A
supranational union is a type of
multinational political union where negotiated power is delegated to an authority by governments of member states. The concept of
supranational union is sometimes used to describe the
European Union (EU), as a new type of
political entity. The EU is the only entity which provides for international popular elections, going beyond the level of political integration normally afforded by
international treaty. The term "supranational" is sometimes used in a loose, undefined sense in other contexts, sometimes as a substitute for international, transnational or global. Another method of
decision-making in international organisations is
intergovernmentalism, in which state governments play a more prominent role.