INTERNATIONAL-LEGAL STATUS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

The paper is an attempt to answer the question that, in the framework of European integration, possesses the international legal personality: European Communities or/and European Union. Using the international public law's test for personality of international organizations - member states, founding treaty, permanent institutions, defined field of operation and special status - the author reaches conclusion that European Communities - each of them - are those who still possess international legal personality. As far as European Union is concerned, it signifies legal independence and operational unity of European Communities and their connection with fields of cooperation.