The European Union is a collective union of 27 countries whose purpose is to act together and work towards common goals. Among those goals are: reducing unemployment and protecting the rights and interest of European Union citizens, contributing to peace and sustainable development, and increasing mutual respect and solidarity, especially in trade relations.. To achieve these goals there must be a certain structure and governing system in place. The structure of the EU is unique, and the governing system is constantly changing. The more wellknown part of the structure consists of seven institutions, while the lesser-known, but no less important part, consists of seven bodies and more than 30 agencies, all working and acting together for the common interest of all citizens of the European Union. The EU institutions are concerned with establishing the political direction, setting the rules and ensuring their implementation, while the bodies have a specialized role in providing support in the form of assisting the institutions. The seven bodies are divided into two groups: the first group consists of bodies with an advisory role (European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions) and the second group which ensure that the institutions act properly in certain situations (European Ombudsman, European Data Protection Supervisor). European Union agencies represent decentralized bodies, not created by the Treaties but by joint decisions to help achieve precise objectives and to assist Member States in matters such as environmental protection, food safety, judicial cooperation and the like. The agencies vary in objectives and size and can be divided into four groups: decentralized agencies, agencies under the common security and defense policy, executive agencies, and EURATOMA agencies and bodies.