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The United Kingdom's decision to exit the European Union in June and a EU summit meeting Friday have cast a spotlight on the organization. Yet few Europeans understand the massive bureaucracy based here that governs their lives. Sara Snyder, USA TODAY

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on June 24.(Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

BRUSSELS The United Kingdom's decision to exittheEuropean Union in June and a EU summit meetingFriday havecast a spotlight on the organization.Yet fewEuropeans understand themassive bureaucracy based here thatgovernstheir lives.

A series of polls published in 2014 by the Robert Schuman Foundation, an EU research center,found that about half ofthebloc's 500 million citizensdon't knowhow the EU works or have little confidence in how it operates.

"The EU is not good at explaining itself what it's forand what it's done for people. To an extent, that's itsbiggest problem," said Giles Merritt, chairman of Friends of Europe, a think tank in Brussels that specializes in analyzing European public policy issues.

"It can be hard to remember nowadays, but the EUmanages in a globalized world to focus on Europe's needs for collective strength. It just does it in its rather bumbling, mysterious and impenetrable way," he said.

To help remove some of that mystery, here is a closer look alook at the organization:

The predecessor to the EU was set up in 1951, soon afterWorld War II, with the aim of forging unity to prevent another conflicton the continent.The six founding countries Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands believedthat economic cooperation on their coal and steel industrieswould make it difficultto turn their weapons ofwar against each other.More than half a century later, the EU's steady expansion, including ex-communist states, has ballooned to 28nations 27 after the U.K. formally leaves. Nineteen of the EU membersshare the euro currency in what is known as the eurozone.

The EUemploys 55,000 publicservants in seven institutions the European Parliament, European Council, Council of the European Union, European Commission, Court of Justice of the European Union, European Central Bank and the Court of Auditors. Altogether, these brancheshave anannual budget of $160 billion togovern 500 million people in a1.7-million-square-mile area.

Top officials includeEuropean Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Martin Schulz, European Central Bank President Mario Draghiand EUHigh Representative Frederica Mogherini, who serves as the bloc'sforeign secretary.

The EU spends money on more 80 differentprograms. More than a third is usedon five specific fundsknown as European Structural and Investment Funds. Thesepromoteeconomic and social cohesion among inhabitants ofpoorer member states, support common fisheries and agricultural policies and underwrite infrastructure projects in less developed regions. Itspends 6% of its budget on buildingmaintenance.

It regulateseverything from the shape ofbananas to workers' rightsto the size of vacuum cleaners. The European Central Bank tries to maintain price stability across the euro-area. The Court of Justice makes sure that all EU law is applied in the same way in all EU countries. The Court of Auditors keeps tabs on what the bloc earns and spends. All of these institutions and bodies in turn derive their legitimacy fromtreaties that need to be unanimously agreed by all memberstates.

The European Parliament has751 parliamentariansdirectly elected for a five-year period by voters in their home countries. They can't propose legislation but can only amend or rejects bills that have been initiatedby one of the 28 officials oftheEuropean Commission.These officials are not elected butappointed one each by each ofthe 28 Europeanleaders who make upthe European Council, the body that decidesthe EU'soverall political direction. The Council meets behind closed doors.

"The European Parliament really isn't a parliament," said Ray Finch, a Brussels lawmakerfor the U.K. Independence Party, the right-wing anti-immigration group that backedJune's successfulvote toexitthe EU."We might as well be in North Korea for all the power wehave here."

A commoncomplaint is wasteful spending.One example:One week a month, at an estimated costof $200 million a year, the entireEuropean Parliament in Brussels including legislators, aides, support staff, translators and several thousand plasticboxes containing key documentsaretransported by truck and train270 miles awayto Strasbourg in northeastern France.The EU says it does this because Strasbourgis the official venue for the parliament's full plenary sessions,and it would take a treaty change to end the practice.

Critics such as theU.K. Independence Party'sFinchsay the reason is that France insists on it and makes a lot on money on hotel rooms.

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The European Union: What it's all about