The EU consists of 27 countries with a combined population of almost 500 million people. There are currently three official candidate countries, Croatia, F.Y.R. Macedonia and Turkey, each at different stages in the process to join; whilst Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Iceland are officially recognised as potential candidates.
Although the EU traces its origins to the six countries that formed the European Steel and Coal Community in 1951, the name ‘European Union’ was actually created by the Maastricht Treaty, which came into force on 1 November 1993. This built on earlier treaties, which had established, amongst other things, the European single market and the common agricultural and fisheries policies. The Maastricht Treaty introduced new forms of co-operation between the Member State governments, for example, in the area of defence, and thus created a new political, as well as economic, structure. The Maastricht Treaty also included provisions on public health for the first time.
It is estimated that at least half the laws enacted in the UK stem from EU legislation, underlining the hugely influential role it has on many aspects of our lives.
This section of our website gives a brief introduction to:
- How the EU works
- How the EU affects health policy and healthcare services
- Arrangements to help citizens access healthcare throughout the EU
The Our work section of the website gives more information about how EU policy affects the NHS in specific areas. You can find out more about how the NHS European Office works to influence this in About us, and Get involved explains how NHS bodies and other organisations with an interest in health policy can play a role.