Akademik

   The Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, which was ratified in November 1993, formed this economic and political confederation of European nations, which grew out of the earlier European community. The EU is responsible especially for economic coordination and harmonization. In addition, it fosters common foreign and security policies and cooperation on justice and home affairs. The most important EU institutions are the Council of the European Commission (EC), the European Parliament, and the European Court of Justice. There are presently twenty-seven member states or countries—Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.