This Agenda is the Commission's much anticipated communication on the future development of the European Union. Introducing the Agenda 2000, the president Jacques Santer also said that 'Enlargement represents a historic turning point for Europe'.

             - to launch the Euro - the single currency of the European Monetary Union which is adopted by 11 countries as from 1st Jan. 1999.

             Five institutions can participate in the legislative process under the EC Treaty. Each has its constitutional role. The main three are the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament.

             The European Commission has the main role to steer the Union in new directions. It operates as a source of policy initiatives and works closely with the Parliament and the Council. Basically it represents the common interests of the Union and it has the sole right to initiate legislation. The Commission is also the Union's administrative body, overseeing member state implementation of directives and enforcing regulations. Another responsibility of the Commission is to manage the ECU budget and to take decisions in fields such as competition, agriculture and trade policy. It has also important responsibilities for aid and development in the 3rd countries.

             One of its limits is that it has not power to take legislative decisions.

             After the Commission transmits its proposals, the Council of the European Union, representing the member states, acts on Commission proposals and has the final or joint legislative authority with the Parliament. It has also role in establishing an internal market (no borders between states, that guarantees freedom of movement inside the Union) and that the objectives put by the Treaty are reached by coordinating the general economic policies of the member states of the EU by adopting proposals from the Commission.

             The European Parliament represents the people of the European Union, by acting as the EU's public forum in debating issues and questioning the Commission and Council.