EC, the ECSC and EURATOM. In 1997 it consisted of the following 15 full members Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom. Norway was scheduled to join EU in 1995 but the people of Norway through a referendum held in November 1994 voted against the membership. The EU functions through the following main organs that previously belonged to ECM.(i) The Council of Ministers(ii) The European' Commission(iii) The European Parliament'(iv) The European Court of JusticeProgress of EU after the Maastricht Treaty: Since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1991 the European Union has come a long way in the spheres of European Monetary Union and the European political Union. The European Council and European Parliament have been instrumental, in bridging the gaps between the member states by adopting common foreign policies, laying foundations of common defense policy and sorting out the differences among members hindering the launching of a common single currency by 1999. The United Europe has emerged as a great political and economic power. Its GDP has surpassed the GDPs of USA and Japan. It enjoys the strength of about 40% of the entire trade of the world. Economic Monetary Union is the other cherished goal of the EU. Amidst unseen fears of losing sovereignty and haunted by peculiar apprehensions the European nations are progressing gradually but surely towards their target. In a nutshell: (http://www.ecd.org.cn/ecd-china/comm.htm)The European Commission, assisted by a European civil service, is the EU policy engine and manages most of the EU common policies. It proposes legislation, and ensures that the provisions of the EU treaties and the decisions of the institutions are properly implemented. It has investigative powers, and can take legal action against persons, companies, or member states that violate EU rules. It manages the budge...
