European Communities

At the time of its abolition, the Community pillar covered the following areas:

Border Control	Trans-European Networks	Economic and monetary union	Health care
EU Citizenship	Custom Union and Single Market	Education and Culture	Trade policy
Common Agricultural & Fisheries Policy	Research & Competition	Enviromental Law	Asilum & social policy
Consumer Protection	Schengen Treaty	Employment	Immigration policy

The Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Communities grants the European Communities and their institutions certain privileges and immunities such as to allow them to perform their tasks.

The working conditions of staff are governed by the Communities’ staff regulations and not directly by the labour laws of the countries of employment. Their salaries, wages and emoluments are subject to a tax for the benefit of the European Communities and are, in turn, exempt from national taxes.