The Structure of the European Community

Over the years the European Union has become one of the biggest single markets in the world and it now has some 25 member states which collaborate in many ways whilst being in competition with each other.   The European Union is a terrific idea which is miss-understood by many and miss-used by a similar number of organisations and political individuals often for their own ends or for certain political ideals.

Love it or hate it…..

Love it of hate it the European Union is here to stay and it has a major influence on all of us.  Decisions made in the European Commission and the European Parliament can and do affect the way we live our lives and run our businesses so we thought it might be worth getting to know about the EU.    In the News Pages on the Cumbria Business Portal we explore how it impacts on our lives and businesses and how we can take advantage of many of the projects and programmes that are created by the EU.    The author has successfully worked with the EU and has specific knowldge on Research & Development Funding - again more information can be seen on the Cumbria Business Portal, just follow this link to the specific page.

A recent survey reveals that in the North West of England

75% say they know nothing about the EU, its policies or its institutions

65% would like more information on what the EU does

59% of people in the region think there are only 20 member states in the EU

35% think that Turkey is already a member

 So perhaps we should start with some facts about the EU and how it is organised.

The European Union - How is it structured?

The EU operates through a number of institutions, which were created by treaties.

These institutions are;

The European Council

The Council of Ministers

The European Commission

The European Parliament

The European Courts

The European Economic and Social Committee

The Committee of the Regions

The European Central Bank

The European Investment Bank