European Union Research

Originally created in the early 1950's as the six member European Coal and Steel Community, the European Union has evolved into a twenty-eight member state democratic institution which plays a critical role in the daily life of almost five hundred million Europeans. The main goals of the European Union are:

• To provide peace, prosperity and stability for its peoples;
• To overcome the divisions on the continent;
• To ensure that its people can live in safety;
• To promote balanced economic and social development;
• To meet the challenges of globalisation and preserve the diversity of the peoples of Europe;
• To uphold the values that Europeans share, such as sustainable development and a sound environment, respect for human rights and the social market economy.

The European Union has several major institutions, each with specific roles and responsibilities.These institutions work co-operatively with each other to set policy, enact legislation, and oversee the administration of European Union Law. These institutions are: the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Parliament.