These countries are collectively known as the Eurozone.The Schengen Area is one of the greatest achievements of the EU. Feedback on this website Austria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is €337.162 billion, as per 2015. Documents, reports and data When European countries started to cooperate economically in 1951, only Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands participated.The euro (€) is the official currency of 19 out of 27 EU countries. Work for and with the EU Unlike members of other international organisations, the member states of the EU have agreed by treaty to shared sovereignty through the institutions of the European Union in some aspects of government. The six founding member countries of the European Community were Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The ECSC was created first. Austria is a member country of the EU since January 1, 1995 with its geographic size of 83,879 km², and population number 8,576,234, as per 2015. EU member country: since 1 January 1973; Currency: euro. Doing business in the EU

In 2009, the EC's institutions were absorbed into the EU's wider framework and the community ceased to exist. Once an applicant country meets the conditions for membership, it must implement EU rules and regulations in all areas.A country wishing to join the EU submits a membership application to the Council, which asks the Commission to assess the applicant’s ability to meet the Copenhagen criteria.

Since 1985, it has gradually grown and encompasses today almost all EU countries and a few associated non-EU countries.While having abolished their internal borders, Schengen States have also tightened controls at their common external border on the basis of Schengen rules to ensure the security of those living or travelling in the Schengen Area.Becoming a member of the EU is a complex procedure which does not happen overnight. The ECSC was created first. Austrians comprise 1.7% of the total EU population. The European Union consists of 27 member states. Give feedback about this website or report a problem However, when the EU was established the institutions that dealt solely or mainly with the European Community (as opposed to all three pillars) retained their original names, for example the formal name of the The Community institutions became the institutions of the EU but the roles of the institutions between the pillars are different. Member states must agree unanimously for the EU to adopt some policies; for others, collective decision making is b This is reflected in the names of the institutions, the Council is formally the "Council of the However, after the Treaty of Maastricht, Parliament gained a much bigger role. The European Economic Community (EEC) was a regional organisation that aimed to bring about economic integration among its member states. These countries are collectively known as the Eurozone.Which countries use the euro? If the Commission’s opinion is positive, the Council must then agree upon a negotiating mandate. It was intended that this would increase prosperity and decrease the risk of these countries going to war through the process of As the EAEC has a low profile, and the profile of the European Community is dwarfed by that of the EU, the term "European Communities" sees little usage. Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS Living, working, travelling in the EU Each member state is party to the founding treaties of the union and thereby shares in the privileges and obligations of membership. The EU was not always as big as it is today. The At the time of its abolition, the Community pillar covered the following areas;The Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European CommunitiesThe working conditions of staff are governed by the Communities' staff regulationsThis article is about the collective nature of the three European Communities existing from 1952 until 2009, including their operation as a pillar of the European Union after 1993.
Euro area member since 1 January 1999; Schengen: Ireland has negotiated an opt-out from Schengen area. Legislation and case-law The Commission, Parliament and Court of Justice are largely cut out of activities in the second and third pillars, with the Council dominating proceedings. It is an area without internal borders, an area within which citizens, many non-EU nationals, business people and tourists can freely circulate without being subjected to border checks. Following its proposal in 1950 in the The ECSC's aim was to combine the coal and steel industries of its members to create a single market in those resources.