The
European Atomic Energy Community (
EAEC or
Euratom) is an
international organisation founded in 1957 with the purpose of creating a specialist market for
nuclear power in Europe, developing nuclear energy and distributing it to its member states while selling the surplus to non-member states. It is legally distinct from the
European Union (EU), but has the same
membership, and is governed by the
EU's institutions. Since 2014,
Switzerland has also participated in Euratom programmes as an associated state.