Why this matters now
EU is tested for: milestones: Treaty of Paris 18 Apr 1951 created ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community); Treaty of Rome 25 Mar 1957 created EEC (European Economic Community) + Euratom; Schengen Agreement 14 June 1985 (in force 1995); MAASTRICHT TREATY 7 Feb 1992 in force 1 Nov 1993 created the EU + 3 pillars (Communities + CFSP + JHA); Treaty of Amsterdam 1997; Treaty of Nice 2001; EURO physical currency 1 Jan 2002; LISBON TREATY signed 13 Dec 2007 in force 1 Dec 2009 abolished 3-pillar structure + created President of European Council + High Representative; BREXIT 31 JAN 2020 UK leaves; post-Brexit 27 members; 20 EUROZONE (Croatia adopted euro 1 Jan 2023); President European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (2019-) 2nd term Nov 2024; President European Council Antonio Costa (Portugal, 1 Dec 2024-); HR/VP Kaja Kallas (Estonia, 2024-).
27 members
Founding 6 (1957): Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands.
Joined: UK + Denmark + Ireland (1973), Greece (1981), Portugal + Spain (1986), Austria + Finland + Sweden (1995), 10 in 2004 (Cyprus, Czech, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia), Bulgaria + Romania (2007), Croatia (2013).
Left: UK (Brexit 31 Jan 2020).
Candidates: Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.
7 EU institutions
| Institution | Role / seat |
|---|---|
| European Council | Heads of state/govt; sets political direction; Brussels. President Antonio Costa. |
| Council of EU | Ministers (sectoral); legislates with Parliament; Brussels. |
| European Parliament | 705 MEPs directly elected; co-legislator; Strasbourg + Brussels + Luxembourg. |
| European Commission | Executive; proposes laws; 27 commissioners (1 per member); Brussels. President Ursula von der Leyen. |
| Court of Justice (CJEU) | Luxembourg. |
| European Central Bank (ECB) | Frankfurt; Eurozone monetary policy. President Christine Lagarde 2019-. |
| Court of Auditors | Luxembourg. |
India & EU
- India-EU Strategic Partnership 2004.
- India-EU FTA — negotiations started 2007, paused 2013, relaunched June 2022; Trade + Technology Council (TTC) established Feb 2023.
- India-EU trade ~€125 b 2024.
- EU is India’s 2nd-largest trading partner after USA + largest source of FDI.
- Connectivity Partnership 2021; IMEC India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor launched G20 Delhi Sept 2023.
- Major irritants: EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from 1 Oct 2023 transitional, 1 Jan 2026 full — India steel + aluminium + cement + fertilizer exports affected; India opposes at WTO.
UPSC angle
Know EUROPEAN UNION (EU) milestones — TREATY OF PARIS 18 APR 1951 created ECSC European Coal and Steel Community; TREATY OF ROME 25 MAR 1957 created EEC European Economic Community + Euratom; SCHENGEN AGREEMENT 14 JUNE 1985 in force 1995; MAASTRICHT TREATY 7 FEB 1992 IN FORCE 1 NOV 1993 created EU + 3 pillars (Communities + CFSP Common Foreign Security Policy + JHA Justice Home Affairs); Treaty of Amsterdam 1997; Treaty of Nice 2001; EURO PHYSICAL CURRENCY 1 JAN 2002; LISBON TREATY signed 13 Dec 2007 IN FORCE 1 DEC 2009 abolished 3-pillar + created President of European Council + High Representative HR/VP; BREXIT 31 JAN 2020 UK left; post-Brexit 27 MEMBERS; 20 EUROZONE (CROATIA adopted euro 1 Jan 2023); founding 6 (1957) Belgium France WGermany Italy Luxembourg Netherlands; enlargements 1973 (UK Denmark Ireland) + 1981 (Greece) + 1986 (Portugal Spain) + 1995 (Austria Finland Sweden) + 2004 BIG BANG 10 (Cyprus Czech Estonia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Malta Poland Slovakia Slovenia) + 2007 (Bulgaria Romania) + 2013 (Croatia); candidates Albania Bosnia Georgia Moldova Montenegro N Macedonia Serbia Turkey UKRAINE; 7 institutions European Council heads of state Brussels President ANTONIO COSTA Portugal 1 Dec 2024-; Council of EU sectoral ministers; European Parliament 705 MEPs directly elected co-legislator Strasbourg+Brussels+Luxembourg; European Commission executive 27 commissioners President URSULA VON DER LEYEN 2019- 2nd term Nov 2024; CJEU Luxembourg; ECB Frankfurt Eurozone monetary policy CHRISTINE LAGARDE 2019-; Court of Auditors Luxembourg; HR/VP KAJA KALLAS Estonia 2024-; INDIA-EU STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP 2004; FTA negotiations started 2007 paused 2013 RELAUNCHED JUNE 2022; Trade + Technology Council TTC established Feb 2023; trade ~€125 b 2024; EU INDIA’S 2ND-LARGEST TRADING PARTNER after USA + LARGEST SOURCE OF FDI; CONNECTIVITY PARTNERSHIP 2021; IMEC India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor launched G20 Delhi Sept 2023; CBAM CARBON BORDER ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM transitional 1 OCT 2023 full 1 JAN 2026 India steel aluminium cement fertilizer exports affected India opposes at WTO.
Frequently asked questions
How many EU member states are there?
27, post-Brexit. UK left on 31 January 2020. The most recent joiner is Croatia (2013); Ukraine + Moldova are formal candidate countries since 2022.
What is the Eurozone?
The 20 EU countries using the euro as their official currency. Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, becoming the 20th member. Denmark + Sweden remain outside the Eurozone.
When did the EU formally come into existence?
1 November 1993, when the Maastricht Treaty (signed 7 February 1992) entered into force — transforming earlier European Communities into the European Union.
What is CBAM?
EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism — carbon tariff on imports of carbon-intensive goods. Transitional reporting from 1 Oct 2023; full charges from 1 Jan 2026. Affects India’s steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizer + electricity exports. India is challenging at WTO.