The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states, representing nearly 450 million citizens across Europe. Founded in 1951 in the aftermath of the Second World War, it has evolved into one of the world's largest trading blocs and a major global actor. The EU coordinates policies, laws and institutions across its members to facilitate economic integration, protect fundamental rights and advance shared interests on the international stage.
The EU's institutional framework comprises several distinct bodies. The European Commission develops and implements EU policies and laws. The European Parliament and Council of the European Union jointly develop and adopt laws, with the former representing citizens and the latter representing member state governments. The European Council defines the EU's overall political direction. The Court of Justice of the European Union interprets EU law and ensures its uniform application, whilst the European Court of Auditors oversees the EU's finances and public accountability. The European Central Bank manages monetary policy for euro-area members.
The Single Market, a cornerstone of EU integration, permits the free movement of goods, services, capital and people across member borders. Citizens and businesses access EU rights, services and information through europa.eu, the official portal available in all 24 official EU languages. The organisation operates across governance and public policy, law and judicial oversight, international trade, central banking, financial audit, digital public services and citizenship administration.