| Amsterdam
Treaty |
Strengthens the EU's ability to
undertake joint foreign policy actions. |
| Council of the European Union |
Enacts EU laws, acting on
proposals submitted by the commission. |
| Court of Auditors |
Examines the legality of
receipts and expenditures and manages the EU budget. |
| Court of Justice |
Ensures that treaties are
interpreted and applied correctly by other EU institutions and by the member states. |
| Economic and Monetary Union
(EMU) |
Responsible for economic
integration of the EU member states by lifting restrictions on movements of capital across
internal EU borders. |
| Economic and Social Committee
(Brussels) |
A 222-member consultative body,
representing labor, employers, agriculture, consumer, and professional associations. |
| EU |
European Union. |
| European Atomic Energy
Community (EAEC) or Euratom |
Organization that furthered the
use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. |
| European Central Bank (ECB) |
Responsible for monetary policy
and the euro. |
| European Commission |
Proposes legislation, is
responsible for administration, and ensures that provisions of the treaties and the
decisions of the institutions are properly implemented. |
| European Council |
Organization that brings
together Heads of State and Government and the President of the Commission. |
| European Economic Community
(EEC) |
Organization that merges
separate national markets into a single market that ensures the free movement of goods,
people, capital, and services. |
| European Investment Bank
(Luxembourg) |
Finances investments in line
with EU objectives. |
| European Parliament |
The EU's "public
forum": Can veto legislation in certain policy areas and can amend proposals
for legislation. |
| Maastricht Treaty, 1993 |
Established the Common Foreign
and Security Policy, created European citizenship, and strengthened the European
Parliament's role in legislative areas. |
| The Euro |
Europe's new single currency
that was launched on January 1, 1999 in eleven EU countries. |
| Treaty of Rome |
Established the European
Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community. |
