Global (Commonwealth Union) – The Commonwealth, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU) are all regional intergovernmental organizations that share some similarities but also have notable differences.
The Commonwealth is an association of 56 sovereign states, mainly former territories of the British Empire, that cooperate on a range of issues, including trade, development, human rights, and democracy. The Commonwealth does not have a central government or legislative body and operates on the principles of consensus and voluntary cooperation.
The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states located primarily in Europe. The EU has a central government and legislative body, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union. The EU also has a common currency and a range of policies and initiatives aimed at promoting economic and political integration among its member states.
The African Union is a continental union of 55 member states located in Africa, which aims to promote economic, social, and political cooperation among its members. The AU has a central government and legislative body, including the African Commission and the African Parliament. The AU also has a range of initiatives and policies aimed at promoting peace, security, and development in Africa.
A key difference between the Commonwealth and the EU and AU is that the Commonwealth members are not bound by treaty to each other whereas the EU and AU members are. The TEU (Treaty on European Union) is one of the EU’s primary treaties, together with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
Some of the treaties within the AU are the Constitutive Act of the African Union which establishes the AU’s objectives, principles, and organs, and outlines the relationship between the AU and its member states. The African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is another treaty for AU members that aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in Africa. The Convention recognizes the importance of protecting Africa’s natural heritage and biodiversity.
