European Union

The EU is an umbrella reference to the European Community (EC) and to two
European integration efforts introduce by the Maastricht Treaty: Common
Foreign and Security Policy (including defense) and Justice and Home
Affairs (principally cooperation between police and other authorities on
crime, terrorism, and immigration issues). The term "European Union" was
introduced in November 1993 (when the Maastricht Treaty on European Union
entered into force). The term "European Community" (EC) continues to exist
as a legal entity within the broader framework of the EU.