European Union

Mission

The EU was set through the process of European integration launched on 9 May 1950 when France officially proposed to create “the first concrete foundation of a European federation.” Six countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) joined from the very beginning. Today, after four waves of accessions (1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom; 1981: Greece; 1986: Spain and Portugal; 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden), the EU has 15 Member States and is preparing for the accession of other eastern and southern European countries. Its main agencies are: European Parliament, Council of the Union, European Commission, Court of Justice, Court of Auditors, European Central Bank, European Economic and Social Committee, Committee of the Regions, European Investment Bank, European Ombudsman.