European Union
Updated 7 November 2026
A political and economic union of 27 European states with its own law, single market, parliament and external diplomatic service — the deepest integration project between sovereign states anywhere.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1993
- Headquarters
- Brussels, Belgium
- Members
- 27 states
- Chair
- Ireland
- Commission President
- Ursula von der Leyensince December 2019
- European Council President
- António Costasince December 2024
- High Representative
- Kaja Kallassince December 2024
- Parliament President
- Roberta Metsolasince January 2022
- Next summit
- 13 November 2026Dublin, Ireland
- Last summit
- 15 October 2026Brussels, Belgium
- The UAE
- Negotiating free trade and strategic partnership agreements since 2025
- UAE trade with members (2025)
- $70.1 billion