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ECSC
The European Coal and Steel Community was formed by France, FRG (Federal Republic of Germany), Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, who are also the founding countries of the EEC and eventually the EU -
Court of Justice of the European Union
Based in Luxembourg, it is responsible for ensuring that the EU direct is applied in the same way for all member states, and is composed of seven judges flanked by a court of first instance -
EEC
Founding countries, such as Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, establish the EEC (European Economic Community) through the signing of the Treaty of Rome -
European Parliament
The European Parliament is established in Strasbourg.
It's directly elected by the citizens of the EU, and it has the power to pass and amend legislation -
EU Council
Based in Brussels, holds legislative power and also performs a budgetary function. Consists of one competent minister per member state, determined according to the subject matter. -
Enlargement No. 1
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the EEC. -
European Council
Its members are the heads of state (or government) of the EU member countries, the president of the European Council and the president of the European Commission.
It is based in Brussels and sets EU policy priorities and orders and establishes the strategic agenda -
Enlargement No. 2
Greece joins the EEC -
Enlargement No. 3
Spain and Portugal also become members of the EEC -
Schengen Agreement
This agreement involves the free movement of goods and people within member countries -
European Union
With the Treaty of Maastricht, Netherlands, the EEC became the European Union and "European citizenship" was also established, granted to every citizen with citizenship of a member state. Citizenship entails many rights, such as the freedom to study, stay and work in the territory, the right to vote in local elections in one's state and in the European Parliament -
The criteria for joining the EU
They were established in Copenhagen, and include a political, economic and acquis communautaire aspect -
Enlargement No. 4
Austria, Finland and Sweden join the European Union -
Court of Accounts
It is based in Luxembourg and is responsible for examining the revenue and expenditure accounts of the EU, so it is responsible for controlling the finances of the Union -
European Central Bank
Headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, it is responsible for managing the euro and setting and implementing the EU's economic and monetary policy.
Consists of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson , 4 representatives of the ECB and a representative of the relevant national authority of each member state -
The Euro
Entry into force of the single currency, accepted by all but 3 states (UK, Denmark, Sweden). To date used by 19 countries -
Enlargement No. 5
Ten more countries join the European Union: Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia.
This is the largest enlargement, both in terms of the number of people and the number of countries -
Enlargement No. 6
Accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union -
Enlargement No. 7
The latest to join the European Union is Croatia -
European Commission
It is managed and protected autonomously by delegates, who are required to be independent of the government by which they are appointed in decsion.
Based in Brussels and holding an executive body, it is appointed every five years and the current chair is Ursula von der Leyen