The EU is a complex and confusing organization. See this page for a detailed listing of EU institutions, and this page for a detailed listing of other EU agencies and bodies.
The main EU institutions include:
- European Commission. The European Commission plays and executive and administrative role. It proposes legislation to the EU's legislative bodies and enforces EU policy and legislation. It is comprised of one minister for each member state, but represents the EU as a whole, not each member state.
- European Council. The European Council is comprised of the heads of state of the member states, the European Council defines the EU's overall policy and direction.
- Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers). This body is composed of selected ministers from each member sate, this institution is the EU's main legislative body, along with the European Parliament. Its main function is to pass laws.
- European Parliament. The parliament is directly elected by European citizens, and plays a role in passing laws, along with the Council of the European Union. Originally its role was advisory.
- Committee of the Regions: This body represents local and regional (not national) points of view on EU legislation by issuing opinions on proposed laws.
- Economic and Social Committee: This advisory body represents organized civil society, meaning interest groups such as employers, trade unions, farmers, consumers, etc., by presenting and defending these groups' interests to other EU bodies.
- European Central Bank: The European Central Bank is the central bank of the 19 European Union countries which have adopted the euro. Its main task is to maintain price stability in the euro area and preserve the euro's purchasing power.
- European Court of Justice: This is the high court of the EU. It reviews the legality of the acts of the institutions of the European Union, ensures that the Member States comply with obligations under the Treaties, and interprets European Union law at the request of the national courts and tribunals.
As is evident from this list, some EU institutions have very similar names. For example, the European Council and the Council of the European Union are two different EU bodies, with two different roles. Neither should be confused with the Council of Europe, an international organization distinct from the EU. Further information on the non-EU Council of Europe is provided in this guide as well.