As a stock exchange it was created as a merger of the french(Paris), dutch(Amsterdam) and belgian(Brussels) stock exchange. It 's strategy consists of:

• Facilitating capital market growth in Europe, setting global standards and forming alliances
• Facilitating capital market growth in Europe
• Setting standards for financial markets and adding value to our technology
• Entering into mergers and alliances for the benefit of clients and shareholders

As an index it is one of the two main indices used in euronext with 100 stocks. There is also the next with 150 stocks.