10.9. Referring to the European Union and its Member States

The European Union is referred to systematically as ‘the Union’ in the treaties and in legislation, while in other texts either the full form (European Union) or the abbreviation ‘EU’ is to be used.

The European Union is referred to systematically as ‘the Union’ in the treaties and in legislation. This practice should be avoided in other texts: use either the full form (European Union) or the abbreviation ‘EU’. Do not refer to the European Union as ‘Europe’.

The European Communities have now been absorbed by the European Union, so references to ‘Community policy/institutions/legislation’ should now read ‘European Union/EU policy/institutions/legislation’. Retain ‘the (European) Community/ies’ only for historical references. The European Atomic Energy Community continues to exist, and is always abbreviated as ‘Euratom’.