European Union (incl. Parliament, Commission, Council) (EU)
The European Union is a union of 27 countries that make shared laws, run a single market and agree a common budget. Under the EU treaties, the directly elected European Parliament (720 MEPs) and the Council of the EU (government ministers) jointly pass laws and the budget, while the European Commission, one Commissioner per country, proposes laws, executes the budget and checks that EU law is applied. EU regulations are binding and directly applicable in every member state.
Who leads it
- President of the European Commission: Ursula von der Leyen (european-union.europa.eu)
- President of the European Council: António Costa (european-union.europa.eu)
- President of the European Parliament: Roberta Metsola (european-union.europa.eu)
The UK and the EU
The European Commission says the United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020. EU-UK relations now run through the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, each with its own joint committees.
Key figures
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Member countries (October 2026) | 27 | European Union, read 16 October 2026 |
| Population (2024 (Eurostat data)) | almost 450 million (5.5% of world population) | European Union / Eurostat, read 20 October 2026 |
| Members of the European Parliament (2024-2029 term) | 720 | European Parliament, read 20 October 2026 |
| EU annual budget: commitments (2026) | €192,768.1 million | EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), read 20 October 2026 |
| EU annual budget: payments (2026) | €190,091.6 million | EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), read 20 October 2026 |
| Qualified majority in the Council (Current) | 55% of countries (15 of 27) representing at least 65% of EU population | European Union, read 20 October 2026 |
| Blocking minority in the Council (Current) | at least 4 countries representing at least 35% of EU population | European Union, read 20 October 2026 |
| Candidate countries (Current) | 9 candidates and 1 potential candidate | European Union, read 20 October 2026 |
| College of Commissioners (2024-2029) | 27 members: President, 5 Executive Vice-Presidents, High Representative/Vice-President, 20 Commissioners | European Union, read 20 October 2026 |
What it decides
- The European Parliament, jointly with the Council, exercises legislative and budgetary functions and elects the Commission President; MEPs may not exceed 750 (Treaty on European Union, Article 14).
- The Council, made up of one minister per member state, shares law-making and budget powers with Parliament (TEU Article 16); most decisions need a qualified majority of 55% of countries representing 65% of EU population.
- The Commission promotes the general interest of the Union, ensures the Treaties are applied, executes the budget and manages programmes (TEU Article 17).
- Regulations are binding in their entirety and directly applicable in all member states; directives bind countries as to the result but leave the form and methods to national authorities (Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, Article 288).
- Any member state may withdraw by notifying the European Council (TEU Article 50); this is the route the UK used.
- Parliament can vote a motion of censure obliging the Commission to resign.
Records you can check
- EU Transparency RegisterLobbyists and interest groups seeking to influence EU policy, with their spending and clients
- 2026 EU annual budget documentsDraft, adopted and amending budgets for 2026
- MEPs: full listEvery current Member of the European Parliament, with group and country
- European election results 2024-2029Seats by political group and country
- EU Treaties on EUR-LexConsolidated Treaty on European Union and Treaty on the Functioning of the EU
Common questions
How many countries are in the EU?
27. The EU's own country list shows 27 member states (October 2026).
When did the UK leave the EU?
31 January 2020, according to the European Commission.
What is the EU budget for 2026?
EUR-Lex records the 2026 budget at €192.8 billion in commitments and €190.1 billion in payments.
How many MEPs are there?
720 for the 2024-2029 term, according to the European Parliament's election results site.
What is qualified majority voting in the EU?
The EU says most Council decisions need 55% of member countries (15 of 27) representing at least 65% of the EU population. A blocking minority needs at least four countries with at least 35% of the population.
Who are the presidents of the EU institutions?
Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission), António Costa (European Council) and Roberta Metsola (European Parliament), according to the EU's institution profiles.
Other bodies at level 7
- African Union
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights
- European Central Bank
- European Court of Human Rights
- Gulf Cooperation Council
- Mercosur
- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
Sources
- EU countries | European Union, read 16 October 2026
- Facts and figures on the European Union, read 20 October 2026
- European Parliament | European Union, read 20 October 2026
- European Commission | European Union, read 20 October 2026
- Council of the European Union | European Union, read 20 October 2026
- European Council | European Union, read 20 October 2026
- The President | European Parliament, read 20 October 2026
- Seats by political group and country 2024-2029, read 20 October 2026
- 2026 European Union budget (EUR-Lex summary), read 20 October 2026
- 2026 annual EU budget documents, read 20 October 2026
- Transparency Register, read 20 October 2026
- Relations with the United Kingdom, read 20 October 2026
- Consolidated Treaty on European Union, read 20 October 2026
- TFEU Article 288, read 20 October 2026