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The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The Union has a total area of 4,233,255 km 2 (1,634,469 sq mi) and an estimated total population of over 448 million.
Jun 9, 2024 · Learn about the EU's history, values, priorities, budget, achievements and more. Find out the latest news and events on EU enlargement, solidarity, skills, recovery and more.
- Overview
- Origins
European Union (EU), international organization comprising 27 European countries and governing common economic, social, and security policies. Originally confined to western Europe, the EU undertook a robust expansion into central and eastern Europe in the early 21st century. The EU’s members are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The United Kingdom, which had been a founding member of the EU, left the organization in 2020.
The EU was created by the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on November 1, 1993. The treaty was designed to enhance European political and economic integration by creating a single currency (the euro), a unified foreign and security policy, and common citizenship rights and by advancing cooperation in the areas of immigration, asylum, and judicial affairs. The EU was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2012, in recognition of the organization’s efforts to promote peace and democracy in Europe.
The EU represents one in a series of efforts to integrate Europe since World War II. At the end of the war, several western European countries sought closer economic, social, and political ties to achieve economic growth and military security and to promote a lasting reconciliation between France and Germany. To this end, in 1951 the leaders of six...
Learn about the EU's common principles and values, key facts and figures, member countries, enlargement, history, symbols and languages. Find out how the EU works and what it offers to its citizens and the world.
Learn about the European Union in a simple and clear way. Find out how it started, what it does, who are its members, and what are its values and symbols.
A guide to the European Union (EU) and its 27 Member States, covering its history, values, institutions, policies and achievements. Learn how the EU works, what it does in different areas and how it affects your life.
Learn about the history, geography, politics, and economy of the EU, a hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization of 27 countries in Europe. The web page provides basic intelligence, photos, and statistics on the EU and its member states.
