note — evolved from the European Community (EC)

address — c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049
Brussels, Belgium

telephone — [32] (2) 299 11 11 FAX [32] (2) 295 01 38 through 295 01 40

established — 7 February 1992

effective — 1 November 1993

aim — to coordinate policy among the 15 members in three fields: economics, building on the European Economic Community's (EEC) efforts to establish a common market and eventually a common currency; defense, within the concept of a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP); and justice and home affairs, including immigration, drugs, terrorism, and improved living and working conditions

members — (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK

First World

another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs)

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)