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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.
Learn about the EU's principles, values, priorities, budget, achievements and more. Find out how to vote in the European elections 2024 and discover the EU's history and member countries.
Learn about the EU's strategy, policies and initiatives, and how to participate in the European dialogue. Find out the latest news, events, publications and statistics from the European Commission.
Feb 1, 2020 · Learn about the EU's origins, development, institutions, budget, languages and more. Find out which countries are members, use the euro and belong to the Schengen area.
- 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 and symbols. Find out how the EU works, from the euro and law, to history and travel.
Consilium is the official website of the EU Council and the European Council. It provides information on the latest news, meetings, topics and presidency of the EU.
