European Union
A supranational union of 27 states. EU law (for example the GDPR) applies in all member states: some competences sit at EU level, the rest remain national.
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Updated: 2026-07-25
27 members · 21 in the eurozone
Belgium
France
Germany
Italy
Luxembourg
the Netherlands
Denmark
Ireland
Greece
Portugal
Spain
Austria
Finland
Sweden
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Poland
Slovakia
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Romania
Croatia
Established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 (in force since 1958); the name ‘European Union’ has been used since 1993 (Maastricht).
- Capital
- Brussels (in practice; also Strasbourg and Luxembourg)
- Language
- 24 official languages
- Currency
- euro, EUR (in the eurozone; not all members)
- Form of government
- supranational organisation, 27 member states
A practical portal on citizens’ and businesses’ rights in the EU: travel, work, study, healthcare and consumer rights.
Open in browser ↗a single gateway to EU institutions, policies and services
Open in browser ↗The EU’s executive body: initiates legislation and ensures compliance with EU law
Open in browser ↗Official EU legal framework: treaties, regulations, directives, case law
Open in browser ↗Entry and residence of third-country nationals in the EU: visas, permits, family reunification
Open in browser ↗EU tax and customs policy: VAT, customs, cross-border taxation
Open in browser ↗The ECB — monetary policy for the euro area and banking supervision (SSM); the European Banking Authority (EBA, eba.europa.eu) — uniform rules
Open in browser ↗deposit guarantee of up to €100,000 per depositor per bank; administered by the national schemes of the Member States
Open in browser ↗EU education policy, Erasmus+, student mobility
Open in browser ↗the network for the recognition of foreign qualifications in Europe
Open in browser ↗emergency medical care whilst in another EU country, on the same terms as local residents
Open in browser ↗the evaluation and supervision of medicines in the EU
Open in browser ↗maintaining entitlement to social security benefits and pensions when moving between Member States
Open in browser ↗interpretation of EU law, disputes between institutions and Member States
Open in browser ↗consistent application of the GDPR across the EU
Open in browser ↗supervision of the processing of personal data by EU institutions
Open in browser ↗complaints about maladministration within EU institutions
Open in browser ↗No confirmed updates recorded yet.