<human>:  How many countries are in the European Union?
<bot>: The European Union is an economic and political union of 28 member states. The EU has three main institutions: the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. The Council of the European Union is made up of the heads of state or government of the member states. The European Commission is the executive body of the EU, responsible for implementing the laws of the EU and the budget. The European Parliament is the legislative body of the EU, responsible for approving the laws of the EU.