The "EU" is not a political institution. It is a "a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe.".

The (main) political institutions of the EU are:

- the European Parliament,

- the European Council (of heads of state or government),

- the Council of the European Union (of member state ministers, a council for each area of responsibility),

- the European Commission,

- the Court of Justice of the European Union,

- the European Central Bank and

- the European Court of Auditors.