This document provides information about the political map of Europe and the European Union. It details which countries are part of the EU, listing the years each joined. It also lists some of the main institutions of the EU, including the European Council comprised of heads of state, the Council of the EU made up of ministers, the European Parliament with elected members, and the European Commission with one commissioner per member state.

1. UNIT 2.
THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT

2. 2. POLITICAL MAP OF EUROPE.

3.  Spain is located in the European continent, made up of
different countries (Serbia, Poland, Sweden, Greece,
Liechtenstein, San Marino, Latvia…).
 Some of these countries, like Spain, are members of
the European Union (EU): a supranational institution
of 28 European states.
1957: Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy
and France.
1973: Ireland, United Kingdom, Denmark.
1981: Greece.
1986: Portugal, Spain.
1995: Austria, Sweden, Finland
2004: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus.
2007: Bulgaria, Romania.
2013: Croatia

4. INTITUTIONS
Some of the institutions of the European
Union are: European council (Consejo
Europeo), Council of the EU (Consejo de la
Unión Europea), European Parliament
(Parlamento Europeo), European Commission
(Comisión Europea), Court of Justice of the
European Union, European Central Bank…

5. • EUROPEAN COUNCIL
– Made up of the heads of state and government of the 28
countries.
– Meets several times a year to decide on EU policies.
• COUNCIL OF THE EU
– Made up of ministers from the EU states.
– Is the main legislative body and coordinates the exterior
economic policy.
• EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
– Members elected every five years by universal suffrage
(751 eurodeputies).
– Approves the EU budget and the laws proposed by the Council
of the EU.
• EUROPEAN COMMISION
– Made up of one commissioner from each member state.
– Proposes legislation to the council to the Council of the EU.