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
Netherlands
Denmark
Ireland
Greece
Portugal
Spain
Austria
Finland
Sweden
Cyprus
Czechia
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 browsera single gateway to EU institutions, policies and services
Open in browserThe EU’s executive body: initiates legislation and ensures compliance with EU law
Open in browserOfficial EU legal framework: treaties, regulations, directives, case law
Open in browserEntry and residence of third-country nationals in the EU: visas, permits, family reunification
Open in browserEU tax and customs policy: VAT, customs, cross-border taxation
Open in browserThe ECB — monetary policy for the euro area and banking supervision (SSM); the European Banking Authority (EBA, eba.europa.eu) — uniform rules
Open in browserdeposit guarantee of up to €100,000 per depositor per bank; administered by the national schemes of the Member States
Open in browserEU education policy, Erasmus+, student mobility
Open in browserthe network for the recognition of foreign qualifications in Europe
Open in browseremergency medical care whilst in another EU country, on the same terms as local residents
Open in browsermaintaining entitlement to social security benefits and pensions when moving between Member States
Open in browserinterpretation of EU law, disputes between institutions and Member States
Open in browserconsistent application of the GDPR across the EU
Open in browsersupervision of the processing of personal data by EU institutions
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