Political and economic grouping of European member states.

The legal union of 15 European States to pool political and economic power to prevent war between them, to improve the lives of their citizens, and to strengthen Europes voice in the world.

Until November 1993, the EU was known as the European Community (EC). The EU comprises three communities: the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Economic Community (EEC), and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Each community is a legally distinct body, but since 1967 they have shared common governing institutions. The EU forms more than a framework for free trade and economic cooperation: the signatories to the treaties governing the communities have agreed in principle to integrate their economies and ultimately to form a political union. Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) were charter members of the EU; Britain, Denmark, and Ireland joined on January 1, 1973; Greece became a member on January 1, 1981; Portugal and Spain entered on January 1, 1986; and Austria, Finland, and Sweden became members on January 1, 1995.

A customs union formed by the 1957 Treaty of Rome. Its current members are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The group of European countries joined together to promote economic, political, and social co-operation.

The official all-embracing name for the European Community. This follows the effective date – November 1, 1993 – for the Treaty on European Union, commonly known as the Maastricht Treaty. The Treaty formally created a new entity, the European Union, with responsibilities beyond the EC focus on economic and trade issues. The EU also takes in rules governing common foreign and security policy, procedures for cooperation on terrorism, crime, immigration, asylum and other domestic and judicial matters.

Covers the 25 Member State countries.

An institutional framework for the construction of a united Europe, economically, legislatively, judicially, and socially. It includes the countries of Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Finland, and Sweden.

Successor organization to the European Community (EC-- q.v.), officially established on November 1, 1993, when the Treaty on European Union ( q.v.) went into effect. The goal of the EU is a closer economic union of it member states, including the European Monetary Union (EMU-- q.v), a greater unity in matters of justice and domestic affairs, and the development of a common foreign and security policy. To the members of the EC, the EU added Austria, Finland, and Sweden, effective January 1, 1995.

Economic association of 25 European countries aiming to create a single free-trade market for products and services across national borders. Fifteen existing members - Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK - were joined by another 10 states in May 2004: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. See also economic and monetary union.

An association of European countries who share standards and administrative structures to promote European integration while respecting the independence and sovereignty of member states.

The European Union (EU) founded 1 November 1993, is a union of fifteen independent states based on the European Communities and founded to enhance political, economic and social co-operation. Formerly known as European Community (EC) or European Economic Community (EEC). New members since 1st January, 1995 are Austria, Finland, Sweden. In 2003 the EU will expand to 26 member states.

Successor organization to the "European Community," itself successor to the European Economic Community (EEC), also known as the European "Common Market."

The European Union (EU) was set up by the Treaty on European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, of 1992. It consists of three 'pillars' or areas of activity. The first pillar comprises the European Communities, the second pillar the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and the third pillar judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters. The European Constitution will create a single legal framework bringing together the Community and Union and abolishing the pillars.

Created by the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, the EU comprises the European Community, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and Co-operation and Justice in Home Affairs.

An institutional (political and economical) framework including most important European countries (formerly known as the European Community), created by Treaty of Paris (1951) and Rome Treaties (1958).

Regional organization built on the foundation of free trade. Seeks total European economic integration.

Official term for the European community; Member states include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

an international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members; "he took Britain into Europe"

The three pillars of the EU form the framework for the 15 member states' co-operation. IGC An Intergovernmental Conference is a long-running conference between the governments of EU countries.

As a regional economic integration organization, the European Union can be and is a Party to the Convention; however, it does not have a separate vote from its members. Because it signed the Convention when it was known as the EEC, it retains this name for all formal Convention-related purposes.

The twenty five member states that form the enlarged area once called the European Community. The current members are - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The European Union (EU) comprises 15 European countries (25 after 1 May 2004) which, to varying degrees, are economically and politically integrated. The term EU first came into use in 1993 after the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. Before the signing of the Maastricht Treaty the EU was formally known as the European Community and European Economic Community.

An international organisation that was set up and developed in the post-second world war period with the main aims of: * fostering democracy and political union in place of war; * economic union and the removal of trade barriers; * inter-governmental co-operation in foreign and security policy; and * co-operation in justice and home affairs It was established in 1957 by the treaty of Rome and it membership has steadily increased since. For more information go to the EU online site at http://europa.eu.int/index_en.htm

Austria, Belgium, Cyrpus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Nationals of these countries enjoy free movement in all Member States.

EU member states meet as a group to discuss substantive issues; they are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

the organization through which 15 European governments make decisions and agree on shared action in social and economic matters.

An intergovernmental organization which coordinates foreign, economic, and judicial policy among its 25 member nations.

The European Union is based on the Communities - the European Community and Euratom; the Common Foreign and Security Policy; and common action in the fields of police and judicial cooperation. These three areas are known as "the Three Pillars".

The body created by the Treaty on European Union, consisting of three pillars, with the European Communities flanked by the two intergovernmental pillars of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Justice and Home Affairs.

(EU) - Expanding economic union of 25 European countries that has developed a common policy toward the Israeli/Palestinian conflict that is sometimes at odds with U.S. policy.

Successor organization to the European Community, created by the Maastricht Treaty in 1995. Eventually it came to include 15 countries, the ECSC countries plus Spain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. In 2002 ten other countries were invited to join.

Europa Europe Direct Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union Directorate General for Trade

(EU) Economic and political alliance between 15 European countries formed to enhance commerce between its members.

The European Union (EU) is the result of a process of co-operation and integration which began in 1951 between six countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands). After nearly fifty years, with four waves of accessions (1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom; 1981: Greece; 1986: Spain and Portugal; 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden), the EU today has fifteen Member States. On 31 March 1998, accession negotiations were started with six applicant countries - Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Cyprus. On 13 October 1999, the Commission recommended Member States to open negotiations with Romania, the Slovak Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Malta. Member States endorsed this at the Helsinki Summit on 12 December 1999.

A term often used interchangeably with European Community. The EU came about in 1993 with ratification of the Maastricht Treaty, otherwise known as the Treaty on European Union. The Treaty states that the EU is made up of the European Communities plus intergovernmental agreement on justice and home affairs and a common foreign and security policy. The latter are therefore in addition to the European Communities and, strictly speaking, use of the term EU should be applied to these 'new' areas only.

The European Union currently includes 15 Member States : Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

the EU is an organisation of 25 states designed to promote economic and social progress. Through its executive body, the European Commission, the EU makes policy that is legally binding in its member states.

The EU is a union of fifteen European states. Its main objective is to promote mutual economic and social progress which is balanced and sustainable, to assert a European identity on the international scene. The EU describes its ultimate goal as promoting "an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen". The EU describes its objectives as: 1) promoting economic and social progress which is balanced and sustainable 2) asserting the European identity on the international scene 3) introducing a European citizenship for the nationals of the Member States For more information visit the EU website: http://europa.eu.int/.

A regional international organization with most developed countries of Europe among its members. In 1995 it succeeded the European Economic Community (EEC), established in 1957 to promote economic integration among its member countries.

A group of European countries that have chosen to integrate many of their economic activities, including forming a customs union and harmonizing many of their rules and regulations. See “European Community.

An economic association of European nations with the goals of a single market for goods and services without any economic barriers and a common currency with one monetary authority.

Western European political organization.

The group formerly known as the European Community.

A group of European countries working together for the benefit of everyone in the group.

a union of fifteen European states, formerly the European Common Market. Designed originally during the 1950s for economic integration, but since expanded into a closer political and economic union (197)

An economic and political confederation of European nations, and other organisations (with the same member nations) that are also share a common foreign and security policy and co-operate on justice and home affairs. Twenty-five countries - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, , Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden are full members of the organisations of the EU.

An intergovernmental organization, The European Union (EU) was founded in 1951. At the time being its members are Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland and Sweden. The following twelve countries have applied for the membership in the EU: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The main objectives of the EU are to promote single economic market, assert its identity in the international relations, and introduce European citizenship, currency (EURO) and law.

the new name as of 1993 for the European Community. (p. 1044)

In Maastricht it was decided to change the name of the European Community to EU to underline both the economical and political European standards. This new term refers to the three-pillar construction in Europe: the European Community, the common foreign and security policy and justice and home affairs.

Created in 1958 to encourage and facilitate trade among the member countries. The current EU members are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Before November 1993, the EU was known at the European Community.

Comprised of 15 nations, the European Union officially came into being with the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty on European Union in 1992. The EU is the successor to the European Community (EC) (which is now a component part of the Union rather than being its entire entity). Maastricht established three pillars upon which the Union stands: the EC, EMU, and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (plus cooperation in the field of Justice and Home Affairs). The member states are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K. FOA

Currently a group fifteen European countries including: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The European Union (EU) is a union of fifteen independent countries based on the European Communities, founded to enhance political, economic and social co-operation. Formerly known as European Economic Community (EEC). The member states consist of: Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Portugal Spain Sweden United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The EU represents the UK in WTO and other trade negotiations. The EU is a trading bloc and has a common trade policy based legally on the European Community Treaty (Article 133). The European Commission (EC) negotiates on behalf of the Member States, in consultation with a special committee, the 'Article 133 Committee' (made up of representatives from the 25 Member States and the EC). Major formal decisions are confirmed by the Council of Ministers who also set out guidelines for the officials who actually conduct negotiations (from the EC Directorate General for Trade, under the authority of the Commissioner). The European Trade Commissioner is currently Peter Mandelson.

Formerly, the European Community (EC), established as the EU by the Treaty on European Union, November 1, 1993. The EU comprises three communities: the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Economic Community (EEC), and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Each community is legally distinct, but since 1967 the three bodies have shared common governing institutions. The EU forms more than a framework for free trade and economic cooperation: EU signatories have agreed in principle to integrate their economies and ultimately to form a political union. EU members in early 1996 were Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

One of three major market groups in western Europe, the EU has 15 members: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. p. 87

The European Union--previously known as the European Community, created after World War II to unite the nations of Europe economically to avoid another war --is an institutional framework of 15 countries (25 from May 2004), sharing the common institutions and policies, for the construction of a united Europe.

The grouping formerly known as the European Community

See on: Wikipedia The European Union includes the following countries: the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece. Since 1 May 2004, the following countries also belong to the EU: Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

The European Union (EU) is a supranational and intergovernmental union of democratic nation-states in Europe. It currently has 27 member states. The EU represents the latest phase of European integration: it was established under that name in 1992 by the Maastricht Treaty.