How has the European Union changed since the beginning?

Originally the European Union was a treaty organization for the purpose of doing away with tariffs on coal and steal. It added other commodities. Gradually, it became a confederation with suggested laws for all its members. Some taxes applied to some members and some to all members. It is slowly evolving toward a Federation. Certain decisions taken in Belgium apply to all members.

The European Union is not a complete federal union where the decisions made at governmental headquarters apply to all members. It is still partly a confederation where states can opt out of certain decisions. As in a confederation, they can not opt out of the decisions they have permanently turned over to the supranational government.