Bananas for the EU?
Are you bananas for the EU? Or even if you could not care less about the straightness of your banana, Ballot Box UK gives you a guide to the European Union...The EU was formed in 1948 as a way of peacekeeping in Europe. So basically it was to prevent further world wars from happening. The starting point of the treaties in the EU was the Brussels treaty, this treaty was signed by Belgium, France, Luxembourg, UK and the Netherlands. However the UK did not enter into the EU until 1973.
The European Union has many insitutions, (places where decisions, laws and often mistakes are made)
European Council
The European Council sets the agenda of the European Union, so basically it is the body responsible for making sometimes ridiculous proposals such as how straight or bendy bananas should be. Heads of countries sit on the European Council, however it can't really do much as it does not pass laws.
European Parliament
The Parliament is where the people that we vote for sit, it does not have much power but it does have influence as it is the only representative arm of the EU.
Council of the European Union
This institution makes decisions with the European Parliament, helping to develop common foreign and security policy. So this means that its job is to decide on what they think should be the EU's stance on other countries outside the EU.
European Commission
This arm of the EU proposes laws, so is therefore one of the most powerful parts of the EU. It is completely neutral from the states that it represents. Does not have that much power over foreign policy.
Court of Justice
This institution is the Supreme Court in the EU, this means that any decisions that it makes are final, no arguing.
