253A0046%253AEN%253APDF |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=EUR-Lex |language=en}}</ref> The CFSP requires unanimity among the member states on the appropriate policy to follow on any particular issue. The unanimity and difficult issues treated under the CFSP sometimes lead to disagreements, such as those which occurred over the [[Iraq War|war in Iraq]].<ref name="BBC Iraq statement">{{Cite news |date=27 January 2003 |title=Divided EU agrees Iraq statement |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2697667.stm |access-date=13 March 2009}}</ref>

The coordinator and representative of the CFSP within the EU is the [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy]] who speaks on behalf of the EU in foreign policy and defence matters, and has the task of articulating the positions expressed by the member states on these fields of policy into a common alignment. The high representative heads up the [[European External Action Service]] (EEAS), a unique EU department<ref name="23Oct">{{Cite web |date=23 October 2009 |title=EU states near agreement on diplomatic service |url=https://euobserver.com/world/28878 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=EUobserver |language=en}}</ref> that has been officially implemented and operational since 1 December 2010 on the occasion of the first anniversary of the entry into force of the [[Treaty of Lisbon]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 December 2010 |title=European External Action Service gives Europe voice on world stage |url=http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2010/101201-EAD.html |access-date=4 June 2013 |publisher=German Foreign Ministry}}</ref> The EEAS serves as a foreign ministry and [[diplomatic corps]] for the European Union.<ref name="Europa EEAS">{{Cite web |year=2010 |title=European External Action Service |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/background/index_en.htm |access-date=26 June 2010 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>

Besides the emerging international policy of the European Union, the international influence of the EU is also felt through [[Enlargement of the European Union|enlargement]]. The perceived benefits of becoming a member of the EU act as an incentive for both political and economic reform in states wishing to fulfil the EU's accession criteria, and are considered an important factor contributing to the reform of European formerly Communist countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Peterson |first=John |date=August 2008 |title=Enlargement, reform and the European Commission. Weathering a perfect storm? |journal=Journal of European Public Policy |volume=15 |issue=5 |pages=761–780 |doi=10.1080/13501760802133328 |s2cid=154664296}}</ref>{{rp|762}} This influence on the internal affairs of other countries is generally referred to as "[[soft power]]", as opposed to military "hard power".<ref name="Soft Power">{{Cite web |last=Bildt |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Bildt |year=2005 |title=Europe must keep its 'soft power' |url=http://www.cer.org.uk/articles/bildt_ft_1june05.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609135542/http://www.cer.org.uk/articles/bildt_ft_1june05.html |archive-date=9 June 2007 |access-date=26 June 2007 |website=Financial Times on Centre for European Reform}}</ref>

==== Humanitarian aid ====
{{Further|Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations}}

The [[ECHO (European Commission)|European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department]], or "ECHO", provides [[humanitarian aid]] from the EU to [[developing country|developing countries]]. In 2012, its budget amounted to {{Euro|874}}{{nbsp}}million, 51 per cent of the budget went to Africa and 20 per cent to Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Pacific, and 20 per cent to the Middle East and Mediterranean.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ECHO's finances |url=http://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding/finances_en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718150202/http://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding/finances_en.htm |archive-date=18 July 2013 |website=ec.europa.eu |publisher=Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, [[European Commission]]}}</ref>

Humanitarian aid is financed directly by the budget (70 per cent) as part of the financial instruments for external action and also by the [[European Development Fund]] (30 per cent).<ref name="ODI">Mikaela Gavas 2010. [http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5078&title=european-development-cooperation-financial-perspectives Financing European development cooperation: the Financial Perspectives 2014–2020.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316022518/http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5078&title=european-development-cooperation-financial-perspectives|date=16 March 2011}} London: [[Overseas Development Institute]]</ref> The EU's external action financing is divided into 'geographic' instruments and 'thematic' instruments.<ref name="ODI" /> The 'geographic' instruments provide aid through the [[Development Cooperation Instrument]] (DCI, {{Euro|16.9}}{{nbsp}}billion, 2007–2013), which must spend 95 per cent of its budget on [[official development assistance]] (ODA), and from the [[European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument]] (ENPI), which contains some relevant programmes.<ref name="ODI" /> The European Development Fund (EDF, {{Euro|22.7}}{{nbsp}}billion for the period 2008–2013 and {{Euro|30.5}}{{nbsp}}billion for the period 2014–2020) is made up of voluntary contributions by member states, but there is pressure to merge the EDF into the budget-financed instruments to encourage increased contributions to match the 0.7 per cent target and allow the [[European Parliament]] greater oversight.<ref name="ODI" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Homepage |url=https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/index_en |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>

In 2016, the average among EU countries was 0.4 per cent and five had met or exceeded the 0.7 per cent target: Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 April 2017 |title=Development aid rises again in 2016 |url=http://www.oecd.org/dac/financing-sustainable-development/development-finance-data/ODA-2016-detailed-summary.pdf |access-date=23 December 2017 |publisher=OECD}}</ref>

==== International cooperation and development partnerships ====
{{Main|Directorate-General for International Partnerships|ACP–EU development cooperation|European Solidarity Corps|European Union Global Strategy|European Neighbourhood Policy|Global Europe|European Political Community}}

[[File:Ilham Aliyev attended EU Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels.jpg|thumb|[[Eastern Partnership]] Summit 2017, [[Brussels]]]]

The European Union uses foreign relations instruments like the [[European Neighbourhood Policy]] which seeks to tie those countries to the east and south of the European territory of the EU to the union. These countries, primarily developing countries, include some who seek to one day become either a [[member state of the European Union]], or more closely integrated with the European Union. The EU offers financial assistance to countries within the European Neighbourhood, so long as they meet the strict conditions of government reform, economic reform and other issues surrounding positive transformation. This process is normally underpinned by an Action Plan, as agreed by both Brussels and the target country.

[[File:Membreupm.png|thumb|left|[[Union for the Mediterranean]] meeting in Barcelona]]

There is also the worldwide [[European Union Global Strategy]]. International recognition of sustainable development as a key element is growing steadily. Its role was recognised in three major UN summits on sustainable development: the 1992 [[Earth Summit|UN Conference on Environment and Development]] (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, [[South Africa]]; and the 2012 [[United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development|UN Conference on Sustainable Development]] (UNCSD) in Rio de Janeiro. Other key global agreements are the [[Paris Agreement]] and the [[Sustainable Development Goals|2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development]] (United Nations, 2015). The SDGs recognise that all countries must stimulate action in the following key areas – people, [[planet]], prosperity, [[peace]] and [[partnership]] – in order to tackle the global challenges that are crucial for the survival of [[human]]ity.

EU development action is based on the European Consensus on Development, which was endorsed on 20 December 2005 by EU Member States, the council, the European Parliament and the commission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The European Consensus on Development |url=http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/development-policies/european-consensus/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811141039/http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/development-policies/european-consensus/index_en.htm |archive-date=11 August 2011 |access-date=27 August 2011}}</ref> It is applied from the principles of [[Capability approach]] and [[Rights-based approach to development]]. Funding is provided by the [[Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance]] and the [[Global Europe]] programmes.

Partnership and cooperation agreements are bilateral agreements with non-member nations.<ref name="pca">{{Cite web |title=Partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) – EU monitor |url=https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vh7gkuhng0wh |website=www.eumonitor.eu}}</ref>

===Defence===
{{Main|Common Security and Defence Policy}}
{{See also|Frontex|European Defence Agency|European Union Institute for Security Studies|European Union Satellite Centre}}
[[File:EU and NATO.svg|thumb|Map showing European membership of the EU and [[NATO]]
{{Leftlegend|#ffd617|EU member only}}
{{Leftlegend|#000|NATO member only}}
{{Leftlegend|#039|EU and NATO member}}
]]
[[File:Coat of arms of the European Union Military Staff.svg|thumb|upright|Coat of arms of the [[European Union Military Staff|Military Staff]]]]

<!-- History -->
The predecessors of the European Union were not devised as a military alliance because [[NATO]] was largely seen as appropriate and sufficient for defence purposes.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2007|page=100}} In 2025, Europe initiated the [[ReArm Europe|ReArm program]], a strategic breakthrough aimed at mobilising local industrial capabilities and bolstering European equipment production, involves a financial investment of €800 billion to support the development and procurement, simultaneously enhancing the continent's overall military readiness and self-sufficiency.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Press statement by President von der Leyen on the defence package |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/sv/statement_25_673 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=European Commission - European Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EU's von der Leyen proposes €800 billion defense plan – DW – 03/04/2025 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eus-von-der-leyen-proposes-800-billion-defense-plan/a-71819582 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-03-04 |title=EU chief unveils €800 billion plan to 'rearm' Europe |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/european-union/article/2025/03/04/eu-chief-reveals-800-billion-plan-to-rearm-europe_6738782_156.html |access-date=2025-03-04 |language=en}}</ref>

Twenty-three EU members are members of NATO while the remaining member states follow policies of [[Neutrality (international relations)|neutrality]].<ref>{{Cite conference |last=Laursen |first=Finn |date=1 June 1997 |title=The EU 'neutrals,' the CFSP and defence policy |url=http://aei.pitt.edu/2657/ |location=Seattle, WA |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |page=27 |access-date=24 July 2009 |book-title=Biennial Conference of the European Union Studies Association}}</ref> The [[Western European Union]], a military alliance with a mutual defence clause, closed in 2011<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Archives of the European Union: Assembly of the Western European Union |url=https://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/194161?item=WEU}}</ref> as its role had been transferred to the EU.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2010 |title=Statement of the Presidency of the Permanent Council of the WEU on behalf of the High Contracting Parties to the Modified Brussels Treaty – Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom |url=http://www.weu.int/Declaration_E.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010150807/http://www.weu.int/Declaration_E.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2017 |website=weu.int |publisher=Western European Union |location=Brussels}}</ref> Following the [[Kosovo War]] in 1999, the [[European Council]] agreed that "the Union must have the capacity for autonomous action, backed by credible military forces, the means to decide to use them, and the readiness to do so, in order to respond to international crises without prejudice to actions by NATO". To that end, a number of efforts were made to increase the EU's military capability, notably the [[Helsinki Headline Goal]] process. After much discussion, the most concrete result was the [[EU Battlegroup]]s initiative, each of which is planned to be able to deploy quickly about 1500&nbsp;personnel.<ref name="Council Capabilities">{{Cite web |last=Council of the European Union |date=July 2009 |title=EU battlegroups |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/090720-Factsheet-Battlegroups_EN.pdf |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=Europa web portal |archive-date=4 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104224245/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/090720-Factsheet-Battlegroups_EN.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The EU Strategic Compass adopted in 2022 reaffirmed the bloc's partnership with NATO, committed to increased military mobility and formation of a 5,000-strong EU Rapid Deployment Capacity<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence |url=https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/strategic-compass-security-and-defence-1_en |access-date=1 August 2023}}</ref>

<!-- Nuclear and power projection -->
Since the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, France is the only member officially recognised as a [[List of states with nuclear weapons|nuclear weapon state]] and the sole holder of a [[Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council|permanent seat]] on the [[United Nations Security Council]]. France and Italy are also the only EU countries that have [[Power projection|power projection capabilities]] outside of Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunha |first=Alberto |date=5 July 2020 |title=Post-Brexit EU Defence Policy: Is Germany Leading towards a European Army? |url=https://www.e-ir.info/2020/07/05/post-brexit-eu-defence-policy-is-germany-leading-towards-a-european-army/ |access-date=1 January 2022 |website=E-International Relations |language=en}}</ref> Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium participate in NATO [[nuclear sharing]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meier |first=Oliver |date=June 2020 |title=German Politicians Renew Nuclear Basing Debate |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/74d6c94a8784b0ef0346f046169ac8c7/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=37049 |journal=Arms Control Today |volume=50 |issue=5 |pages=36–37}}</ref> Most EU member states opposed the [[Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons|Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 January 2018 |title=Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons ─ the 'Ban Treaty' |work=European Parliament |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)614664}}</ref>

[[EUFOR|EU forces]] have been deployed on peacekeeping missions from middle and northern Africa to the [[western Balkans]] and western Asia.<ref name="Council Operations">{{Cite web |last=Council of the European Union |date=April 2003 |title=Overview of the missions and operations of the European Union |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/eeas/security-defence/eu-operations?amp;lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202213910/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/eeas/security-defence/eu-operations?amp;lang=en |archive-date=2 December 2011 |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> EU military operations are supported by a number of bodies, including the [[European Defence Agency]], [[European Union Satellite Centre]] and the [[European Union Military Staff]].<ref name="Council Structures">{{Cite web |last=Council of the European Union |title=CSDP structures and instruments |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/eeas/security-defence/csdp-structures-and-instruments?lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530233030/http://consilium.europa.eu/eeas/security-defence/csdp-structures-and-instruments?lang=en |archive-date=30 May 2013 |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The European Union Military Staff is the highest military institution of the European Union, established within the framework of the European Council, and follows on from the decisions of the Helsinki European Council (10–11 December 1999), which called for the establishment of permanent political-military institutions. The European Union Military Staff is under the authority of the [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy]] and the Political and Security Committee. It directs all military activities in the EU context, including planning and conducting military missions and operations in the framework of the [[Common Security and Defence Policy]] and the development of military capabilities, and provides the Political and Security Committee with military advice and recommendations on military issues. In an EU consisting of 27 members, substantial security and defence co-operation is increasingly relying on collaboration among all member states.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Russo-Georgian War and Beyond: towards a European Great Power Concert, Danish ''Institute of International Studies'' |url=http://www.diis.dk/sw87465.asp?csref=RSS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429211047/http://www.diis.dk/sw87465.asp?csref=RSS |archive-date=29 April 2011 |access-date=27 April 2010 |publisher=Diis.dk}}</ref>

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency ([[Frontex]]) is an [[Agencies of the European Union|agency of the EU]] aiming to detect and stop illegal immigration, [[human trafficking]] and terrorist infiltration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frontex |title=What is Frontex? |url=http://www.frontex.europa.eu/ |access-date=4 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The EU also operates the [[European Travel Information and Authorisation System]], the [[Entry/Exit System]], the [[Schengen Information System]], the [[Visa Information System]] and the [[Common European Asylum System]] which provide common databases for police and immigration authorities. The impetus for the development of this co-operation was the advent of open borders in the Schengen Area and the associated cross-border crime.<ref name="Internal borders" />