There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the European Union (EU) and theEuropean Commission (EC). Both are important institutions in the European Union, but they have different roles. 

Here's a quick rundown of the main differences between the two.

• The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 member states that are located in Europe. 

       The European Commission is the executive branch of the EU and is responsible for proposing          and implementing legislation, as well as managing the day-to-day business of the EU.

• The European Union was established in 1993 with the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. 

       The European Commission was established at the same time, but its role has evolved over the years.

• The European Union is made up of three main institutions: the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission.

The European Parliament is the EU's only directly elected parliamentary institution. It is made up of 751 European Parliament (MEP) members who represent the interests of EU citizens.

The Council of the European Union is the main decision-making body of the EU. It is made up of 28 national ministers, one from each member state. The Council meets in different configurations depending on the policy area being discussed.

• The European Commission serves as the EU's executive branch. It is made up of 28 Commissioners, one from each member state. The Commission is responsible for proposing and implementing legislation, as well as managing the day-to-day business of the EU.

The European Commission is headed by the President of the Commission, who is nominated by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament. The current President of the Commission is Jean-Claude Juncker.

• The euro is the currency of the European Union. The European Central Bank is in charge of monetary policy in the eurozone, which consists of 19 of the EU's 28 member states.
  The European Union is represented by its own flag, anthem, and capital city. The flag is a blue circle with 12 gold stars in it. Ludwig van Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' serves as the anthem. Brussels is the EU's capital city.

So, in summary, the EU is an economic and political union of 28 member states, while the European Commission is the executive branch of the EU.