The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 European countries that have agreed to make some decisions together and to share common rules, a single market and common institutions. It was created under that name by the Maastricht Treaty, in force since 1 November 1993.
The European Union (EU) is neither a state nor a classic international organisation. Its member states remain sovereign countries, but they have transferred some powers to the Union through treaties they all signed and ratified. In those areas, rules are adopted at EU level and apply in every member state.
The Union grew out of the European Coal and Steel Community (1952) and the European Economic Community (1958), created by six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The Maastricht Treaty turned the European Communities into the European Union in 1993 and added new areas of cooperation, such as a common currency and foreign policy. Today the Union works under the Treaty of Lisbon, in force since 1 December 2009.
What the EU decides depends on the area. The Union has exclusive competence in a few fields, such as trade policy and the customs union. It shares competence with member states in many others, such as the single market, agriculture, environment and consumer protection. Areas like education, culture and health organisation remain mainly national, with the EU only supporting or coordinating.
Example
When you buy a phone charger in any EU country, the same rules apply: since 2024, new phones sold in the EU must accept a USB-C charger. That rule was adopted once, at EU level, by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, instead of 27 separate national laws.
Debates and limits
How much power the Union should have is a permanent political debate. Supporters of deeper integration argue that common rules make member states stronger together in trade, climate or security. Critics argue that too many decisions are taken far from citizens and that national parliaments lose control. Both positions are represented in the European Parliament and in national governments.