17,394
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 31:
Line 31: + + + + + + + + + + +
no edit summary
As a set of institutions, the EU has more powers over its member states and their citizens than other international bodies; many of its competencies are supranational (above the member states) rather than intergovernmental (between them). Despite having a legal personality and sovereignty in agreed areas, it is not regarded as a federation or state in its own right: rather, it stands somewhere between these two points. Fifteen member states use a common [[currency]], the [[euro]]; five other states formally agree to use it, and four others use it without formal agreement.
As a set of institutions, the EU has more powers over its member states and their citizens than other international bodies; many of its competencies are supranational (above the member states) rather than intergovernmental (between them). Despite having a legal personality and sovereignty in agreed areas, it is not regarded as a federation or state in its own right: rather, it stands somewhere between these two points. Fifteen member states use a common [[currency]], the [[euro]]; five other states formally agree to use it, and four others use it without formal agreement.
==Politics==
Each nation elects members to the Parliament in proportion to population. The June 2009 elections saw sweeping gainst by conservative and anti-immigration parties, as labor and socialist parties lost heavily. Since th 2004 elections the largest grouping has for the last five years been the centre-right European People's Party '''EPP''' (288 seats out of a current 785), followed by the centre-left '''PES''' (216) and the liberal '''ALDE''' (100). With the 2009 election EPP made gains and retains power in the parliament.
Conservative Jose Manuel Barroso, who will have a second term as European Commission president, thanked voters and assured them their voices would be heard.
In 2009 The British [[Labour Party]], Germany's [[Social Democrats]] and France's Socialist Party suffered historic defeats--the worst defeat for Labour in Britain in a century..
Turnout was at an all-time low in some countries, including France (41%) and Germany (42%).
==Structure==
==Structure==