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			{{short description|Supranational political and economic union}}
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	{{Redirect|EU}}		{{redirect|EU}}
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	{{Infobox European Union}}
			{{pp-move}}
	The '''European Union''' ('''EU''') is an economic and political union of 27 ],<ref name="Oxford Dictionary of English">{{cite web|title='''Oxford Dictionary of English''': ''European'' 5 b. spec. Designating a developing series of economic and political unions between certain countries of western (and later also eastern) Europe from 1952 onwards, as European Economic Community, European Community, European Union.|url=http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50078844?query_type=word&queryword=European&first=1&max_to_show=10&sort_type=alpha&result_place=2&search_id=XNLm-9KGPpN-8152&hilite=50078844|accessdate=27 October 2010}}</ref> located primarily<!--Please do not remove this. Parts of Spain and France are outside Europe, and the geographical location of Cyprus is not clear. This word has been extensively discussed.--> in ]. Committed to ], the EU was established by the ] on 1 November 1993 upon the foundations of the ].<ref name="EU1993"/> With almost 500 million citizens, the EU combined generates an estimated 30% share (]18.4 trillion in 2008) of the ] and about 22% of the ].<ref name="GDP IMF"/>
			{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
			{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
			{{Infobox geopolitical organisation
			| conventional_long_name = European Union
			| native_name = {{Name in various languages
			| name = {{nobold|''(in other official languages)''}}
			| bg = Европейски съюз
			| hr = Europska unija
			| cs = Evropská unie
			| da = Den Europæiske Union
			| nl = Europese Unie
			| et = Euroopa Liit
			| fi = Euroopan unioni
			| fr = Union européenne
			| de = Europäische Union
			| el = Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση
			| hu = Európai Unió
			| ga = An tAontas Eorpach
			| it = Unione europea
			| lv = Eiropas Savienība
			| lt = Europos Sąjunga
			| mt = Unjoni Ewropea
			| pl = Unia Europejska
			| pt = União Europeia
			| ro = Uniunea Europeană
			| sk = Európska únia
			| sl = Evropska unija
			| es = Unión Europea
			| sv = Europeiska unionen
			}}
			| linking_name = the European Union
			| image_flag = Flag of Europe.svg
			| alt_flag = Circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background
			| flag_border = yes
			| symbol_width =
			| motto = {{Native name|la|"]"|italics=off}}
			| englishmotto = "United in Diversity"
			| anthem = "]"{{Paragraph break}}{{Center|]}}
			| text_symbol_type =
			| text_symbol =
			| image_map = {{Switcher
			| ]
			| Show globe
			| ]
			| Show ]
			}}
			| loctext =
			| alt_map = Globe projection with the EU in green
			| map_caption = {{Map_caption|countryprefix=the|location_color=dark green|region=Europe|region_color=dark grey}}
			| admin_center_type = ]
			| capital = ] {{small|('']'')}}<ref name="capital">{{cite book |last=Cybriwsky |first=Roman Adrian |title=Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture |publisher=] |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-61069-248-9 |page= |quote=Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is considered to be the de facto capital of the EU}}</ref>
			| admin_center = {{collapsible list
			| framestyle="border: none; padding: 0;"<!--Hides borders and improves row spacing-->
			| title = {{nowrap|Brussels}}
			| bullets = true
			| ]
			| ] <!-- Do not shorten to "Council". That is the official title of the Council of the EU in the treaties, so it's confusing. -->
			| ]
			| ] (secondary)
			}}
			{{Collapsible list
			| framestyle="border: none; padding: 0;"<!--Hides borders and improves row spacing-->
			| title = {{nowrap|]}}
			| bullets = true
			| ]
			}}
			{{Collapsible list
			| framestyle="border: none; padding: 0;"<!--Hides borders and improves row spacing-->
			| title = {{Nowrap|]}}
			| bullets = true
			| ]
			| ]
			| Council of the EU (April, June and October sessions)
			| ]
			| Commission (various departments and services)
			}}
			{{Collapsible list
			| framestyle="border: none; padding: 0;"<!--Hides borders and improves row spacing-->
			| title = {{nowrap|]}}
			| bullets = true
			| Parliament
			}}
			| largest_settlement_type = ]
			| largest_settlement = ]<!-- if the parameter is metropolis, then link to the article about the metropolitan area. If the parameter is municipality, then Berlin is largest, not Paris -->
			| official_languages = ]
			| languages_type = Official scripts
			| languages = {{hlist|]|]|]}}
			| religion = {{tree list}}
			* 71.6% ]
			** 45.3% ]
			** 11.1% ]
			** 9.6% ]
			** 5.6% other ]
			* 24.0% ]
			* 1.8% ]
			* 2.6% ]
			{{Tree list/end}}
			| religion_year = 2015
			| religion_ref = <ref name="EB2015" />
			| demonym = ]
			| org_type = ]<br>] <small>('']'')</small>
			| membership = {{Collapsible list|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
			|title = ]
			|{{flag|Austria}}
			|{{flag|Belgium}}
			|{{flag|Bulgaria}}
			|{{flag|Croatia}}
			|{{flag|Cyprus}}
			|{{flag|Czech Republic}}
			|{{flag|Denmark}}
			|{{flag|Estonia}}
			|{{flag|Finland}}
			|{{flag|France}}
			|{{flag|Germany}}
			|{{flag|Greece}}
			|{{flag|Hungary}}
			|{{flag|Ireland}}
			|{{flag|Italy}}
			|{{flag|Latvia}}
			|{{flag|Lithuania}}
			|{{flag|Luxembourg}}
			|{{flag|Malta}}
			|{{flag|Netherlands}}
			|{{flag|Poland}}
			|{{flag|Portugal}}
			|{{flag|Romania}}
			|{{flag|Slovakia}}
			|{{flag|Slovenia}}
			|{{flag|Spain}}
			|{{flag|Sweden}}
			}}
			| government_type = Mixed ] and ] directorial parliamentary ]<!-- PLEASE DO NOT change this to say the European Union is a "Staatenverbund". The term is only recognized by the German Federal Constitutional Court. No EU institution and none of the other 26 Member States has been using this term in a legal document. -->
			| leader_title1 = ]<!-- Do not shorten to "Council". That is the official title of the Council of the EU in the treaties, so it's confusing. -->
			| leader_name1 = ]
			| leader_title2 = ]
			| leader_name2 = ]
			| leader_title3 = ]
			| leader_name3 = {{flag|Hungary}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Council of the European Union |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/presidency-council-eu/ |publisher=Council of the EU |access-date=1 July 2024}}</ref>
			| leader_title4 = ]
			| leader_name4 = ]
			| sovereignty_type = ]<ref>Current Article 1 of the ] reads: "The Union shall be founded on the present Treaty and on the ]. Those ] shall have the same legal value. The Union shall replace and succeed the ]".</ref>
			| legislature = The European Parliament and the Council
			| lower_house = ]
			| upper_house = ]
			| established = <!-- Usually a date, in lieu of event/s hereafter -->
			| established_event1 = ]
			| established_date1 = 18 April 1951
			| established_event2 = ''']'''
			| established_date2 = 1 January 1958
			| established_event3 = ]
			| established_date3 = 1 July 1987
			| established_event4 = <span style=white-space:nowrap;>''']'''</span><!-- NOTE: ] is ignored on mobile. -->
			| established_date4 = 1 November 1993
			| established_event5 = ]
			| established_date5 = 1 December 2009
			| area = <!-- Major area size (in ] either km2 or sqmi first) -->
			| area_km2 = 4,225,104<!-- Do not remove per ] -->
			| area_sq_mi = {{Convert|4,225,104|km2|sqmi|disp=number}}<!-- Do not remove per ] -->
			| area_footnote = <!-- Optional footnote for area --><ref>{{cite web|title=Area by NUTS 3 region|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/reg_area3__custom_13249664/default/table?lang=en|access-date=11 October 2024|publisher=]|website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat}}</ref>
			| percent_water = 2.93
			| area_label = Total
			| area_label2 = <!-- label below area_label (optional) -->
			| area_dabodyalign = <!-- text after area_label2 (optional) -->
			| population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}}{{Spaces}}449,206,579<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population on 1 January |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tps00001/default/table?lang=en |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=ec.europa.eu |publisher=Eurostat}}</ref>
			| population_estimate_year = 2024
			| population_density_km2 = 106.3<!-- 449,206,579 / 4,225,104km2 = 106.3 people/km2 (1 January 2024) -->
			| population_density_sq_mi = 275.4<!-- 449,206,579 / 1,631,322sq_mi = 275.4 people/sq_mi (1 January 2024) -->
			| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $28.044 trillion<ref name="GDP">{{cite web|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects: October 2024|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?a=1&c=998,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,PPPPC,PCPIPCH,PCPIEPCH,&sy=2022&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|access-date=31 October 2024|publisher=]|website=imf.org}}</ref>
			| GDP_PPP_year = 2024
			| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $62,660<!-- GDP/population --><ref name="GDP"/>
			| GDP_nominal = {{increase}} $19.403 trillion<ref name="GDP"/>
			| GDP_nominal_year = 2024
			| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $43,194<!-- GDP/population -->
			| Gini = 29.6
			| Gini_change = steady<!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
			| Gini_year = 2023
			| Gini_ref = <ref name="eurogini">{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ilc_di12/default/table?lang=en&category=livcon.ilc.ilc_ie.ilc_iei|title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income by age |publisher=]|website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat|access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref>
			| currency = ] (]) (EUR) {{Break}}{{Collapsible list
			| framestyle="border: none; padding: 0;" <!--Hides borders and improves row spacing-->
			| title = Others
			| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|Bulgaria}} ] (BGN)}}
			| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|Czech Republic}} ] (CZK)}}
			| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|Denmark}} ] (DKK)}}
			| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|Hungary}} ] (HUF)}}
			| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|Poland}} ] (PLN)}}
			| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|Romania}} ] (RON)}}
			| {{Nowrap|{{Flagicon|Sweden}} ] (SEK)}}
			}}
			| time_zone = ], ], ]
			| utc_offset = <!-- NOTE:No offset -->{{Nowrap| to UTC+2}}
			| time_zone_DST = ], ], ]
			| utc_offset_DST = {{Nowrap|+1 to UTC+3}}
			| DST_note = ''(see also ])''{{efn|With the exception of the ] and ], the ] observe different time zones not shown: ], ], ] (UTC−4); ] (UTC−3); ] (UTC−1 / UTC); ] (UTC+3); and ] (UTC+4); which, other than the Azores, do not observe DST.}}
			| cctld = ], ], ]{{efn|.eu, .ευ, and .ею are representative of the whole of the EU; member states also have their own TLDs.}}
			| official_website = {{URL|europa.eu}}
			| footnote1 =
			| footnote2 =
			| footnote7 =
			| footnotes = <!-- For generic non-numbered footnotes -->
			}}
			The '''European Union''' ('''EU''') is a ] ] and ] of {{EUnum}} ] that are ] in Europe<!-- Please do not wikilink well-known locations, etc. Read MOS:OL instead. -->.<ref name="oecdcc">{{Cite news |date=11 June 2013 |title=Glossary of Statistical Terms – COPENHAGEN CRITERIA |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |url=https://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=3048 |access-date=3 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 June 2016 |title=The EU in brief |url=https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/eu-in-brief_en |website=European Union}}</ref> The Union has a total area of {{convert|4,233,255|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and an estimated total population of over 449{{nbsp}}million. The EU has often been described as a '']'' political entity combining the characteristics of both a ] and a ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Phelan |first=William |date=2012 |title=What Is ''Sui Generis'' About the European Union? Costly International Cooperation in a Self-Contained Regime |journal=International Studies Review |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=367–385 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-2486.2012.01136.x| issn=1468-2486}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hlavac |first=Marek |date=2010 |title=Less than a State, More than an International Organization: The Sui Generis Nature of the European Union |url=https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/27179/1/MPRA_paper_27179.pdf |journal=Central European Labour Studies Institute |location=Rochester, N.Y. |doi=10.2139/ssrn.1719308 |s2cid=153480456}}</ref>
	The EU has developed a ] through a standardised system of laws which apply in all member states, ensuring the ].<ref name="Europa Internal Market">{{cite web|title=The EU Single Market: Fewer barriers, more opportunities|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/index_en.htm|accessdate=27 September 2007}}{{cite web|title=Activities of the European Union: Internal Market|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/pol/singl/index_en.htm|accessdate=29 June 2007}}</ref> It maintains common policies on trade,<ref>{{cite web|title=Common commercial policy|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/commercial_policy_en.htm|work=Europa Glossary|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=6 September 2008}}</ref> ], ]<ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Council of the European Union|title=Agriculture and Fisheries Council|url=http://www.consilium.eu.int/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?id=414&lang=en&mode=g|accessdate=6 September 2008}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Overview of the European Union activities: Regional Policy|url=http://europa.eu/pol/reg/overview_en.htm|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=6 September 2008}}</ref> Sixteen member states have adopted a common currency, the ], constituting the ]. The EU has developed a limited role in foreign policy, having representation at the ], ], ] and at the ]. It enacts legislation in justice and ], including the abolition of passport controls by the Schengen agreement between ].<ref name="Internal borders">{{cite web|title=Abolition of internal borders and creation of a single EU external frontier|publisher=Europa web portal|year=2005|url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/freetravel/frontiers/fsj_freetravel_schengen_en.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080113173116/http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/freetravel/frontiers/fsj_freetravel_schengen_en.htm|archivedate=2008-01-13|accessdate=24 January 2007}}{{Dead link|date=October 2009}}</ref>
			Containing 5.8% of the ] in 2020,{{efn|This figure is from February 2020, and takes account of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. The population of the UK is roughly 0.9% of the world's population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Union reaches 500 Million through Combination of Accessions, Migration and Natural Growth |url=http://www.oeaw.ac.at/vid/datasheet/EU_reaches_500_Mill.shtml |access-date=12 February 2016 |publisher=Vienna Institute of Demography}}</ref>}} EU member states generated a nominal ] (GDP) of around {{US$|16.6}}{{nbsp}}trillion in 2022, constituting approximately one sixth of global ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2022 |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?a=1&c=001,998,&s=NGDPD,&sy=2022&ey=2022&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |access-date=24 March 2023 |publisher=International Monetary Fund}}</ref> Additionally, all EU states except Bulgaria have a very high ] according to the ]. Its cornerstone, the ], paved the way to establishing ] based on standardised ] that applies in all member states in those matters, and only those matters, where the states have agreed to act as one. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market;<ref name="Europa Internal Market">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=The EU Single Market: Fewer barriers, more opportunities |url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001122551/http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/index_en.htm |archive-date=1 October 2007 |access-date=27 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}<br />{{Cite web |title=Activities of the European Union: Internal Market |url=http://europa.eu/pol/singl/index_en.htm |access-date=29 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> enact legislation in justice and home affairs; and maintain common policies on ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Common commercial policy |url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/commercial_policy_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116092625/http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/commercial_policy_en.htm |archive-date=16 January 2009 |access-date=6 September 2008 |website=Europa Glossary |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agriculture and Fisheries Council |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/policies/council-configurations/agriculture-and-fisheries |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=The Council of the European Union}}</ref> ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regional Policy Inforegio |url=http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.cfm |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> Passport controls have been abolished for travel within the ].<ref name="Internal borders">{{Cite web |title=Schengen area |url=http://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/policies/borders/borders_schengen_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810094618/http://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/policies/borders/borders_schengen_en.htm |archive-date=10 August 2011 |access-date=8 September 2010 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The ] is a group composed of the 20 EU member states that have fully implemented the ] and use the ]. Through the ], the union has developed a role in ] and ]. It maintains permanent ] throughout the world and ] at the ], the ], the ] and the ]. Due to its global influence, the European Union ].{{sfn|McCormick|2007}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rifkin |first=Jeremy |url=https://archive.org/details/europeandreamhow00rifk |title=The European Dream |publisher=Polity Press |year=2004 |isbn=1-58542-345-9 |author-link=Jeremy Rifkin |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Moravcsik |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Moravcsik |date=2009 |title=Europe: The quiet superpower |journal=French Politics |volume=7 |issue=3–4 |pages=403–422 |doi=10.1057/fp.2009.29 |issn=1476-3419 |s2cid=143049416}}</ref>
	As an ], the EU operates through a hybrid system of ] and ].<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web|title=European Union|publisher=]|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/196399/European-Union|accessdate=1 July 2009|postscript=: "] comprising 27 European countries and governing common economic, social, and security policies...."}}</ref><ref name="CIA">{{cite web|title=European Union|publisher=]|work=]|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ee.html|accessdate=11 October 2009|postscript=: Introduction: "The evolution of the European Union (EU) from a regional economic agreement among six neighbouring states in 1951 to today's ] of 27 countries across the European continent stands as an unprecedented phenomenon in the annals of history...."}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Anneli Albi|contribution=Implications of the European constitution|title=EU enlargement and the constitutions of Central and Eastern Europe|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=GXDxmx_1RmcC&pg=PA204&dq=%22European+union%22+%22Sui+generis%22+%22supranational+organisation%22&ei=CS5RSuvfGZWOyASXgfnrAg|year=2005|publisher=Cambridge University Press, 2008|publication-place=Cambridge, UK|isbn=9067042854|page=204|postscript=: "In practical terms, the EU is perhaps still best characterised as a ‘] '']''’: this term has proved relatively uncontroversial in respect of national constitutional sensitivities, being at the same time capable of embracing new facets of integration."}}</ref> In certain areas, decisions are made through negotiation between member states, while in others, independent supranational institutions are responsible without a requirement for unanimity between member states. Important ] include the ], the ], the ], the ], and the ]. The ] is elected every five years by member states' citizens, to whom the ] is guaranteed.
			The EU was established, along with ], when the ] came into force in 1993, and was incorporated as an ] ]{{clarify|reason=what does this mean? It's not in the body and the article linked to doesn't mention the EU. Use simpler wording in the lead!|date=December 2023}} upon entry into force of the ] in 2009.{{sfn|Craig |De Burca|2011|page=15}} Its beginnings can be traced to the ] states (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and ]) at the start of modern ] in 1948, and to the ], the ], the ], the ] and the ], which were established by treaties. These increasingly amalgamated bodies grew, with their legal successor the EU, both in size through ] from 1973 to 2013, and in power through acquisitions of policy areas.
	The EU traces its origins from the ] formed among six countries in 1951 and the ] formed in 1957 by the same states. Since then, the EU has grown in size through ], and in power through the addition of policy areas to its remit.
			In 2012, the EU was awarded ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 December 2012 |title=EU collects Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo |publisher=] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20664167 |access-date=3 June 2013}}</ref> The United Kingdom became ], in 2020;<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Rawlinson |first1=Kevin |last2=Topping |first2=Alexandra |last3=Murphy |first3=Simon |last4=Henley |first4=Jon |last5=Murray |first5=Jessica |last6=Freedland |first6=Jonathan |last7=Rawlinson |first7=Kevin |title=Brexit day: end of an era as United Kingdom leaves EU – as it happened |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/jan/31/brexit-day-britain-prepares-leave-eu-live-news-updates |date=1 February 2020 |access-date=8 June 2020 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> ten countries are ].
			{{TOC limit|3}}
			==Etymology==
			{{main|Europe}}
			{{excerpt|Europe#Name|only=paragraph}}
	==History==		==History==
			<!--Section named and ordered by WikiProject Countries-->
	{{Main|History of the European Union}}
			{{main|History of the European Union}}
	] ] the ] in 1950]]
			{{for timeline|Timeline of European Union history}}
	] created the ].]]
			{{further|Treaties of the European Union|European integration}}
	After the end of the ], moves towards European integration were seen by many as an escape from the extreme forms of ] which had devastated the continent.<ref>{{cite web|title=The political consequences|publisher=]|url=http://www.ena.lu/?doc=242&lang=3|accessdate=5 September 2007}}</ref> One such attempt to unite Europeans was the ] which, while having the modest aim of centralised control of the previously national coal and ] of its member states, was declared to be "a first step in the federation of Europe".<ref>{{cite web|title=Declaration of 9 May 1950|url=http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/9-may/decl_en.htm|publisher=European Commission|accessdate=5 September 2007}}</ref> The originators and supporters of the Community include ], ], ] and ]. The founding members of the Community were ], ], ], ], the ] and ].<ref name="Europa History 45-59">{{cite web|title=A peaceful Europe - the beginnings of cooperation|publisher=European Commission|url=http://europa.eu/abc/history/1945-1959/index_en.htm|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref>
			===Background: World Wars and aftermath===
	In 1957, these six countries signed the ] which extended the earlier cooperation within the ] and created the ], (EEC) establishing a ] and the ] (Euratom) for cooperation in developing ].<ref name="Europa History 45-59"/> In 1967 the ] created a single set of institutions for the three communities, which were collectively referred to as the '']'' (EC), although commonly just as the ''European Community''.<ref name="ENA Merge">{{cite web|title=Merging the executives|publisher=]|url=http://www.ena.lu?lang=2&doc=473|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref>
			{{further|Ideas of European unity before 1948}}
			] and ] since well before the 19th century, but gained particularly as a reaction to ] and its aftermath. In this light the first advances for the idea of ] were made. In 1920 ] proposed a ] for the struggling post-war European economies,<ref name="Taussig Keynes 1920 p. 381">{{Cite journal |last1=Taussig |first1=F.W. |last2=Keynes |first2=John Maynard |title=Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1882372 |journal=The Quarterly Journal of Economics |publisher=Oxford University Press |volume=34 |issue=2 |page=381 |year=1920 |issn=0033-5533 |jstor=1882372 |doi=10.2307/1882372}}</ref> and in 1923 the oldest organisation for European integration, the ] was founded, led by ], who later would found in June 1947 the ] (EPU). ]{{Emdash}}who was ], a follower of the Paneuropean Union, and ] for the ]{{Emdash}}delivered a widely recognized speech at the ] in ] on 5 September 1929 for a ] to secure Europe and settle the historic ].<ref name="Schulz 2010 g046">{{Cite web |last=Schulz |first=Matthias |date=3 December 2010 |title=Der Briand-Plan und der Völkerbund als Verhandlungsarena für die europäische Einigung zwischen den Kriegen |url=http://ieg-ego.eu/de/threads/europaeische-netzwerke/politische-netzwerke/europa-netzwerke-der-zwischenkriegszeit/matthias-schulz-briand-plan-und-voelkerbund-in-der-zwischenkriegszeit |access-date=16 November 2023 |publisher=IEG(http://www.ieg-mainz.de) |language=de}}</ref><ref name="Nelsson 2019 n549">{{Cite web |last=Nelsson |first=Richard |date=5 September 2019 |title=Aristide Briand's plan for a United States of Europe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/from-the-archive-blog/2019/sep/05/aristide-briands-plan-for-united-states-of-europe-september-9 |access-date=16 November 2023 |website=the Guardian}}</ref>
			With large-scale war being waged in Europe once again in the 1930s and becoming ], the question of what to fight against and what for, had to be agreed on. A first agreement was the ] of 1941, when ] gathered in London. This was expanded on by the 1941 ], establishing the ] and their common goals, inciting a new wave of global international institutions like the ] (]) or the ] (1944).<ref name="Office of the Historian 1946 r351">{{Cite web |title=Milestones: 1937–1945 |url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/bretton-woods |website=Office of the Historian |date=8 March 1946 |access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref>
	In 1973 the Communities enlarged to include ], ] and the ].<ref name="ENA First enlargement">{{cite web|title=The first enlargement|publisher=]|url=http://www.ena.lu?lang=2&doc=555|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref> ] had negotiated to join at the same time but Norwegian voters rejected membership in a referendum and so Norway remained outside. In 1979 the ] to the European Parliament were held.<ref name="ENA New Parliament">{{cite web|title=The new European Parliament|publisher=]|url=http://www.ena.lu?lang=2&doc=571|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref>
			In 1943 at the ] and ], plans to establish joint institutions for a post-war world and Europe increasingly became a part of the agenda. This led to a decision at the ] in 1944 to form a ], later replaced by the ] and the ], following the German surrender and the ] in 1945.
	] joined in 1981, and ] and ] in 1986.<ref name="ENA Enlargement negotiations">{{cite web|title=Negotiations for enlargement|publisher=]|url=http://www.ena.lu?lang=2&doc=6525|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref> In 1985 the ] led the way toward the creation of ] without ] controls between most member states and some non-member states.<ref>{{cite news |title=Schengen agreement |date=30 April 2001 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=18 September 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/europe/euro-glossary/1230052.stm}}</ref> In 1986 the ] began to be used by the Community<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the flag|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/index_en.htm|accessdate=13 March 2009}}</ref> and the ] was signed.
			By the end of the war, European integration became seen as an antidote to the ] that had caused the war.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The political consequences |url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/die_politischen_folgen-de-bafcfa2d-7738-48f6-9b41-3201090b67bb.html |access-date=28 April 2013 |publisher=CVCE}}</ref> On 19 September 1946, in a much recognized speech, ], speaking at the ], reiterated his calls since 1930 for a "European Union" and "Council of Europe", coincidentally<ref name="Union of European Federalists (UEF)">{{Cite web |title=Union of European Federalists (UEF): Churchill and Hertenstein |url=https://www.federalists.eu/uef/our-achievements/churchill-and-hertenstein |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=Union of European Federalists (UEF) |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605224333/https://www.federalists.eu/uef/our-achievements/churchill-and-hertenstein |url-status=dead}}</ref> parallel{{Clarify|reason=This whole clause is difficult to understand, primarily because "parallel" is especially unclear here|date=June 2024}} to the ] of the ],<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ein britischer Patriot für Europa: Winston Churchills Europa-Rede, Universität Zürich, 19. September 1946 |trans-title=A British Patriot for Europe: Winston Churchill's Speech on Europe University of Zurich, 19 September 1946 |work=Zeit Online |url=http://www.zeit.de/reden/die_historische_rede/200115_hr_churchill1_englisch |access-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> one of the then founded and later constituting members of the ]. One month later, the ] was installed by the new ] to direct the ] of ] so that they would become parts of a European community.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hansen |first1=Peo |last2=Jonsson |first2=Stefan |title=Bringing Africa as a 'Dowry to Europe' |url=http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-59237 |journal=Interventions |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=443–463 (459) |date=2011 |s2cid=142558321 |doi=10.1080/1369801X.2011.597600}}</ref>
	]'s fall enabled eastward ]. (])]]
			By 1947 a growing rift between the western Allied Powers and the ] became evident as a result of the rigged ], which constituted an open breach of the ]. March of that year saw two important developments. First was the signing of the ] between ] and the ]. The treaty assured mutual assistance in the event of future military aggression against either nation. Though it officially named Germany as a threat, in reality the actual concern was for the Soviet Union. A few days later came the announcement of the ] which pledged American support for democracies to counter the Soviets.
	In 1990, after the fall of the ], the former ] became part of the Community as part of a newly united Germany.<ref name="Europa History 80-89">{{cite web|title=1980-1989 The changing face of Europe - the fall of the Berlin Wall|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/abc/history/1980-1989/index_en.htm|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref> With enlargement toward ] on the agenda, the ] for candidate members to join the European Union were agreed.
			===Initial years and the Paris Treaty (1948{{Non breaking en dash}}1957)===
	The European Union was formally established when the ] came into force on 1 November 1993,<ref name="EU1993">{{cite book|last=Craig|first=Paul|coauthors=Grainne De Burca , P. P. Craig|title=EU Law: Text, Cases and Materials|edition=4th|year=2006|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-927389-8|page=15}}; {{cite web|title=Treaty of Maastricht on European Union|url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/economic_and_monetary_affairs/institutional_and_economic_framework/treaties_maastricht_en.htm|work=Activities of the European Union|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=20 October 2007}}</ref> and in 1995 ], ] and ] joined the newly established EU. In 2002, ] notes and coins replaced national currencies in 12 of the member states. Since then, the ] has increased to encompass sixteen countries, with Slovakia joining the eurozone on 1 January 2009. In 2004, the EU saw ] when ], ], ], ], ], ], ], the ], ], and ] joined the Union.<ref name="Europa History 00">{{cite web|title=A decade of further expansion|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/abc/history/2000_today/index_en.htm|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref>
			{{Main|History of European integration (1948–1957)}}
			{{Multiple image
	On 1 January 2007, ] and ] became the EU's newest members and ] adopted the euro.<ref name="Europa History 00"/> In June 2009 the ] which later led to a renewal of Barroso's Commission Presidency and in July of that year ] formally applied for EU membership. On 1 December 2009 the ] came into force after a protracted and controversial birth. This reformed many aspects of the EU but in particular created a permanent ], the first of which is ], and a strengthened ], ].
			| align = left
			| direction = vertical
			| image1 = Schuman Declaration.ogg
			| alt1 =
			| caption1 = An excerpt of the ], by ] on 9 May 1950 (])
			| image2 = 1951 CECA ECSC.jpg
			| alt2 =
			| caption2 = ] (1951), establishing the ]
			}}
			Immediately following the ] by the ], the ] was held, resulting in the ] boycott of the Allied Control Council and its incapacitation, an event marking the beginning of the ].
	===Treaties timeline===
	{{EU evolution timeline}}
			The year 1948 marked the beginning of the institutionalised modern ]. In March 1948 the ] was signed, establishing the ] (WU), followed by the ]. Furthermore, the ] (OEEC), the predecessor of the OECD, was also founded in 1948 to manage the ], which led to the Soviets creating ] in response. The ensuing ] of May 1948 was a pivotal moment in European integration, as it led to the creation of the ], the ]<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.isbnplus.com/9789080498310 |title=The College of Europe. Fifty Years of Service to Europe |publisher=] |year=1999 |isbn=978-90-804983-1-0 |editor-last=Mahncke |editor-first=Dieter |editor-link=Dieter Mahncke |location=Bruges |editor-last2=Bekemans |editor-first2=Léonce |editor-link2=Léonce Bekemans |editor-last3=Picht |editor-first3=Robert |editor-link3=Robert Picht |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228030332/http://www.isbnplus.com/9789080498310 |archive-date=28 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and most importantly to the foundation of the ] on 5 May 1949 (which is now ]). The Council of Europe was one of the first institutions to bring the sovereign states of (then only Western) Europe together, raising great hopes and fevered debates in the following two years for further European integration.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} It has since been a broad forum to further cooperation and shared issues, achieving for example the ] in 1950. Essential for the actual birth of the institutions of the EU was the ] on 9 May 1950 (the day after the fifth ]) and the decision by six nations (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, West Germany and Italy) to follow ] and draft the ]. This treaty was created in 1952 the ] (ECSC), which was built on the ], installed by the Western Allies in 1949 to regulate the coal and steel industries of the Ruhr area in West Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Declaration of 9 May 1950 |url=http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/9-may/decl_en.htm |access-date=5 September 2007 |publisher=European Commission}}</ref> Backed by the ] with large funds coming from the United States since 1948, the ECSC became a milestone organisation, enabling European economic development and integration and being the origin of the main institutions of the EU such as the ] and ].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blocker |first=Joel |date=9 April 2008 |title=Europe: How The Marshall Plan Took Western Europe From Ruins To Union |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1084818.html |access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref> ] understood that coal and steel were the two industries essential for waging war, and believed that by tying their national industries together, a future war between their nations became much less likely.<ref name="Europa History 45-59">{{Cite web |title=A peaceful Europe&nbsp;– the beginnings of cooperation |url=http://europa.eu/about-eu/eu-history/1945-1959/index_en.htm |access-date=12 December 2011 |publisher=European Commission}}</ref>
	==Member states==
			In parallel with Schuman, the ] of 1951 tried but failed to tie the institutions of the developing European community under the ], which was to include the also proposed ], an alternative to ] joining ] which was established in 1949 under the ]. In 1954 the ] transformed the Western Union into the ] (WEU). ] eventually joined both the WEU and NATO in 1955, prompting the ] to form the ] in 1955 as an institutional framework for its military domination in the countries of ]. Assessing the progress of European integration the ] was held in 1955, ordering the ], which in 1956 recommended the next significant steps of European integration.
	{{Main|Member State of the European Union}}
	{{See also|Enlargement of the European Union|Withdrawal from the European Union}}
	{{fixbunching|beg}}
	{{European Union Labelled Map (blue)}}
	{{fixbunching|end}}
	The European Union is composed of 27 ] Member States: ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=European Countries|url=http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/index_en.htm|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=5 September 2007}}</ref>
			===Treaty of Rome (1958{{Non breaking en dash}}1972)===
	The Union's membership has grown from the original ] &ndash; Belgium, France, (then-], Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands &ndash; to the present day 27 by successive enlargements as countries acceded to the ] and by doing so, pooled their sovereignty in exchange for representation in the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=EU institutions and other bodies|url=http://europa.eu/institutions/index_en.htm|publisher=]|accessdate=4 September 2009}}</ref>
			{{Main|History of the European Communities (1958–1972)}}
			] (1957), establishing the ]]]
	To join the EU a country must meet the ], defined at the 1993 Copenhagen European Council. These require a stable democracy that respects ] and the ]; a functioning ] capable of competition within the EU; and the acceptance of the obligations of membership, including EU law. Evaluation of a country's fulfilment of the criteria is the responsibility of the ].<ref name="Accession Criteria">{{cite web|title=Accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria)|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/accession_criteria_copenhague_en.htm|accessdate=26 June 2007}}</ref>
			In 1957, ], ], ], ], ], and ] signed the ], which created the ] (EEC) and established a ]. They also signed another pact creating the ] (Euratom) for cooperation in developing nuclear power. Both treaties came into force in 1958.<ref name="Europa History 45-59" /> Although the EEC and Euratom were created separately from the ECSC, they shared the same courts and the Common Assembly. The EEC was headed by ] (]) and Euratom was headed by ] (]) and then ] (]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 1997 |title=A European Atomic Energy Community |url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/a_european_atomic_energy_community-en-19bc7f11-bea1-49c7-b534-18327c303f41.html |access-date=13 October 2013 |publisher=Cvce.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2016 |title=A European Customs Union |url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/a_european_customs_union-en-a11a5f17-d744-479e-ba75-2c70b6058608.html |website=cvce.eu}}</ref> The OEEC was in turn reformed in 1961 into the ] (OECD) and its membership was extended to states outside of Europe, the United States and Canada. During the 1960s, tensions began to show, with France seeking to limit supranational power. Nevertheless, in 1965 an agreement was reached, and on 1 July 1967 the ] created a single set of institutions for the three communities, which were collectively referred to as the '']''.<ref name="ENA Merge">{{Cite web |title=Merging the executives |url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/merging_the_executives-en-575850b6-f472-406a-936d-8c08a9e0db32.html |access-date=28 April 2013 |publisher=CVCE&nbsp;– Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l'Europe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2016 |title=Merging the executives |url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/merging_the_executives-en-575850b6-f472-406a-936d-8c08a9e0db32.html |website=CVCE.EU by UNI.LU |language=en}}</ref> ] ] the first merged commission (]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Commissioners – Profiles, Portfolios and Homepages |url=http://ec.europa.eu/archives/commission_2004-2009/index_en.htm |access-date=1 January 2022 |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
	No member state has ever left the Union, although ] (an ] of ]) withdrew in 1985. The ] now provides a clause dealing with how a member leaves the EU.
			===First enlargement and European co-operation (1973{{Non breaking en dash}}1993)===
	There are three official candidate countries, ], ] and ]. ], ], ], ] and ] are officially recognised as potential candidates.<ref name="Europa Enlargement">{{cite web|title=European Commission - Enlargement - Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/index_en.htm|accessdate=1 August 2009}}</ref> ] is also listed as a potential candidate but the European Commission does not list it as an independent country because not all member states recognise it as an independent country separate from Serbia.<ref name="EC Kosovo Newsletter">{{cite web|title=Enlargement Newsletter|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/press_corner/newsletter/index_en.htm|accessdate=24 November 2008}}</ref>
			{{Main|History of the European Communities (1973–1993)}}
			] and the American delegation at the ] (1975)]]
	Four ]an countries that have chosen not to join the EU have partly committed to the EU's economy and regulations: ], which has now applied for membership, ] and ], which are a part of the ] through the ], and ], which has similar ties through ].<ref name="EEA"/><ref name="CH">{{cite web|title=The EU's relations with Switzerland|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/switzerland/intro/index.htm|accessdate=16 September 2007}}</ref> The relationships of the ], ], ], ] and the ] include the use of the ] and other areas of co-operation.<ref name="euro use world"/>
			In 1973, the communities were enlarged to include ] (including Greenland), Ireland, and the ].<ref name="ENA First enlargement">{{Cite web |title=The first enlargement |url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/the_first_enlargement-en-fa871903-53b5-497e-855f-01c9842c7b94.html |access-date=28 April 2013 |publisher=CVCE}}</ref> ] had negotiated to join at the same time, but Norwegian voters rejected membership in a ]. The '']'' and the ensuing détente led to establishment of a first truly pan-European body, the ] (CSCE), predecessor of the modern ] (OSCE). In 1979, the ] to the European Parliament were held.<ref name="ENA New Parliament">{{Cite web |title=The new European Parliament |url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/the_new_european_parliament-en-e40aba1b-45f1-43bf-bbd1-a34bb52f15db.html |access-date=28 April 2013 |publisher=CVCE}}</ref> ] joined in 1981. In 1985, Greenland ], following a dispute over fishing rights. During the same year, the ] paved the way for the creation of open borders without passport controls between most member states and some non-member states.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 April 2001 |title=Schengen agreement |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/europe/euro-glossary/1230052.stm |access-date=18 September 2009}}</ref> In 1986, the ] was signed. Portugal and ] joined in 1986.<ref name="ENA Enlargement negotiations">{{Cite web |title=Negotiations for enlargement |url=http://www.cvce.eu/obj/negotiations_for_enlargement-en-19a4fd81-119d-4090-bfac-c7cc8ae64a20.html |access-date=28 April 2013 |publisher=CVCE}}</ref> In 1990, after ], the former ] became part of the communities as part of a ].<ref name="Europa History 80-89">{{Cite web |title=1980–1989 The changing face of Europe – the fall of the Berlin Wall |url=http://europa.eu/abc/history/1980-1989/index_en.htm |access-date=25 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
	===Geography===
	{{Main|Geography of the European Union}}
	] in the ] is the highest peak in the EU.]]
			=== Treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice (1993{{Non breaking en dash}}2004) ===
	The territory of the EU consists of the combined territories of its 27 member states with some exceptions, outlined below. The territory of the EU is not the same as that of ], as parts of the continent are outside the EU, such as ], ], European ], and ]. Some parts of member states are not part of the EU, despite forming part of the European continent (for example the ] and ] (two ]), and the ], a territory of Denmark). The ] of ], a member of the EU, is closer to ] than to ] and is often considered part of ].<ref></ref><ref></ref>
			{{Main|History of the European Union (1993–2004)}}
			] (1992), establishing the EU]]
	]line. (])]]
			The European Union was formally established when the ]—whose main architects were ],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Journal |first=This article was prepared by reporters Michael M. Phillips, Cecilie Rohwedder and Erik Portanger of The Wall Street |date=15 March 2000 |title=IMF Candidate Koehler Brings Solid Experience |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB953070920392677459 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> ] and ]—came into force on 1 November 1993.{{sfn|Craig |De Burca|2011|page=15}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treaty of Maastricht on European Union |url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/economic_and_monetary_affairs/institutional_and_economic_framework/treaties_maastricht_en.htm |access-date=20 October 2007 |website=Activities of the European Union |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The treaty also gave the name '']'' to the EEC, even if it was referred to as such before the treaty. With further enlargement planned to include the former ]s of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as ] and ], the ] for candidate members to join the EU were agreed upon in June 1993. The expansion of the EU introduced a new level of complexity and discord.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hunt |first=Michael H. |title=The World Transformed, 1945 to the Present |publisher=Oxford University press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-19-937103-7 |location=New York |pages=516–517}}</ref> In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden ] the EU.
	Several territories associated with member states that are outside geographic Europe are also not part of the EU (such as ], ], the ], and all the non-European ]). Some ] are part of the EU even though geographically not part of Europe, such as the ], the ], ], ], ], ], ] and ], ] and ].<!-- Please note that this is not meant as a comprehensive list! --> As well, although being technically part of the EU,<ref name="northern cyprus">{{cite web|title=Turkish Cypriot Community|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/turkish_cypriot_community/index_en.htm|accessdate=19 April 2009}}</ref> EU law is suspended in ] as it is under the ''de facto'' control of the '']'', a self-proclaimed state that is recognised only by Turkey.
			In 2002, euro banknotes and coins replaced national currencies in 12 of the member states. Since then, the ] has increased to encompass 20 countries. The euro currency became the second-largest reserve currency in the world. In 2004, the EU saw ] when Cyprus, the Czech Republic, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] joined the union.<ref name="Europa History 00">{{Cite web |title=A decade of further expansion |url=http://europa.eu/abc/history/2000_today/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211143505/http://europa.eu/abc/history/2000_today/index_en.htm |archive-date=11 February 2007 |access-date=25 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
	The EU's member states cover an area of {{convert|4422773|km2|sqmi|0}}.<ref name="Area.and.population.figure">Figure including the four ] (], ], ], ]), which are an integral part of the EU, but excluding the ] and ], which are not part of the EU.</ref> The EU is larger in area than all but ], and its highest peak is ] in the ], {{convert|4807|m|ft|0}} ]. The landscape, climate, and economy of the EU are influenced by its coastline, which is {{convert|65993|km|mi|0}} long. The EU has the world's second-longest coastline, after ]. The combined member states share ] with 19 non-member states for a total of {{convert|12441|km|mi|0}}, the fifth-longest border in the world.<ref name="CIA"/><ref name="Europa Members">{{cite web|title=European countries|publisher=Europa web portal|year=2007|url=http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/index_en.htm|accessdate=29 June 2007}}</ref><ref name="Longest coasts">{{cite web|title=Countries of the Earth|publisher=home.comcast.net|year=2006|url=http://home.comcast.net/~igpl/Countries.html|accessdate=8 August 2007}}<!--If anyone has a more academic source, please replace this--></ref>
			===Treaty of Lisbon and Brexit (2004{{Non breaking en dash}}present)===
	Including the overseas territories of member states, the EU experiences most ] from ] to ], rendering meteorological averages for the EU as a whole meaningless. The majority of the population lives in areas with a ] (]), a temperate ] (]), or a warm summer continental or ] climate (]).<ref name="Humid Continental climate">{{cite web|title=Humid Continental Climate|work=The physical environment|publisher=]|year=2007|url=http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/climate_systems/humid_continental.html|accessdate=29 June 2007}}</ref>
			{{Main|History of the European Union (2004–present)}}
			] (2007)]]
	==Governance==
	{{Main|Politics of the European Union|Institutions of the European Union}}
			In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania became EU members. Later that year, Slovenia adopted the euro,<ref name="Europa History 00" /> followed by Cyprus and Malta in 2008, Slovakia in 2009, Estonia in 2011, Latvia in 2014, and Lithuania in 2015.
	The institutions of the EU operate solely within those competencies conferred on it upon the ] and according to the principle of ] (which dictates that action by the EU should only be taken where an objective cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states alone). ] is passed in a variety of forms, primarily that which comes into direct force and that which must be passed in a refined form by ].
			On 1 December 2009, the ] entered into force and reformed many aspects of the EU. In particular, it changed the legal structure of the European Union, merging the ] system into a single legal entity provisioned with a ], created a permanent ], the first of which was ], and strengthened the position of the ].{{sfn|Piris|2010|page=448}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Parliament announces new President and Foreign Affairs Minister |url=http://government.zdnet.com/?p=6266 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160515055515/http://government.zdnet.com/?p=6266 |archive-date=15 May 2016 |access-date=1 December 2009}}</ref>
	Legislative competencies are divided equally, with some exceptions, between the ] and ] while executive tasks are carried out by the ] and in a limited capacity by the ] (which should not be confused with the afore mentioned Council of Ministers). The interpretation and the application of EU law and the treaties are ensured by the ]. There are also a number of ancillary bodies which advise the EU or operate in a specific area.
			In 2012, the EU received the ] for having "contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy, and human rights in Europe".<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 October 2012 |title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2012 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2012/ |access-date=12 October 2012 |publisher=Nobelprize.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=12 October 2012 |title=Nobel Committee Awards Peace Prize to E.U |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/13/world/nobel-peace-prize.html |url-status=live |journal=New York Times |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/13/world/nobel-peace-prize.html |archive-date=1 January 2022 |access-date=12 October 2012}}</ref> In 2013, ] became the 28th EU member.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 April 2013 |title=Croatia: From isolation to EU membership |work=BBC News |agency=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22218640 |access-date=14 May 2013}}</ref>
	===European Council===
	], ]]]
			From the beginning of the 2010s, the cohesion of the European Union has been tested by several issues, including ], ], and the ].<ref name="BBCUKREFRESLT">{{Cite web |title=EU Referendum Result |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/eu_referendum/results |access-date=26 June 2016 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> A ] was held in 2016, with 51.9 per cent of participants voting to leave.<ref name="NYTEUBrexit">{{Cite news |last=Erlanger |first=Steven |date=23 June 2016 |title=Britain Votes to Leave E.U., Stunning the World |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/world/europe/britain-brexit-european-union-referendum.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=24 June 2016 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/world/europe/britain-brexit-european-union-referendum.html |archive-date=1 January 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The UK formally notified the European Council of its decision to leave on 29 March 2017, initiating the ]; following extensions to the process, the ] left the European Union on 31 January 2020, though most areas of EU law continued to apply to the UK for a transition period which lasted until 31 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Landler |first1=Mark |last2=Castle |first2=Stephen-US |last3=Mueller |first3=Benjamin |date=31 January 2020 |title=At the Stroke of Brexit, Britain Steps, Guardedly, Into a New Dawn |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/world/europe/brexit-britain-leaves-EU.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131231006/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/world/europe/brexit-britain-leaves-EU.html |archive-date=31 January 2020 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
	The EU receives its political leadership from the ], which usually meet four times a year. It comprises one representative per member state—either its ] or ]—plus its ] as well as the ]. The member states' representatives are assisted by their ]s. The European Council uses its leadership role to sort out disputes between member states and the institutions, and to resolve political crises and disagreements over controversial issues and policies. The European Council should not be mistaken for the ], an international organisation independent from the EU.
			The early 2020s saw Denmark ] and Croatia ].
	On 19 November 2009, ] was chosen as the first ] and ] was chosen as the ]. They both assumed office on 1 December 2009.
			After the ] caused by the ], the EU leaders agreed for the first time to create common debt to finance the European Recovery Program called ] (NGEU).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recovery plan for Europe |url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/recovery-plan-europe_en |access-date=2 May 2021 |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
	===Council of Ministers===
	The ] (sometimes referred to as the Council of Ministers) forms the other half of the EU's ]. It consists of a ] from each member state and meets in different compositions depending on the policy area being addressed. Notwithstanding its different compositions, it is considered to be one single body.<ref name="Europa Institutions Council">{{cite web|title=Institutions: The Council of the European Union|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/council/index_en.htm|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref> In addition to its legislative functions, the Council also exercises ] in relations to the ].
			On 24 February 2022, after massing on the borders of Ukraine, the ] undertook an attempt for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 March 2022 |title=Russia-Ukraine war: humanitarian corridor opened from Sumy; Moscow threatens to cut gas supplies to Europe |publisher=theguardian.com |agency=theguardian.com |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/mar/08/ukraine-news-russia-war-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelenskiy-kyiv-russian-invasion-live-latest-updates |access-date=8 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 March 2022 |title=In pictures: Russia invades Ukraine |publisher=cnn.com |agency=cnn.com |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/14/world/gallery/ukraine-russia-crisis/index.html |access-date=8 March 2022}}</ref> The European Union imposed ] and agreed on a pooled military aid package to Ukraine for lethal weapons funded via the ] off-budget instrument.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Deutsch |first1=Jillian |last2=Pronina |first2=Lyubov |date=27 February 2022 |title=EU Approves 450 Million Euros of Arms Supplies for Ukraine |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-27/eu-approves-450-million-euros-in-lethal-military-aid-for-ukraine |website=]}}</ref>
	===Commission===
			] in Athens illuminated with a Next Generation EU sign]]'''Next Generation EU''' ('''NGEU''') is a ] ] package to support the EU member states to recover from the ], in particular those that have been particularly hard hit. It is sometimes styled '''NextGenerationEU''' and '''Next Gen EU''', and also called the '''European Union Recovery Instrument'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/2094/oj|title=Council Regulation (EU) 2020/2094 of 14 December 2020 establishing a European Union Recovery Instrument to support the recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis |website=EUR-Lex}}</ref> Agreed in principle by the ] on 21 July 2020 and adopted on 14 December 2020, the instrument is worth {{Euro|750&nbsp;billion|link=yes}}. NGEU will operate from 2021 to 2026,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recovery plan for Europe |url=https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/recovery-plan-europe_en |access-date=5 July 2023 |website=European Commission |language=en}}</ref> and will be tied to the regular ] (MFF). The comprehensive NGEU and MFF packages are projected to reach €1824.3&nbsp;billion.<ref> Retrieved 15 November 2020.</ref>
	] ]]]
			Preparing the Union for a new great enlargement is a political priority for the Union, with the goal of achieving over 35 member states by 2030. Institutional and budgetary reforms are being discussed in order to the Union to be ready for the new members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2023 |title=Informal meeting of European Council in Grenada to discuss EU enlargement |url=https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2023/10/03/informal-meeting-of-european-council-in-grenada-to-discuss-eu-enlargement/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 August 2023 |title=Charles Michel: EU and accession candidates must be ready for enlargement by 2030 |url=https://jam-news.net/michel-eu-enlargement-by-2030/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EU should be ready to accept 10 new countries: Official – Turkiye Newspaper |date=September 2023 |url=https://www.turkiyenewspaper.com/politics/16241}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 June 2023 |title=EU countries to start talks on how to make future enlargement work |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement-neighbourhood/news/eu-countries-to-start-talks-on-how-to-make-future-enlargement-work/}}</ref>
			In May 2024, concerns rise, that the outcome of the elections in June, can undermine some of the crucial policies of the EU in the domain of environment, diplomacy, ]. ] by creating inflation, lowering life level created a possibility of strong changes in the 2024 elections.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Teng |first1=Tina |title=EU elections: What happens if the far-right parties gain more power? |url=https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/05/22/eu-elections-what-happens-if-the-far-right-parties-gain-more-power |access-date=3 June 2024 |agency=Euronews |date=22 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Naschert |first1=Camilla |title=Climate debate intertwined with cost-of-living concerns as EU elections loom |url=https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/electric-power/052824-climate-debate-intertwined-with-cost-of-living-concerns-as-eu-elections-loom |website=S&P Global |access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref>
	The ] acts as the EU's ] and is responsible for ] and the day-to-day running of the EU. It is intended to act solely in the interest of the EU as a whole, as opposed to the Council which consists of leaders of member states who reflect national interests. The commission is also seen as the motor of ]. It is currently composed of 27 ] for different areas of policy, one from each member state. The ] and all the other commissioners are nominated by the Council. Appointment of the Commission President, and also the Commission in its entirety, have to be confirmed by Parliament.<ref name="Europa Institutions Commission">{{cite web|title=Institutions: The European Commission|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/comm/index_en.htm|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref>
	===Parliament===		===Timeline===
			{{EU evolution timeline}}
	] in ].]]
			==Politics {{anchor|competence}}==
	The ] forms one half of the EU's ]. The 736 (soon to be 750) ] (MEPs) are directly elected by ] every five years. Although MEPs are elected on a national basis, they sit according to ] rather than their nationality. Each country has a set number of seats and in some cases is divided into ]. The Parliament and the Council of Ministers pass legislation jointly in nearly all areas under the ]. This also applies to the EU budget. Finally, the Commission is accountable to Parliament, requiring its approval to take office, having to report back to it and subject to motions of censure from it. The ] carries out the role of ] in parliament and represents it externally. The president and vice presidents are elected by MEPs every two and a half years.<ref name="Europa Institutions Parliament">{{cite web|title=Institutions: The European Parliament|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/parliament/index_en.htm|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref>
			<!--Section named and ordered by WikiProject Countries-->
			{{Main|Politics of the European Union}}
			The European Union operates through a hybrid system of ] and ] decision-making,<ref name="Britannica">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=European Union |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/196399/European-Union |access-date=3 July 2013 |quote=international organisation comprising 28 European countries and governing common economic, social, and security policies&nbsp;...}}</ref><ref name="CIA">{{Cite web |title=European Union |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/european-union/ |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> and according to the ] (which says that it should act only within the limits of the competences conferred on it by the ]) and of ] (which says that it should act only where an objective cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states acting alone). ] are passed in a variety of forms.<ref>According to P.C. Schmitter, Comparative Politics: Its Past, Present and Future (2016), 1 Chinese Political Science Review, 397, at 410, "European Union is the most complex polity in the world".</ref> Generally speaking, they can be classified into two groups: those which come into force without the necessity for national implementation measures (regulations) and those which specifically require national implementation measures (directives).<ref group="lower-alpha">These legislative instruments are dealt with in more detail ].</ref>
	===Court of Justice of the European Union===
	The ] is the ] of the EU. It consists of the ], the ], and the ]. Together they interpret and apply the treaties and the law of the EU.<ref name="art220 Rome">{{cite web|title=European Community consolidated treaty, (article 220, The court of Justice)|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/ce321/ce32120061229en00010331.pdf|publisher=Europa web portal|author=EUR-Lex|accessdate=8 November 2007|format=PDF}}</ref> The European Union Civil Service Tribunal is called upon to adjudicate in disputes between the European Union and ]. The General Court mainly deals with cases taken by individuals and companies directly before the EU's courts, and the Court of Justice primarily deals with cases taken by member states, the institutions and ] by the courts of member states.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Court of Justice of the European Communities|url=http://curia.europa.eu/en/instit/presentationfr/cje.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071214133406/http://www.curia.europa.eu/en/instit/presentationfr/cje.htm|archivedate=2007-12-14|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=14 September 2007}};{{cite web|title=The Court of First Instance|url=http://curia.europa.eu/en/instit/presentationfr/tpi.htm|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=14 September 2007}} {{cite web|title=Institutions: Court of Justice|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/justice/index_en.htm|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref> Decisions from the General Court can be appealed to the Court of Justice but only on a ].<ref name="art225(1) Rome"> {{cite web|title=European Community consolidated treaty, (article 225 (1), The court of First Instance)|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/ce321/ce32120061229en00010331.pdf|publisher=Europa web portal|author=EUR-Lex|accessdate=8 November 2007|format=PDF}}</ref>
			EU policy is in general promulgated by ], which are then implemented in the ] of its ], and ], which are immediately enforceable in all member states. ] at the EU level by special interest groups is regulated to try to balance the aspirations of private initiatives with public interest decision-making process.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU Library Briefing:Lobbying the EU institutions |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/bibliotheque/briefing/2013/130558/LDM_BRI(2013)130558_REV1_EN.pdf |access-date=3 March 2018 |website=Europarl}}</ref>
	==Legal system==
	{{See|Law of the European Union|Treaties of the European Union|European Union legislative procedure}}
			===Budget===
	The EU is based on a series of treaties. These first established the European Community and the EU, and then made amendments to those founding treaties.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sources of EU law|url=http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/general_information/legal_information_and_eu_law/sources_eu_law/index_en.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080228193407/http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/general_information/legal_information_and_eu_law/sources_eu_law/index_en.htm|archivedate=2008-02-28|publisher=European Commission|accessdate=5 September 2007}}</ref> These are power-giving treaties which set broad policy goals and establish institutions with the necessary legal powers to implement those goals. These legal powers include the ability to enact legislation<ref name="art249">{{cite web|title=European Union consolidated treaty, (article 249, provisions for making regulations)|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/ce321/ce32120061229en00010331.pdf|publisher=European Commission|accessdate=8 November 2007|format=PDF}}</ref> which can directly affect all member states and their inhabitants.<ref name="Direct Effect">According to the principle of Direct Effect first invoked in the Court of Justice's decision in {{cite court|litigants=Van Gend en Loos v. Nederlanse Administratie Der Belastingen|reporter=Eur-Lex|court=European Court of Justice|year=1963|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:61962J0026:EN:HTML}}. See: Craig and de Búrca, ch. 5.</ref> Under the principle of ], national courts are required to enforce the treaties that their member states have ratified, and thus the laws enacted under them, even if doing so requires them to ignore conflicting national law, and (within limits) even constitutional provisions.<ref name="Supremacy">According to the principle of ] as established by the ECJ in Case 6/64, ''Falminio Costa v. ENEL'' ECR 585. See Craig and de Búrca, ch. 7. See also: 1 AC 603'']], ''Solange II'' (''Re Wuensche Handelsgesellschaft'', BVerfG decision of 22 Oct. 1986 3 CMLR 225,265) and ''Frontini v. Ministero delle Finanze'' 2 CMLR 372; ''Raoul George Nicolo'' 1 CMLR 173.</ref>
			{{Main|Budget of the European Union}}
			{{Pie chart
	] in ] can judge member states over ].]]
			| caption= <div style="text-align:center;">'''EU funding programmes 2014–2020<br />(€1,087 billion)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU funding programmes 2014–2020 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/eu-budget/spending/topic/eu-funding-programmes-2014-2020_en |access-date=2 January 2020 |website=European Commission}}</ref></div>
			| label1 = Sustainable Growth/Natural Resources
			| value1 = 38.6
			| color1 = blue
			| label2 = Competitiveness for Growth and Jobs
			| value2 = 13.1
			| color2 = yellow
			| label3 = Global Europe
			| value3 = 6.1
			| color3 = brown
			| label4 = Economic, Territorial and Social Cohesion
			| value4 = 34.1
			| color4 = red
			| label5 = Administration
			| value5 = 6.4
			| color5 = green
			| label6 = Security and Citizenship
			| value6 = 1.7
			| color6 = lightblue
			}}
			The European Union had an agreed budget of {{Euro|170.6}}&nbsp;billion in 2022. The EU had a long-term budget of €1,082.5 billion for the period 2014–2020, representing 1.02% of the EU-28's GNI. In 1960, the budget of the ] was 0.03 per cent of GDP.<ref>{{Cite book |last=David Smith. |first=David |url=https://archive.org/details/willeuropework0000smit |title=Will Europe work? |publisher=Profile Books |year=1999 |isbn=978-1-86197-102-9 |location=London}}</ref>
	The main legal acts of the EU come in three forms: ], ], and ]. Regulations become law in all member states the moment they come into force, without the requirement for any implementing measures,<ref>See: Case 34/73, ''Variola v. Amministrazione delle Finanze'' </nowiki> ECR 981].</ref> and automatically override conflicting domestic provisions.<ref name="art249"/> Directives require member states to achieve a certain result while leaving them discretion as to how to achieve the result. The details of how they are to be implemented are left to member states.<ref>To do otherwise would require the drafting of legislation which would have to cope with the frequently divergent legal systems and administrative systems of all of the now 27 member states. See Craig and de Búrca, p. 115</ref>
			Of this, €54bn subsidised ], €42bn was spent on ], building and the environment, €16bn on ], €13bn on welfare, €20bn on foreign and defence policy, €2bn in ], €2bn in ], €1.5bn in communications, and €13bn in administration.
	When the time limit for implementing directives passes, they may, under certain conditions, have ] in national law against member states. Decisions offer an alternative to the two above modes of legislation. They are legal acts which only apply to specified individuals, companies or a particular member state. They are most often used in Competition Law, or on rulings on State Aid, but are also frequently used for procedural or administrative matters within the institutions. Regulations, directives, and decisions are of equal legal value and apply without any formal hierarchy.
			In November 2020, two members of the union, Hungary and Poland, blocked approval to the EU's budget at a meeting in the ] (Coreper), citing a ]. The budget included a ] recovery fund of {{Euro|750}}{{nbsp}}billion. The budget may still be approved if Hungary and Poland withdraw their vetoes after further negotiations in the council and the ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2020 |title=Hungary and Poland block EU coronavirus recovery package |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-and-poland-block-progress-on-e1-8-trillion-package/ |access-date=16 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2020 |title=EU budget blocked by Hungary and Poland over rule of law issue |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54964858 |access-date=16 November 2020}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=February 2024}}
	One of the complicating features of the EU's legal system is the multiplicity of legislative procedures used to enact legislation. The treaties ] the EU's powers, indicating different ways of adopting legislation for different policy areas and for different areas within the same policy areas.<ref>For a good example of this see Title IV of Part Three of the Treaty of Rome, Council Decision (2004/927/EC) of 22 December 2004 providing for certain areas covered by Title IV of Part Three of the Treaty establishing the European Community to be governed by the procedure laid down in Article 251 of that Treaty and the Protocol on Article 67 of the Treaty establishing the European Community attached to the Nice Treaty.</ref> A common feature of the EU's legislative procedures, however, is that almost all legislation must be initiated by the Commission, rather than member states or European parliamentarians.<ref>{{cite web|title=Decision-making in the European Union|url=http://europa.eu/institutions/decision-making/index_en.htm|accessdate=14 September 2007}} See: ].</ref> The two most common procedures are co-decision, under which the European Parliament can veto proposed legislation, and consultation, under which Parliament is only permitted to give an opinion which can be ignored by European leaders. In most cases legislation must be agreed by the council.<ref name="decision making">{{cite web|title=Decision-making in the European Union|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://europa.eu/institutions/decision-making/index_en.htm|accessdate=18 September 2007}}</ref>
			Bodies combatting fraud have also been established, including the ] and the ]. The latter is a decentralized independent body of the European Union (EU), established under the ] between 22 of the 27 states of the EU following the method of ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 June 2017 |title=20 EU nations back plan for EU prosecutor's office |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/20-eu-nations-back-plan-for-eu-prosecutors-office.amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200125093003/https://www.foxnews.com/world/20-eu-nations-back-plan-for-eu-prosecutors-office.amp |archive-date=25 January 2020 |access-date=25 January 2020 |publisher=]}}</ref> The European Public Prosecutor's Office investigate and prosecute fraud against the ] and other crimes against the EU's financial interests including fraud concerning EU funds of over €10,000 and cross-border ] fraud cases involving damages above €10 million.
	National courts within the member states play a key role in the EU as enforcers of EU law, and a "spirit of cooperation" between EU and national courts is laid down in the Treaties. National courts can apply EU law in domestic cases, and if they require clarification on the interpretation or validity of any EU legislation related to the case it may make a reference for a preliminary ruling to the ]. The right to declare EU legislation invalid however is reserved to the EU courts.
	===Fundamental rights===		===Governance===
			{{Main|Bodies of the European Union and the Euratom|Institutions of the European Union|Subsidiarity (European Union)#EU competences}}
	As a product of efforts to establish a written ]s code, the EU drew up the ] in 2000. The Charter is legally binding since the Lisbon Treaty has come into force.<ref>By virtue of Article 1(8) of the Lisbon Treaty</ref> Also, the ] gives judgements on fundamental rights derived from the "constitutional traditions common to the member states,"<ref>Case 11/70, Internationale Handelsgesellschaft v. Einfuhr und Vorratstelle für Getreide und Futtermittel; Article 6(2) of the Maastrict Treaty (as amended).</ref> and may even invalidate EU legislation based on its failure to adhere to these fundamental rights.<ref name="europarl-rights">{{cite web|title=Respect for fundamental rights in the EU - general development|publisher=The ]|work=European Parliament Fact Sheets|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/2_1_1_en.htm|accessdate=6 September 2008}}</ref>
			Member states retain in principle all powers except those that they have agreed collectively to delegate to the Union as a whole, though the exact delimitation has on occasions become a subject of scholarly or legal disputes.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-35005-5 |title=The European Union and the Return of the Nation State |date=2020 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-35005-5 |isbn=978-3-030-35004-8 |editor-last1=Bakardjieva Engelbrekt |editor-last2=Leijon |editor-last3=Michalski |editor-last4=Oxelheim |editor-first1=Antonina |editor-first2=Karin |editor-first3=Anna |editor-first4=Lars }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zglinski |first=Jan |date=31 October 2023 |title=The new judicial federalism: the evolving relationship between EU and Member State courts |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-law-open/article/new-judicial-federalism-the-evolving-relationship-between-eu-and-member-state-courts/92E688990FD99AF0EF6CB4DE93D2D41F |journal=European Law Open |language=en |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=345–371 |doi=10.1017/elo.2023.27 |issn=2752-6135}}</ref>
			In certain fields, members have awarded ] to the Union. These are areas in which member states have entirely renounced their own capacity to enact legislation. In other areas, the EU and its member states share the competence to legislate. While both can legislate, the member states can only legislate to the extent to which the EU has not. In other policy areas, the EU can only co-ordinate, support and supplement member state action but cannot enact legislation with the aim of harmonising national laws.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Competences and consumers |url=http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consumers/events/2009/index.html |access-date=25 November 2010}}</ref> That a particular policy area falls into a certain category of competence is not necessarily indicative of what ] is used for enacting legislation within that policy area. Different legislative procedures are used within the same category of competence, and even with the same policy area. The distribution of competences in various policy areas between member states and the union is divided into the following three categories:
	Although signing the ] (ECHR) is a condition for EU membership,<ref>It is effectively treated as one of the Copenhagen criteria . It should be noted that this is a political and not a legal requirement for membership.</ref> the EU itself is not covered by the convention as it is neither a state<ref>The European Convention on Human Rights is currently only open to members of the ] (Article 59.1 of the Convention) , and only states may become member of the Council of Europe (Article 4 of the Statute of the Council of Europe) .</ref> nor has the competence to accede.<ref>Opinion (2/92) of the European Court of Justice on "Accession by the Community to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms" (in French), ruled that the European Community did not have the competence to accede to the ECHR.</ref> Nonetheless the Court of Justice and ] ] to ensure their case-law does not conflict.<ref name="Juncker Council">{{cite web|last=Juncker|first=Jean-Claude|authorlink=Jean-Claude Juncker|title=Council of Europe - European Union: "A sole ambition for the European continent"|year=2006|publisher=]|url=http://assembly.coe.int/Sessions/2006/speeches/20060411_report_JCJuncker_EN.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=28 July 2007}}</ref> Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU has been required to accede to the ECHR.<ref>By virtue of Article 1(8) of the Lisbon Treaty, however this will only become possible when Protocol 14 of the ECHR, which allows for EU accession to the ECHR, comes into force.</ref> The EU opposes the ] and promotes its world wide abolition.<ref>{{cite web|title=EU Policy on Death Penalty|author=European Commission|publisher=Europa Web Portal|accessdate=27 August 2009|url=http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/human_rights/adp/index_en.htm}}</ref> Abolition of the death penalty is a condition for EU membership.<ref>{{cite web|title=The death penalty in Europe|author=European Commission|publisher=Europa Web Portal|accessdate=27 August 2009|url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/information_dossiers/conference_death_penalty/page_2_en.htm}}</ref>
			{{EU competences}}
	==Foreign relations==
	{{Main|Foreign relations of the European Union|Common Foreign and Security Policy}}
	] design, ] coloured with the name of the member state, ] and with the words "European Union" given in their official language(s) at the top; in this case that of the ].]]
			The European Union has seven principal decision-making bodies, its ]: the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ] and the ]. Competence in scrutinising and amending legislation is shared between the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, while executive tasks are performed by the European Commission and in a limited capacity by the European Council (not to be confused with the aforementioned Council of the European Union). The ] of the eurozone is determined by the European Central Bank. The interpretation and the application of EU law and the treaties are ensured by the Court of Justice of the European Union. The EU budget is scrutinised by the European Court of Auditors. There are also a number of ancillary bodies which advise the EU or operate in a specific area.
	Foreign policy cooperation between member states dates from the establishment of the Community in 1957, when member states negotiated as a bloc in ] negotiations under the Common Commercial Policy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Qualified-Majority Voting: Common commercial policy|url=http://ec.europa.eu/archives/igc2000/geninfo/fact-sheets/fact-sheet6/index_en.htm|accessdate=3 September 2007|publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> Steps for a more wide ranging coordination in ] began in 1970 with the establishment of ] which created an informal consultation process between member states with the aim of forming common foreign policies. It was not, however, until 1987 when European Political Cooperation was introduced on a formal basis by the ]. EPC was renamed as the ''Common Foreign and Security Policy'' (CFSP) by the Maastricht Treaty.<ref name="EPC">{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/european_political_cooperation_en.htm|title=European political co-operation (EPC)|accessdate=3 September 2007|publisher=Europa web portal|author=The European commission|work=Europa Glossary}}</ref>
			===Branches of power===
	The Maastricht Treaty gives the CFSP the aims of promoting both the EU's own interests and those of the ] as a whole. This includes promoting international co-operation, respect for ], ], and the ].<ref name="art11 Union"> {{cite web|title=European Union consolidated treaty, (article 11, common foreign policy)|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/ce321/ce32120061229en00010331.pdf|publisher=Europa web portal|author=EUR-Lex|accessdate=8 November 2007|format=PDF}}</ref>
			{{Main|Bodies of the European Union and the Euratom}}
			====Executive branch====
	] is the EU's ] in foreign policy.]]
			{{Main|European Council|European Commission}}
	The ] created the office of the ] (currently held by ]) to co-ordinate the EU's foreign policy.<ref name="Europa CFSP">{{cite web|title=Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) - Overview|publisher=Europa web portal|year=2002|url=http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/cfsp/intro/index.htm|accessdate=26 June 2007}}</ref> The High Representative, in conjunction with the current ], speaks on behalf of the EU in foreign policy matters and can have the task of articulating ambiguous policy positions created by disagreements among member states. The Common Foreign and Security Policy requires unanimity among the now 27 member states on the appropriate policy to follow on any particular issue. The unanimity and difficult issues treated under the CFSP makes disagreements, such as those which occurred over the ],<ref name="BBC Iraq statement">{{cite news|title=Divided EU agrees Iraq statement|publisher=]|date=27 January 2003|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2697667.stm|accessdate=13 March 2009}}</ref> not uncommon.
			{{Multiple image
	Besides the emerging international policy of the European Union, the international influence of the EU is also felt through ]. The perceived benefits of becoming a member of the EU act as an incentive for both political and economic reform in states wishing to fulfil the EU's accession criteria, and are considered an important factor contributing to the reform of former ] in ].<ref name="Enlargement voice">{{cite web|title=EU enlargement - voices from the debate|publisher=British ]|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1139992114487|accessdate=27 June 2007}}</ref> This influence on the internal affairs of other countries is generally referred to as "]", as opposed to military "hard power".<ref name="Soft Power">{{cite web|last=Bildt|first=Carl|authorlink=Carl Bildt|title=Europe must keep its 'soft power'|publisher=] on ]|year=2005|url=http://www.cer.org.uk/articles/bildt_ft_1june05.html|accessdate=26 June 2007}}</ref>
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	] summits. (])]]
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			| alt1 = Portrait of António Costa
			| caption1 = ],<br /><small>]</small>
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			| alt2 = Portrait of Ursula von der Leyen
			| caption2 = ],<br /><small>]</small>
			}}
			The Union's executive branch is organised as a ], where the executive power is jointly exercised by several people. The executive branch consists of the European Council and European Commission.
	In the UN, as an observer and working together, the EU has gained influence in areas such as aid due to its large contributions in that field (see below).<ref name="EUObserver UN Seat">{{cite web|title=EU heading for single UN seat, UN official says|publisher=]|year=2007|url=http://euobserver.com/24/22553|accessdate=26 June 2007}}</ref> In the ], the ] besides chairing/hosting summit meetings and is represented at meetings by the presidents of the Commission and the Council.<ref name="EC G8">{{cite web|title=EU and the G8|publisher=Europa web portal|author=Delegation of the European Commission to Japan|url=http://www.deljpn.ec.europa.eu/union/showpage_en_union.external.g8.php|accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> In the ] (WTO), where all 27 member states are represented, the EU as a body is represented by ] ].<ref name="Europa Trade">{{cite web|title=The EU and the world trade organisation|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/newround/index_en.htm|accessdate=26 June 2007}}</ref>
			<!-- European Council -->
	There has been discussion among political analysts as to whether the European Union represents a new type of ] ] that focuses on ] and economic and political rivalries rather than military and ideological rivalries. The discussion is typified by the debate over the extent to which the European Union sees itself, or is seen by others, as a "] ]" – either now or in the foreseeable future.<ref>{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Kagan|authorlink=Robert Kagan|title=New Europe, Old Russia|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/05/AR2008020502879.html|work=The Washington Post|publisher=|page=A19|date=2008-02-06|accessdate=2009-07-26|quote=They imagined that the world would come to replicate the European Union, and that when it did, the European Union would be a postmodern superpower.}}</ref><ref>{{cite paper|last=McCormick|first=John|authorlink=John McCormick|date=2006-04-20|title=The European Union: A Post-Modern Superpower. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the The Midwest Political Science Association, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois Online|url=http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p139473_index.html|quote=Where many American policymakers still opt for cold war-style military analyses of the international system, the EU has emerged as a post-modern superpower, emphasising non-military options and representing a competing set of values that fits more closely with the post-cold war international system. The old international system, with its military and ideological rivalries, has been replaced by a new international system based on economic, political and social rivalries, in which the Americans and the Europeans champion distinctive values, offer competing analyses of international problems, and pursue different approaches to dealing with those problems.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Youngs|first=Richard|year=2007|month=September|title=Europe and the Gulf: Strategic Neglect|journal=Studia Diplomatica – the Brussels Journal of International Relations|volume=VOL. LX, 2007|issue=No. 1|pages=29–42|publisher=Egmont – The Royal Institute For International Relations|isbn=978-2-930432-09-0|issn=0770-2965|url=http://www.irri-kiib.be/SD/Studia_2007-01.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-07-26|quote=. . . an analysis of European policy in the Gulf provides a useful, if sobering, antidote to those today celebrating how,fifty years on from Rome, the EU has apparently developed into an influential, normative, post-modern superpower.}}</ref>
			The European Council sets the broad political direction of the Union. It convenes at least four times a year and comprises the ] (presently ]), the ] and one representative per ] (either its ] or ]). The ] (presently ]) also takes part in its meetings. Described by some as the union's "supreme political leadership",<ref name="How work">{{Cite book |url=http://europa.eu/abc/12lessons/lesson_4/index_en.htm |title=How does the EU work |publisher=Europa (web portal) |year=2012 |isbn=9789279205125 |access-date=12 July 2007}}</ref> it is actively involved in the negotiation of ] and defines the EU's policy agenda and strategies. Its leadership role involves solving disputes between member states and the institutions, and to resolving any political crises or disagreements over controversial issues and policies. It acts as a "]" and ] important documents (for example, international agreements and treaties).<ref name="Oxford University Press">{{Cite book |last1=Parsons |first1=Craig |url={{GBurl|id=aMsWxEnaqrUC|p=146}} |title=With US Or Against US?: European Trends in American Perspective |last2=Jabko |first2=Nicolas |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-928395-8 |page=146 |language=en |quote=Fourth, the European Council acts a "collective head of state" for the EU.}}</ref> Tasks for the president of the European Council are ensuring the external representation of the EU,<ref name="Council Press Release">{{Cite web |date=24 November 2009 |title=President of the European Council |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/111298.pdf |access-date=24 November 2009 |publisher=General Secretariat of the Council of the EU}}</ref> driving consensus and resolving divergences among member states, both during meetings of the European Council and over the periods between them. The European Council should not be mistaken for the ], an international organisation independent of the EU and based in Strasbourg.
	===Military and defence===
	{{Main|Common Security and Defence Policy|Military of the European Union}}
	] is built by a consortium of four EU countries.]]
			<!-- European Commission -->
	The predecessors of the European Union were not devised as a strong ] because NATO was largely seen as appropriate and sufficient for defence purposes.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilkinson|first=Paul|title=International Relations|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=100|quote=The EU states have never felt the need to make the organization into a powerful military alliance. They already have NATO to undertake that task.}}</ref> Twenty-one ] are members of ]<ref>{{cite web|title=NATO Member Countries|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/nato_countries.htm|accessdate=2009-08-25}}</ref> while the remaining member states follow policies of neutrality.<ref>{{cite conference|first=Finn|last=Laursen|title=The EU 'neutrals,' the CFSP and defence policy|booktitle=Biennial Conference of the European Union Studies Association|pages=27|publisher=University of Pittsburgh|date=29 May-1 June 1997|location=Seattle, WA.|url=http://aei.pitt.edu/2657/|accessdate=2009-07-24}}</ref> The ] (WEU) is a European security organisation related to the EU. In 1992, the WEU's relationship with the EU was defined, when the EU assigned it the "]" (humanitarian missions such as peacekeeping and ]). These tasks were later transferred from the WEU to the EU by the Amsterdam Treaty and now form part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the ]. Elements of the WEU are currently being merged into the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and the President of the WEU is currently the EU's foreign policy chief.<ref name="Europa ESDP">{{cite web|title=EU Security Police & the role of the European Commission|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/cfsp/esdp/index.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080208234309/http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/cfsp/esdp/index.htm|archivedate=2008-02-08|accessdate=26 June 2007}}</ref><ref name="Europa Chronology">{{cite web|title=EU Security Police & the role of the European Commission: Chronology|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/cfsp/esdp/chrono.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071226072715/http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/cfsp/esdp/chrono.htm|archivedate=2007-12-26|accessdate=26 June 2007}}</ref>
			The ] acts both as the EU's ], responsible for the day-to-day running of the EU, and also the ], with the sole power to propose laws for debate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legislative powers |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/en/powers-and-procedures/legislative-powers |access-date=13 February 2019 |website=European Parliament}}</ref><ref name="Library of European Parliament">{{Cite web |date=24 October 2013 |title=Parliament's legislative initiative |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/bibliotheque/briefing/2013/130619/LDM_BRI(2013)130619_REV2_EN.pdf |access-date=13 February 2019 |website=Library of the European Parliament}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 April 2019 |title=Planning and proposing law |url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-making-process/planning-and-proposing-law_en |website=European Commission}}</ref> The commission is 'guardian of the Treaties' and is responsible for their efficient operation and policing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guardian of the Treaties |url=https://www.cvce.eu/en/education/unit-content/-/unit/d5906df5-4f83-4603-85f7-0cabc24b9fe1/28d57ad3-6f5e-4f9c-82a8-be9535febad5 |access-date=8 June 2019 |website=CVCE Education Unit |publisher=University of Luxembourg}}</ref> It has 27 ] for different areas of policy, one from each member state, though commissioners are bound to represent the interests of the EU as a whole rather than their home state. The leader of the 27 is the ] (presently ] for 2019{{ndash}}2024, reelected for the 2024–2029 term), ], following and taking into account the result of the European elections, and is then elected by the European Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elections and appointments |url=https://european-union.europa.eu/institutions-law-budget/leadership/elections-and-appointments_en |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=European Union}}</ref> The President retains, as the leader responsible for the entire cabinet, the final say in accepting or rejecting a candidate submitted for a given portfolio by a member state, and oversees the commission's permanent civil service. After the President, the most prominent commissioner is the high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy, who is ''ex-officio'' a ] and is also chosen by the European Council.<ref>]</ref> The other 25 commissioners are subsequently appointed by the ] in agreement with the nominated president. The 27 commissioners as a single body are subject to approval (or otherwise) by a vote of the ]. All commissioners are first nominated by the government of the respective member state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European commission |url=https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/european_government/eu_institutions/european_commission.html |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=Citizens Information Ireland}}</ref>
			====Legislative branch====
	] forces are peacekeeping in parts of the ] and ].]]
			{{Main|Council of the European Union|European Parliament}}
			{{Multiple image
	Following the ] in 1999, the European Council agreed that "the Union must have the capacity for ], backed by credible ], the means to decide to use them, and the readiness to do so, in order to respond to international crises ] to actions by NATO". To that end, a number of efforts were made to increase the EU's military capability, notably the ] process. After much discussion, the most concrete result was the ] initiative, each of which is planned to be able to deploy quickly about 1500&nbsp;men.<ref name="Council Capabilities">{{cite web|title=Military Capabilities|publisher=Europa web portal|author=Council of the European Union|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?id=1349&lang=EN|accessdate=9 October 2007}}</ref>
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			| caption1 = ],<br /><small>]</small>
			}}
			<!-- Council of the European Union -->
	EU forces have been deployed on ] missions from ] to the former ] and the ].<ref name="Council Operations">{{cite web|title=EU security and defence Operations|publisher=Europa web portal|author=Council of the European Union|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?id=268&lang=EN&mode=g|accessdate=26 June 2007}}</ref> EU ]s are supported by a number of bodies, including the ], ] and the ].<ref name="Council Structures">{{cite web|title=ESPD Structures|publisher=Europa web portal|author=Council of the European Union|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?id=279&lang=EN&mode=g|accessdate=26 June 2007}}</ref> In an EU consisting of 27 members, substantial security and defence cooperation is increasingly relying on great power cooperation<ref> http://www.diis.dk/sw87465.asp?csref=RSS The Russo-Georgian War and Beyond: towards a European Great Power Concert, Danish ''Institute of International Studies''.</ref>.
			The council, as it is now simply called<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A12012E%2FTXT |access-date=1 August 2023}}</ref> (also called the Council of the European Union<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/ |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=www.consilium.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> and the "Council of Ministers", its former title),<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2010 |title=Institutional affairs: Council of the European Union |url=http://europa.eu/pol/inst/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112155537/http://europa.eu/pol/inst/index_en.htm |archive-date=12 January 2010 |access-date=16 January 2010 |website=Europa |publisher=European Commission |quote=It is commonly called the Council of Ministers}}.</ref> forms one half of the EU's legislature. It consists of a representative from each member state's government and meets in ]. Notwithstanding its different configurations, it is considered to be one single body. In addition to the legislative functions, members of the council also have ] responsibilities, such as the development of a ] and the coordination of broad economic policies within the Union.<ref name="Europa Institutions Council">{{Cite web |title=Institutions: The Council of the European Union |url=http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/council/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703155822/http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/council/index_en.htm |archive-date=3 July 2007 |access-date=25 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The ] rotates between member states, with each holding it for six months. Beginning on 1 July 2024, the position is held by Hungary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hungarian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/|title=Hungarian presidency Council of the European Union|access-date=1 July 2024|publisher=Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union}}</ref>
			<!-- European Parliament -->
	===Humanitarian aid===
			The European Parliament is one of three ] of the EU, which together with the ] is tasked with amending and approving the European Commission's proposals. 705 ] (MEPs) are directly ] by ] every five years on the basis of ]. MEPs are elected on a national basis and they sit according to ] rather than their nationality. Each country has a set number of seats and is divided into ] where this does not affect the proportional nature of the voting system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wellfire Interactive |date=9 March 2009 |title=MEPs must be elected on the basis of proportional representation, the threshold must not exceed 5%, and the electoral area may be subdivided in constituencies if this will not generally affect the proportional nature of the voting system |url=http://www.fairvote.org/european-parliament-to-be-elected-with-proportional-representation-systems |access-date=26 November 2010 |publisher=Fairvote.org}}</ref> In the ], the European Commission proposes legislation, which requires the joint approval of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to pass. This process applies to nearly all areas, including the ]. The parliament is the final body to approve or reject the proposed membership of the commission, and can attempt motions of censure on the commission by appeal to the ]. The ] carries out the role of speaker in Parliament and represents it externally. The president and ] are elected by MEPs every two and a half years.<ref name="Europa Institutions Parliament">{{Cite web |title=Institutions: The European Parliament |url=http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/parliament/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624114722/http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/parliament/index_en.htm |archive-date=24 June 2007 |access-date=25 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
	{{See|European Community Humanitarian Aid Office}}
	] in the world.]]
			====Judicial branch====
	The ], or "ECHO", provides ] from the EU to ]. In 2006 its budget amounted to €671&nbsp;million, 48% of which went to the ].<ref name="ECHO 2006">{{cite web|title=DG for humanitarian aid - ECHO, financial report 2006|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|year=2006|url=http://ec.europa.eu/echo/pdf_files/financial_report.pdf|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080307042553/http://ec.europa.eu/echo/pdf_files/financial_report.pdf|archivedate=2008-03-07|format=PDF|accessdate=13 August 2007}}</ref> Counting the EU's own contributions and those of its member states together, the EU is the largest aid donor in the world.<ref name="ODA volumes: Europe and the world">{{cite web|title=Euromapping 2008|author=]|date=29 September 2008|url=http://www.euroresources.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Euromapping/Euromapping_Final.pdf|accessdate=3 April 2009}}</ref>
			{{Main|Court of Justice of the European Union}}
			{{Multiple image
	The EU's aid has previously been criticised by the ] ] ] for being inefficient, mis-targeted and linked to economic objectives.<ref name="BBC Aid Inefficient">{{cite news|last=Mulvey|first=Stephen|title=EU attacked for 'inefficient' aid|publisher=BBC News|date=30 May 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6705773.stm|accessdate=13 August 2007}}</ref> Furthermore, some charities have claimed European governments have inflated the amount they have spent on aid by incorrectly including money spent on ], ], and refugees. Under the de-inflated figures, the EU as a whole did not reach its internal aid target in 2006<ref name="Indy Inflated Aid">{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Jerome|title=EU accused of artificially inflating its aid figures|publisher=]|date=11 May 2007|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/eu-accused-of-artificially-inflating-its-aid-figures-448343.html|accessdate=13 August 2007}}</ref> and is expected not to reach the international target of 0.7% of ] until 2015.<ref name="Development aid from OECD countries fell 5.1% in 2006">{{cite web|title=Development aid from OECD countries fell 5.1% in 2006|author=]|date=3 April 2007|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/17/0,2340,en_2649_201185_38341265_1_1_1_1,00.html|accessdate=6 April 2009}}</ref>
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			| caption1 = ],<br /><small>]</small>
			}}
			<!-- Court of Justice -->
	However, four countries have reached that target, most notably ], ], ] and ].<ref name="ODA volumes: Europe and the world"/> In 2005 EU aid was 0.34% of the GNP which was higher than that of either the United States or ].<ref name="ECHO Overview">{{cite web|title=Overviews of the European Union activities: Development|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://europa.eu/pol/dev/overview_en.htm|accessdate=13 August 2007}}</ref> The current ], ], has called for aid to be delivered more rapidly, to greater effect, and on humanitarian principles.<ref name="Aid Consensus">{{cite web|title=Commission calls for a European consensus to boost impact of humanitarian aid|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|date=13 June 2007|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/814&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en|accessdate=13 August 2007}}</ref>
			The ] of the European Union is formally called the ] (CJEU) and consists of two courts: the ] and the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Article 19 of the Treaty on European Union |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0013:0046:EN:PDF |access-date=31 October 2010 |publisher=eur-lex.europa.eu}}</ref> The ] is the ] of the European Union in matters of ]. As a part of the CJEU, it is tasked with interpreting EU law and ensuring its uniform application across all ] under Article 263 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The Court was established in 1952, and is based in ]. It is composed of one judge per ] – currently 27 – although it normally hears cases in panels of three, five or fifteen judges. The Court has been led by president ] since 2015. The CJEU is the highest court of the European Union in matters of ]. Its case-law provides that EU law has supremacy over any national law that is inconsistent with EU law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Judgment of the Court of 15 July 1964 in the case of Flaminio Costa v E.N.E.L. |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A61964CJ0006}}</ref> It is not possible to appeal against the decisions of national courts in the CJEU, but rather national courts refer questions of EU law to the CJEU. However, it is ultimately for the national court to apply the resulting interpretation to the facts of any given case. Although, only courts of final appeal are bound to refer a question of EU law when one is addressed. The treaties give the CJEU the power for consistent application of EU law across the EU as a whole. The court also acts as an administrative and constitutional court between the other EU institutions and the Member States and can annul or invalidate unlawful acts of EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies.
			<!-- General Court -->
	==Justice and home affairs==
			The ] is a constituent court of the European Union. It hears actions taken against the ] by individuals and member states, although certain matters are reserved for the Court of Justice. Decisions of the General Court can be appealed to the Court of Justice, but only on a point of law. Prior to the coming into force of the ] on 1 December 2009, it was known as the Court of First Instance.
	] comprises most member states ensuring open borders.]]
	{{See|European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom & Security}}
			====Additional branches====
	Over the years, the EU has developed a wide competence in the area of justice and home affairs. To this end, agencies have been established that co-ordinate associated actions: ] for co-operation of police forces,<ref>{{cite web|title=European police office now in full swing|url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/police/europol/fsj_police_europol_en.htm|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=4 September 2007}}</ref> ] for co-operation between prosecutors,<ref>{{cite web|title=Eurojust coordinating cross-border prosecutions at EU level|url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/criminal/eurojust/fsj_criminal_eurojust_en.htm|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=4 September 2007}}</ref> and ] for co-operation between border control authorities.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is Frontex?|url=http://www.frontex.europa.eu/|author=Frontex|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=4 September 2007}}</ref> The EU also operates the ]<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|title=Abolition of internal borders and creation of a single Union external frontier|publisher=Europa web portal|year=2005|url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/freetravel/frontiers/fsj_freetravel_schengen_en.htm|accessdate=24 January 2007}}{{Dead link|date=October 2009}}</ref> which provides a common database for police and immigration authorities.
			{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2023}}
			<!-- Monetary branch -->
			{{Multiple image
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			| image1 = Christine Lagarde (cropped).jpg
			| width1 = 160
			| alt1 = Portrait of Christine Lagarde
			| caption1 = ],<br /><small>]</small>
			}}
			The ] (ECB) is one of the institutions of the ] of the European Union, the prime component of the ] and the European System of Central Banks. It is one of the world's ]. The ] makes ] for the ] and the European Union, administers the ] of EU member states, engages in foreign exchange operations, and defines the intermediate monetary objectives and key interest rate of the EU. The ] enforces the policies and decisions of the Governing Council, and may direct the national central banks when doing so. The ECB has the exclusive right to authorise the issuance of ]. Member states can issue ], but the volume must be approved by the ECB beforehand. The bank also operates the ] payments system. The ] (ESCB) consists of the ECB and the national central banks (NCBs) of all 27 member states of the European Union. The ESCB is not the monetary authority of the eurozone, because not all EU member states have joined the euro. The ESCB's objective is price stability throughout the European Union. Secondarily, the ESCB's goal is to improve monetary and financial cooperation between the Eurosystem and member states outside the eurozone.
	Furthermore, the Union has legislated in areas such as extradition,<ref>{{cite web|title=European arrest warrant replaces extradition between EU Member States|url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/criminal/extradition/fsj_criminal_extradition_en.htm|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=4 September 2007}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l33194.htm|title=Jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility (Brussels II)|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=5 September 2008}}</ref> asylum law,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l33150.htm|title=Minimum standards on the reception of applicants for asylum in Member States|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=5 September 2008}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l10110.htm|title=Specific Programme: 'Criminal Justice'|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=5 September 2008}}</ref> Prohibitions against sexual and nationality discrimination have a long standing in the treaties.<ref name="art39/141 Rome">{{cite web|title=European Community consolidated treaty, (articles 39 and 141), prohibition of national or sexual discrimination)|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/ce321/ce32120061229en00010331.pdf|publisher=Europa web portal|author=EUR-Lex|accessdate=28 February 2008|format=PDF}}</ref> In more recent years, these have been supplemented by powers to legislate against discrimination based on race, religion, disability, age, and ].<ref name="art2(7) Amsterdam">{{cite web|title=Amsterdam treaty article 2 s.7 amending European Community consolidated treaty article 13, combating discrimination)|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/11997D/htm/11997D.html#0001010001|publisher=Europa web portal|author=EUR-Lex|accessdate=28 February 2008}}</ref> By virtue of these powers, the EU has enacted legislation on ] in the work-place, ], and ].<ref>Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of ] between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (OJ L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 22–26); Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16–22).</ref>
			<!-- Others -->
	==Economy==
			]}} {{legend|#DA2131|Member states not participating}}]]
	] corporations are headquartered in EU countries. (], ].)]]
			The ] (ECA) is the ] of the European Union. It was established in 1975 in ] in order to improve EU financial management. It has 27 members (1 from each EU member-state) supported by approximately 800 civil servants. The ] (EPSO) is the EU's ] and operates its selection of candidates via generalist and specialist competitions. Each institution is then able to recruit staff from among the pool of candidates selected by EPSO. On average, EPSO receives around 60,000–70,000 applications a year with around 1,500–2,000 candidates recruited by the European Union institutions. The ] is the ] of the European Union that holds the institutions, bodies and agencies of the EU to account, and promotes good administration. The Ombudsman helps people, businesses and organisations facing problems with the EU administration by investigating complaints, as well as by proactively looking into broader systemic issues. The current Ombudsman is ]. The ] (EPPO) is the ] of the union with juridical personality, established under the Treaty of Lisbon between 23 of the 27 states of the EU following the method of enhanced cooperation. It is based in Kirchberg, Luxembourg City alongside the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Auditors.
	{{Main|Economy of the European Union}}
			{{Clear}}
	Since its origin, the EU has established a single economic market across the territory of all its members. Currently, a single currency is in use between the 16 members of the ].<ref name="euro website"/><ref name="Europa Single Market"/> If considered as a single economy, the EU generated an estimated nominal ] (GDP) of ]18.39&nbsp;trillion (15.247&nbsp;trillion international dollars based on ] parity) in 2008, <!-- Please do not use projected figures --> amounting to over 22% of the world's total ] in terms of purchasing power parity,<ref name="GDP IMF">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=001%2C998&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPSH&grp=1&a=1&pr.x=50&pr.y=9|accessdate=24 April 2009|date=April 2009|title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2009 Edition|publisher=]|
	quote=<br/>
	Gross domestic product, current prices; U.S. dollars, Billions; <br/>
	2007=16,927.173 <br/>
	2008=18,394.115 <br/>
	2009=16,190.981 <br/>
	Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) valuation of country GDP; Current international dollar, Billions; <br/>
	2007=14,762.109 <br/>
	2008=15,247.163 <br/>
	2009=14,851.385 <br/>
	GDP based on PPP share of world total<br/>
	2007=22.605% <br/>
	2008=22.131%
	2009=21.519% <br/>
	World "GDP", current prices; U.S. dollars, Billions; <br/>
	2007=54,840.873 <br/>
	2008=60,689.812 <br/>
	2009=57,228.373 <br/>
	These data were published in 2009. Data for 2009 are projections based on a number of assumptions.
	<!--IMF GDP data published in April 2008; so please do not use the IMF *projections*for 2009 -->
	}}</ref> which makes it the largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and the second largest ] economy in the world by PPP valuation of GDP. It is also the largest exporter ,<ref name="CIA exports">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2078rank.html|title=Rank Order - Exports|publisher=]|work=]|accessdate=21 August 2007}}</ref> and largest importer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/anrep_e/world_trade_report09_e.pdf|title=World trade report 2009|publisher=WTO information website|accessdate=2009-10-12}}</ref> of ], and the biggest trading partner to several large countries such as ] and ].<ref name="Trade China">{{cite web|title=China now EU's biggest import market|publisher=People's Daily Online|date=31 January 2007|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200701/31/eng20070131_346408.html|accessdate=22 July 2007}}</ref><ref name="Trade China-EU">{{cite web|title=EU now biggest trading partner of China|publisher=Chinese Embassy|date=15 September 2006|url=http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/xw/t272113.htm|accessdate=4 April 2008}}</ref><ref name="Trade India-EU">{{cite web|title=India and the EU: strategic partners?|publisher=Centre for European Reform|date=February/March 2006|url=http://www.cer.org.uk/articles/46_grant.html|accessdate=4 April 2008}}</ref>
			===Law===
	178 of the top 500 largest corporations measured by revenue (]) have their headquarters in the EU.<ref name="Fortune 500">{{cite web|url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2009/countries/Australia.html|title=Fortune Global 500 2009|date=20 July 2009|publisher=CNN|accessdate=22 September 2009}}</ref>{{Update after|2010|07|23|reason=next update of list expected approx. 2010-07-23}}
			{{Main|European Union law}}
			{{Further|European Union legislative procedure}}
			{{See also|Treaties of the European Union|European Citizens' Initiative}}
			]
	In May 2007 unemployment in the EU stood at 7%<ref name="UNEMP">{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2007/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2007_MONTH_07/3-03072007-EN-AP.PDF|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080307042549/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2007/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2007_MONTH_07/3-03072007-EN-AP.PDF|archivedate=2008-03-07|format=PDF|title=Euro area and EU 27 unemployment down to 7.0%|date=3 July 2007|publisher=Europa web portal|accessdate=1 November 2007}}</ref> while investment was at 21.4% of GDP, inflation at 2.2% and public deficit at &minus;0.9% of GDP.<ref name="IMF all but GDP">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2007/01/data/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=80&pr1.y=6&c=998&s=NID_NGDP%2CNGSD_NGDP%2CPCPIPCH%2CGGB_NGDP%2CBCA%2CBCA_NGDPD&grp=1&a=1=Eur4|title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2007|date=April 2007|publisher=]|accessdate=29 November 2007}}</ref> There is a great deal of variance for annual per capita income within individual EU states, these range from US$7,000 to US$69,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=European Union|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|work=World Factbook|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ee.html|accessdate=13 March 2009}}{{Dead link|date=October 2009}}</ref>
			Constitutionally, the EU bears some resemblance to both a ] and a ],<ref>Kiljunen, Kimmo (2004). The European Constitution in the Making. Centre for European Policy Studies. pp. 21–26. {{ISBN|978-92-9079-493-6}}.</ref><ref>Burgess, Michael (2000). Federalism and European union: The building of Europe, 1950–2000. Routledge. p. 49. {{ISBN|0-415-22647-3}}. "Our theoretical analysis suggests that the EC/EU is neither a federation nor a confederation in the classical sense. But it does claim that the European political and economic elites have shaped and moulded the EC/EU into a new form of international organization, namely, a species of "new" confederation."</ref> but has not formally defined itself as either. (It does not have a formal constitution: its status is defined by the ] and the ]). It is more integrated than a traditional confederation of states because the general level of government widely employs ] in some decision-making among the member states, rather than relying exclusively on unanimity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qualified majority – Consilium |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/voting-system/qualified-majority/ |access-date=10 April 2019 |website=www.consilium.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Practical Law UK Signon |url=https://signon.thomsonreuters.com/?comp=pluk&productid=PLCUK&viewproductid=UKPL&lr=0&culture=en-US&returnto=https%3a%2f%2fuk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com%2fCosi%2fSignOn%3fcomp%3dpluk%26redirectTo%3d%252f9-503-0498%253ftransitionType%253dDefault%2526contextData%253d(sc.Default)%2526firstPage%253dtrue%2526comp%253dpluk%2526bhcp%253d1&tracetoken=0410191706400iocfH6ix9aDAXboKMKljGSEQbVenO3hRbkBiVwSpjK1nPrIZleK0m_ZYArfREaHTp00rbJNn9JJiUMtpuREV-tBpbDUn6jga8Zl9POgeorx-_ajnZ8E3JYaIx_LR8_3ZDgttQ2Na2blkP5wVQ4ab8NCop3kx46Kc2OAzz_TmEl3CC7PuHaHnrnMSp6Iff0Ha6hnq7X8w-OJXGJwNOPAhExqg5qLTz6c5ZWem1fKcj3l-9-h9cvMeVpfodmsngI5XZ8ruL99SM4ZCzGSNyROceid4Z3KboCsVabuZY0E-uiLtwSweJKfAwbVwR05UE0UIdD0SkAXveKEjxj9NIp2XCOCilihh1It2arRlZYHQ0Fc |access-date=10 April 2019 |website=signon.thomsonreuters.com}}</ref> It is less integrated than a federal state because it is not a state in its own right: sovereignty continues to flow 'from the bottom up', from the several peoples of the separate member states, rather than from a single undifferentiated whole. This is reflected in the fact that the member states remain the 'masters of the Treaties', retaining control over the allocation of competences to the union through constitutional change (thus retaining so-called ''Kompetenz-kompetenz''); in that they retain control of the use of armed force; they retain control of taxation; and in that they retain a right of unilateral withdrawal under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. In addition, the principle of ] requires that only those matters that need to be determined collectively are so determined.
	===Single market===
	{{See|Four Freedoms (European Union)}}
			Under the principle of ], national courts are required to enforce the treaties that their member states have ratified, even if doing so requires them to ignore conflicting national law, and (within limits) even constitutional provisions.<ref name="Supremacy" group="lower-alpha">According to the principle of ] as established by the ECJ in Case 6/64, ''Falminio Costa v. ENEL'' ECR 585. See Craig and de Búrca, ch. 7. See also: ]: ''Factortame Ltd. v. Secretary of State for Transport (No. 2) 1 AC 603'', ''Solange II'' (''Re Wuensche Handelsgesellschaft'', BVerfG decision of 22 October 1986 3 CMLR 225,265) and ''Frontini v. Ministero delle Finanze'' 2 CMLR 372; ''Raoul George Nicolo'' 1 CMLR 173.</ref> The ] and supremacy doctrines were not explicitly set out in the European Treaties but were developed by the Court of Justice itself over the 1960s, apparently under the influence of its then most influential judge, Frenchman ].<ref>William Phelan, ''Great Judgments of the European Court of Justice: Rethinking the Landmark Decisions of the Foundational Period'' (Cambridge, 2019).</ref> The question whether the secondary law enacted by the EU has a comparable status in relation to national legislation, has been a matter of debate among legal scholars.
	Two of the original core objectives of the European Economic Community were the development of a ], subsequently renamed the ], and a ] between its member states. The single market involves the free circulation of ], ], ] and ] within the EU,<ref name="Europa Single Market">{{cite web|title=The Single Market|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/index_en.htm|accessdate=27 June 2007}}</ref> and the customs union involves the application of a ] on all goods entering the market. Once goods have been admitted into the market they can not be subjected to ], discriminatory taxes or ]s, as they travel internally. The non-EU member states of ], ], ] and ] participate in the single market but not in the customs union.<ref name="EEA">{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/eea/index.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071230190313/http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/eea/index.htm|archivedate=2007-12-30|title=The European Economic Area (EEA)|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|accessdate=21 July 2007}}</ref> Half the trade in the EU is covered by legislation harmonised by the EU.<ref name="Europa Single Market G">{{cite web|title=A Single Market for goods|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_18_en.htm|accessdate=27 June 2007}}</ref>
			====Primary law====
	Free movement of capital is intended to permit movement of investments such as property purchases and buying of shares between countries.<ref name="Europa Single Market C">{{cite web|title=A Single Market for Capital|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_42_en.htm|accessdate=27 June 2007}}</ref> Until the drive towards ] the development of the capital provisions had been slow. Post-Maastricht there has been a rapidly developing corpus of ECJ judgements regarding this initially neglected freedom. The free movement of capital is unique insofar as that it is granted equally to non-member states.
			The European Union is based on a series of ]. These first established the European Community and the EU, and then made amendments to those founding treaties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sources of EU law |url=http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/general_information/legal_information_and_eu_law/sources_eu_law/index_en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228193407/http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/general_information/legal_information_and_eu_law/sources_eu_law/index_en.htm |archive-date=28 February 2008 |access-date=5 September 2007 |publisher=European Commission}}</ref> These are power-giving treaties which set broad policy goals and establish institutions with the necessary legal powers to implement those goals. These legal powers include the ability to enact legislation<ref name="art249" group="lower-alpha">{{Cite web |date=30 March 2010 |title=Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ%253AC%253A2010%253A083%253A0047%253A0200%253AEN%253APDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117094809/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ%253AC%253A2010%253A083%253A0047%253A0200%253AEN%253APDF |archive-date=17 November 2013 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=Official Journal of the European Union |publisher=EUR-Lex |language=en}}</ref> which can directly affect all member states and their inhabitants.<ref name="Direct Effect" group="lower-alpha">According to the principle of Direct Effect first invoked in the Court of Justice's decision in {{cite court|litigants=Van Gend en Loos v Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen|reporter=Eur-Lex|court=European Court of Justice|year=1963|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:61962J0026:EN:NOT}} See: Craig and de Búrca, ch. 5.</ref> The EU has ], with the right to sign agreements and international treaties.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=de Schoutheete |first1=Philippe |last2=Andoura |first2=Sami |year=2007 |title=The Legal Personality of the European Union |url=http://aei.pitt.edu/9083/01/Legal.Personality.EU-PDS-SA.pdf |journal=Studia Diplomatica |volume=LX |issue=1 |access-date=15 November 2010}} Its examples are the ratifications of ] and ] by EU. And Article 47 of the Consolidated Treaty on European Union.</ref>
			====Secondary law====
	The free movement of persons means ] can move freely between member states to live, work, study or retire in another country. This required the lowering of administrative formalities and recognition of professional qualifications of other states.<ref name="Europa Single Market P">{{cite web|title=Living and working in the Single Market|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_15_en.htm|author=European Commission|accessdate=27 June 2007}}</ref>
			The main legal acts of the European Union come in three forms: ], ], and ]. Regulations become law in all member states the moment they come into force, without the requirement for any implementing measures,<ref group="lower-alpha">{{Cite web |title=? |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%253A61973J0034 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=EUR-Lex |language=en}}</ref> and automatically override conflicting domestic provisions.<ref name="art249" group="lower-alpha" /> Directives require member states to achieve a certain result while leaving them discretion as to how to achieve the result. The details of how they are to be implemented are left to member states.<ref group="lower-alpha">To do otherwise would require the drafting of legislation which would have to cope with the frequently divergent legal systems and administrative systems of all of the now 28 member states. See Craig and de Búrca, p. 115.</ref> When the time limit for implementing directives passes, they may, under certain conditions, have ] in national law against member states. Decisions offer an alternative to the two above modes of legislation. They are legal acts which only apply to specified individuals, companies or a particular member state. They are most often used in ], or on rulings on State Aid, but are also frequently used for procedural or administrative matters within the institutions. Regulations, directives, and decisions are of equal legal value and apply without any formal hierarchy<!-- What does that mean i don't know what article to link it to. -->.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How EU takes decisions |url=http://europa.eu/institutions/decision-making/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102215021/http://europa.eu/institutions/decision-making/index_en.htm |archive-date=2 January 2011 |access-date=1 November 2010}}</ref>
			{{Clear}}
	The free movement of services and of establishment allows ] persons to move between member states in order to provide services on a temporary or permanent basis. While services account for between sixty and seventy percent of GDP, legislation in the area is not as developed as in other areas. This lacuna has been addressed by the recently passed ] which aims to liberalise the cross border provision of services.<ref name="Europa Single Market S">{{cite web|title=A Single Market for Services|publisher=]|url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_19_en.htm|author=European Commission|accessdate=27 June 2007}}</ref> According to the Treaty the provision of services is a residual freedom that only applies if no other freedom is being exercised.
	===Monetary union===		===Foreign relations===
	{{Main|Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union}}		{{Main|Foreign relations of the European Union}}
	{{See also|Euro|Eurozone}}		{{See also|European External Action Service}}
	] in ] governs the ]'s monetary policy.]]
			{{Multiple image
	The creation of a European single currency became an official objective of the EU in 1969. However, it was only with the advent of the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 that member states were legally bound to start the ] no later than 1 January 1999. On this date the ] was duly ] of the then fifteen member states of the EU. It remained an accounting currency until 1 January 2002, when ] and coins were issued and national currencies began to phase out in the ], which by then consisted of twelve member states. The eurozone has since grown to sixteen countries, the most recent being ] which joined on 1 January 2009.
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			| image1 = Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union, and Vice-President of the European Commission - P064583-775481.jpg
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			| alt1 = Portrait of Kaja Kallas
			| caption1 = ],<br /><small>]</small>
			}}
			Foreign policy co-operation between member states dates from the establishment of the community in 1957, when member states negotiated as a bloc in international trade negotiations under the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qualified-Majority Voting: Common commercial policy |url=http://ec.europa.eu/archives/igc2000/geninfo/fact-sheets/fact-sheet6/index_en.htm |access-date=3 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> Steps for more wide-ranging co-ordination in foreign relations began in 1970 with the establishment of ] which created an informal consultation process between member states with the aim of forming common foreign policies. In 1987 the European Political Cooperation was introduced on a formal basis by the ]. EPC was renamed as the ] (CFSP) by the ].<ref name="EPC">{{Cite web |last=The European commission |title=European political co-operation (EPC) |url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/european_political_cooperation_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708111806/http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/european_political_cooperation_en.htm |archive-date=8 July 2007 |access-date=3 September 2007 |website=Europa Glossary |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
	] as default currency.]]
			The stated aims of the CFSP are to promote both the EU's own interests and those of the ] as a whole, including the furtherance of international co-operation, respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.<ref name="art11 Union">{{Cite web |title=The requested document does not exist. |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ%253AC%253A2010%253A083%253A0013%253A0046%253AEN%253APDF |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=EUR-Lex |language=en}}</ref> The CFSP requires unanimity among the member states on the appropriate policy to follow on any particular issue. The unanimity and difficult issues treated under the CFSP sometimes lead to disagreements, such as those which occurred over the ].<ref name="BBC Iraq statement">{{Cite news |date=27 January 2003 |title=Divided EU agrees Iraq statement |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2697667.stm |access-date=13 March 2009}}</ref>
	All other EU member states, except Denmark and the United Kingdom, are legally bound to join the euro when the economic conditions are met, however only a few countries have set target dates for accession. Sweden has circumvented the requirement to join the euro area by not meeting the membership criteria.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}
			The coordinator and representative of the CFSP within the EU is the ] who speaks on behalf of the EU in foreign policy and defence matters, and has the task of articulating the positions expressed by the member states on these fields of policy into a common alignment. The high representative heads up the ] (EEAS), a unique EU department<ref name="23Oct">{{Cite web |date=23 October 2009 |title=EU states near agreement on diplomatic service |url=https://euobserver.com/world/28878 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=EUobserver |language=en}}</ref> that has been officially implemented and operational since 1 December 2010 on the occasion of the first anniversary of the entry into force of the ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 December 2010 |title=European External Action Service gives Europe voice on world stage |url=http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2010/101201-EAD.html |access-date=4 June 2013 |publisher=German Foreign Ministry}}</ref> The EEAS serves as a foreign ministry and ] for the European Union.<ref name="Europa EEAS">{{Cite web |year=2010 |title=European External Action Service |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/background/index_en.htm |access-date=26 June 2010 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
	The euro is designed to help build a single market by, for example: easing travel of citizens and goods, eliminating ] problems, providing price transparency, creating a single ], ] and low ]s, and providing a currency used internationally and protected against shocks by the large amount of internal trade within the eurozone. It is also intended as a political symbol of integration and stimulus for more.<ref name="euro website"/> Since its launch the euro has become the second ] in the world with a quarter of foreign exchanges reserves being in euro.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dbresearch.com/PROD/DBR_INTERNET_DE-PROD/PROD0000000000209994.PDF|title=Euro riding high as an inter- national reserve currency|date=4 May 2007|format=PDF|publisher=] AG|author=DB Research|accessdate≈3 September 2009}}</ref>
			Besides the emerging international policy of the European Union, the international influence of the EU is also felt through ]. The perceived benefits of becoming a member of the EU act as an incentive for both political and economic reform in states wishing to fulfil the EU's accession criteria, and are considered an important factor contributing to the reform of European formerly Communist countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Peterson |first=John |date=August 2008 |title=Enlargement, reform and the European Commission. Weathering a perfect storm? |journal=Journal of European Public Policy |volume=15 |issue=5 |pages=761–780 |doi=10.1080/13501760802133328 |s2cid=154664296}}</ref>{{rp|762}} This influence on the internal affairs of other countries is generally referred to as "]", as opposed to military "hard power".<ref name="Soft Power">{{Cite web |last=Bildt |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Bildt |year=2005 |title=Europe must keep its 'soft power' |url=http://www.cer.org.uk/articles/bildt_ft_1june05.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609135542/http://www.cer.org.uk/articles/bildt_ft_1june05.html |archive-date=9 June 2007 |access-date=26 June 2007 |website=Financial Times on Centre for European Reform}}</ref>
	The euro, and the monetary policies of those who have adopted it in agreement with the EU, are under the control of the ] (ECB).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.int/ecb/orga/escb/html/index.en.html|title=ECB, ESCB and the Eurosystem|publisher=]|accessdate=15 September 2007}}</ref> There are ] used in the EU.<ref name="euro website">{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/our_currency_en.htm|title=The Euro: our currency|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|accessdate≈12 November 2007}}</ref> A number of other countries outside the EU, such as ], use the euro without formal agreement with the ECB.<ref name="euro use world">{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/the_euro/euro_in_world9369_en.htm|title=
	Use of the euro in the world|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|work=The euro outside the euro area|accessdate=27 February 2008}}</ref>
	===Competition===		==== Humanitarian aid ====
			{{Further|Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations}}
	{{Main|European Community competition law}}
	{{See also|European Commissioner for Competition}}
			The ], or "ECHO", provides ] from the EU to ]. In 2012, its budget amounted to {{Euro|874}}{{nbsp}}million, 51 per cent of the budget went to Africa and 20 per cent to Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Pacific, and 20 per cent to the Middle East and Mediterranean.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ECHO's finances |url=http://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding/finances_en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718150202/http://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding/finances_en.htm |archive-date=18 July 2013 |website=ec.europa.eu |publisher=Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, ]}}</ref>
	The EU operates a ] intended to ensure undistorted competition within the single market.<ref>Article 3(1)(g) of the Treaty of Rome</ref> The Commission as the ] for the single market is responsible for ] issues, approving ], breaking up ]s, working for ] and preventing ].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Europa web portal|title=Competition: making markets work better|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/index_en.html|accessdate=12 November 2007}}</ref>
			Humanitarian aid is financed directly by the budget (70 per cent) as part of the financial instruments for external action and also by the ] (30 per cent).<ref name="ODI">Mikaela Gavas 2010. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316022518/http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5078&title=european-development-cooperation-financial-perspectives|date=16 March 2011}} London: ]</ref> The EU's external action financing is divided into 'geographic' instruments and 'thematic' instruments.<ref name="ODI" /> The 'geographic' instruments provide aid through the ] (DCI, {{Euro|16.9}}{{nbsp}}billion, 2007–2013), which must spend 95 per cent of its budget on ] (ODA), and from the ] (ENPI), which contains some relevant programmes.<ref name="ODI" /> The European Development Fund (EDF, {{Euro|22.7}}{{nbsp}}billion for the period 2008–2013 and {{Euro|30.5}}{{nbsp}}billion for the period 2014–2020) is made up of voluntary contributions by member states, but there is pressure to merge the EDF into the budget-financed instruments to encourage increased contributions to match the 0.7 per cent target and allow the ] greater oversight.<ref name="ODI" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Homepage |url=https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/index_en |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>
	The ], currently ], is one of the most powerful positions in the Commission, notable for the ability to affect the commercial interests of trans-national corporations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lungescu|first=Oana|publisher=BBC News|title=Examining the EU executive|date=23 July 2004|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/letter_from_america/3921303.stm|accessdate=18 September 2007}}</ref> For example, in 2001 the Commission for the first time prevented a merger between two companies based in the ] (] and ]) which had already been approved by their national authority.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Europa web portal|title=The Commission prohibits GE's acquisition of Honeywell|date=3 July 2001|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/01/939|accessdate=12 November 2007}}</ref> Another high profile case ], resulted in the Commission fining ] over €777&nbsp;million following nine years of ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Gow|first=David|publisher=Guardian|title=Microsoft caves in to European Commission|date=22 October 2007|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/oct/22/microsoft.microsoft|accessdate=12 November 2007}}</ref>
			In 2016, the average among EU countries was 0.4 per cent and five had met or exceeded the 0.7 per cent target: Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 April 2017 |title=Development aid rises again in 2016 |url=http://www.oecd.org/dac/financing-sustainable-development/development-finance-data/ODA-2016-detailed-summary.pdf |access-date=23 December 2017 |publisher=OECD}}</ref>
	In negotiations on the Treaty of Lisbon, ] ] succeeded in removing the words "free and undistorted competition" from the treaties. However, the requirement is maintained in an annex and it is unclear whether this will have any ] on EU policy.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|title=EU competition to remain in place|date=22 June 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6231684.stm|accessdate=12 November 2007}}</ref>
			==== International cooperation and development partnerships ====
	===Budget===
			{{Main|Directorate-General for International Partnerships|ACP–EU development cooperation|European Solidarity Corps|European Union Global Strategy|European Neighbourhood Policy|Global Europe|European Political Community}}
	{{Main|Budget of the European Union}}
			] Summit 2017, ]]]
	]
			The European Union uses foreign relations instruments like the ] which seeks to tie those countries to the east and south of the European territory of the EU to the union. These countries, primarily developing countries, include some who seek to one day become either a ], or more closely integrated with the European Union. The EU offers financial assistance to countries within the European Neighbourhood, so long as they meet the strict conditions of government reform, economic reform and other issues surrounding positive transformation. This process is normally underpinned by an Action Plan, as agreed by both Brussels and the target country.
	The twenty-seven member state EU had an agreed budget of €120.7 billion for the year 2007 and €864.3 billion for the period 2007–2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/204&format=HTML|title=Q&A on Interinstitutional Agreement on Budgetary Discipline and Sound Financial Management 2007-2013}}</ref> representing 1.10% and 1.05% of the EU-27's ] forecast for the respective periods. By comparison, the United Kingdom's expenditure for 2004 was estimated to be €759&nbsp;billion, and France was estimated to have spent €801&nbsp;billion. In 1960, the budget of the then European Economic Community was 0.03% of GDP.<ref>{{cite book |flast1=Smith |first1=David |publisher=Profile Books |place=London |year=1999 |isbn=1861971028 |url=http://www.euro-know.org/articles/wew.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071021003416/http://www.euro-know.org/articles/wew.html |archivedate=2007-10-21 |origurl=http://www.euro-know.org/articles/wew.html |accessdate=13 March 2009 |author=David Smith. |title=Will Europe work?}}{{Dead link|date=October 2009}}</ref>
			] meeting in Barcelona]]
			There is also the worldwide ]. International recognition of sustainable development as a key element is growing steadily. Its role was recognised in three major UN summits on sustainable development: the 1992 ] (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, ]; and the 2012 ] (UNCSD) in Rio de Janeiro. Other key global agreements are the ] and the ] (United Nations, 2015). The SDGs recognise that all countries must stimulate action in the following key areas – people, ], prosperity, ] and ] – in order to tackle the global challenges that are crucial for the survival of ]ity.
			EU development action is based on the European Consensus on Development, which was endorsed on 20 December 2005 by EU Member States, the council, the European Parliament and the commission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The European Consensus on Development |url=http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/development-policies/european-consensus/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811141039/http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/development-policies/european-consensus/index_en.htm |archive-date=11 August 2011 |access-date=27 August 2011}}</ref> It is applied from the principles of ] and ]. Funding is provided by the ] and the ] programmes.
	In the 2006 budget, the largest single expenditure item was ] with around 46.7% of the total budget.<ref name="ECDetail20002007">{{cite web|title=Detailed data 2000-2007|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/budget/library/publications/fin_reports/fin_report_07_data_en.pdf|accessdate=7 July 2008|format=PDF}}</ref> Next came structural and cohesion funds with approximately 30.4% of the total.<ref name="ECDetail20002007"/> Internal policies took up around 8.5%. Administration accounted for around 6.3%. External actions, the pre-accession strategy, compensations and reserves brought up the rear with approximately 4.9%, 2.1%, 1% and 0.1% respectively.<ref name="ECDetail20002007"/>
			Partnership and cooperation agreements are bilateral agreements with non-member nations.<ref name="pca">{{Cite web |title=Partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) – EU monitor |url=https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vh7gkuhng0wh |website=www.eumonitor.eu}}</ref>
	==Development==
	===Agriculture===
	{{Main|Common Agricultural Policy}}
			{{Clear}}
	The ] (CAP) is one of the oldest policies of the European Community, and was one of its core aims.<ref name="stead">{{cite web|last=Stead|first=David|coauthors=Robert Whaples (eds)|title=Common Agricultural Policy|publisher=EH.Net Encyclopedia|date=22 June 2007|url=http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/Stead.CAP|accessdate=30 August 2007}}</ref> The policy has the objectives of increasing agricultural production, providing certainty in food supplies, ensuring a high ] for farmers, stabilising markets, and ensuring reasonable prices for consumers (article 33 of the Treaty of Rome).<ref name="Consolidated Treaties">{{cite web|title=Consolidated Treaties on European Union and establishing the European Community|publisher=Europa web portal|author=EUR-Lex|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2006:321E:0001:0331:EN:pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=25 June 2007}}</ref> It was, until recently, operated by a system of subsidies and market intervention. Until the 1990s, the policy accounted for over 60% of the then ]'s annual budget, and still accounts for around 35%.<ref name="stead"/>
			===Defence===
	], the largest ] expenditure. (] in ])]]
			{{Main|Common Security and Defence Policy}}
			{{See also
			| Frontex
			| European Defence Agency
			| European Union Institute for Security Studies
			| European Union Satellite Centre
			}}
			]
	The policy's ] and market interventions led to considerable overproduction, resulting in so-called ''butter mountains'' and ''wine lakes''. These were ] of produce bought up by the Community to maintain minimum ]s. In order to dispose of surplus stores, they were often sold on the world market at prices considerably below Community guaranteed prices, or farmers were offered subsidies (amounting to the difference between the Community and world prices) to export their produce outside the Community. This system has been criticised for under-cutting farmers in the ].<ref name="Guardian CAP">{{cite web|last=Jeffery|first=Simon|title=The EU common agricultural policy|publisher=Guardian|date=26 June 2007|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/jun/26/eu.politics1|accessdate=30 August 2007}}</ref>
			{{Leftlegend|#ffd617|EU member only}}
			{{Leftlegend|#000|NATO member only}}
			{{Leftlegend|#039|EU and NATO member}}
			]]
			]]]
	The ] has also been criticised for encouraging environmentally unfriendly ] methods.<ref name="Guardian CAP"/> Supporters of CAP say that the economic support which it gives to farmers provides them with a reasonable ], in what would otherwise be an economically unviable way of life. However, the EU's small farmers receive only 8% of CAP's available subsidies.<ref name="Guardian CAP"/>
			<!-- History -->
	Since the beginning of the 1990s, the CAP has been subject to a series of reforms. Initially these reforms included the introduction of ] in 1988, where a proportion of farm land was deliberately withdrawn from production, milk quotas (by the McSharry reforms in 1992) and, more recently, the 'de-coupling' (or disassociation) of the money farmers receive from the EU and the amount they produce (by the Fischler reforms in 2004). Agriculture expenditure will move away from subsidy payments linked to specific produce, toward direct payments based on farm size. This is intended to allow the market to dictate production levels, while maintaining agricultural income levels.<ref name="stead"/> One of these reforms entailed the abolition of the EU's sugar regime, which previously divided the sugar market between member states and certain African-Caribbean nations with a privileged relationship with the EU.<ref name="EC CAP">{{cite web|title=Sugar: Commission proposes more market-, consumer- and trade-friendly regime|publisher=]|date=14 April 2007|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/915&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en|accessdate=30 August 2007}}</ref>
			The predecessors of the European Union were not devised as a military alliance because ] was largely seen as appropriate and sufficient for defence purposes.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2007|page=100}} 23 EU members are members of NATO while the remaining member states follow policies of ].<ref>{{Cite conference |last=Laursen |first=Finn |date=1 June 1997 |title=The EU 'neutrals,' the CFSP and defence policy |url=http://aei.pitt.edu/2657/ |location=Seattle, WA |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |page=27 |access-date=24 July 2009 |book-title=Biennial Conference of the European Union Studies Association}}</ref> The ], a military alliance with a mutual defence clause, closed in 2011<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Archives of the European Union: Assembly of the Western European Union |url=https://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/194161?item=WEU}}</ref> as its role had been transferred to the EU.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2010 |title=Statement of the Presidency of the Permanent Council of the WEU on behalf of the High Contracting Parties to the Modified Brussels Treaty – Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom |url=http://www.weu.int/Declaration_E.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010150807/http://www.weu.int/Declaration_E.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2017 |website=weu.int |publisher=Western European Union |location=Brussels}}</ref> Following the ] in 1999, the ] agreed that "the Union must have the capacity for autonomous action, backed by credible military forces, the means to decide to use them, and the readiness to do so, in order to respond to international crises without prejudice to actions by NATO". To that end, a number of efforts were made to increase the EU's military capability, notably the ] process. After much discussion, the most concrete result was the ]s initiative, each of which is planned to be able to deploy quickly about 1500&nbsp;personnel.<ref name="Council Capabilities">{{Cite web |last=Council of the European Union |date=July 2009 |title=EU battlegroups |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/090720-Factsheet-Battlegroups_EN.pdf |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The EU Strategic Compass adopted in 2022 reaffirmed the bloc's partnership with NATO, committed to increased military mobility and formation of a 5,000-strong EU Rapid Deployment Capacity<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence |url=https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/strategic-compass-security-and-defence-1_en |access-date=1 August 2023}}</ref>
			<!-- Nuclear and power projection -->
	===Energy===
			Since the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, France is the only member officially recognised as a ] and the sole holder of a ] on the ]. France and Italy are also the only EU countries that have ] outside of Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunha |first=Alberto |date=5 July 2020 |title=Post-Brexit EU Defence Policy: Is Germany Leading towards a European Army? |url=https://www.e-ir.info/2020/07/05/post-brexit-eu-defence-policy-is-germany-leading-towards-a-european-army/ |access-date=1 January 2022 |website=E-International Relations |language=en}}</ref> Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium participate in NATO ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meier |first=Oliver |date=June 2020 |title=German Politicians Renew Nuclear Basing Debate |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/74d6c94a8784b0ef0346f046169ac8c7/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=37049 |journal=Arms Control Today |volume=50 |issue=5 |pages=36–37}}</ref> Most EU member states opposed the ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 January 2018 |title=Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons ─ the 'Ban Treaty' |work=European Parliament |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)614664}}</ref>
	{{Main|Energy policy of the European Union}}
	<div style="font-size: 90%">
			] have been deployed on peacekeeping missions from middle and northern Africa to the ] and western Asia.<ref name="Council Operations">{{Cite web |last=Council of the European Union |date=April 2003 |title=Overview of the missions and operations of the European Union |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/eeas/security-defence/eu-operations?amp;lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202213910/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/eeas/security-defence/eu-operations?amp;lang=en |archive-date=2 December 2011 |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> EU military operations are supported by a number of bodies, including the ], ] and the ].<ref name="Council Structures">{{Cite web |last=Council of the European Union |title=CSDP structures and instruments |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/eeas/security-defence/csdp-structures-and-instruments?lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530233030/http://consilium.europa.eu/eeas/security-defence/csdp-structures-and-instruments?lang=en |archive-date=30 May 2013 |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The European Union Military Staff is the highest military institution of the European Union, established within the framework of the European Council, and follows on from the decisions of the Helsinki European Council (10–11 December 1999), which called for the establishment of permanent political-military institutions. The European Union Military Staff is under the authority of the ] and the Political and Security Committee. It directs all military activities in the EU context, including planning and conducting military missions and operations in the framework of the ] and the development of military capabilities, and provides the Political and Security Committee with military advice and recommendations on military issues. In an EU consisting of 27 members, substantial security and defence co-operation is increasingly relying on collaboration among all member states.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Russo-Georgian War and Beyond: towards a European Great Power Concert, Danish ''Institute of International Studies'' |url=http://www.diis.dk/sw87465.asp?csref=RSS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429211047/http://www.diis.dk/sw87465.asp?csref=RSS |archive-date=29 April 2011 |access-date=27 April 2010 |publisher=Diis.dk}}</ref>
	{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px black; float:right; margin-left:1em;"
			The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (]) is an ] aiming to detect and stop illegal immigration, ] and terrorist infiltration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frontex |title=What is Frontex? |url=http://www.frontex.europa.eu/ |access-date=4 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The EU also operates the ], the ], the ], the ] and the ] which provide common databases for police and immigration authorities. The impetus for the development of this co-operation was the advent of open borders in the Schengen Area and the associated cross-border crime.<ref name="Internal borders" />
			{{Clear}}
			==Member states==
			<!--Section named and ordered by WikiProject Countries-->
			{{Main|Member state of the European Union}}
			<imagemap>File:Member States of the European Union (polar stereographic projection) EN.svg|thumb|right|upright=2|Map showing the member states of the European Union (clickable)
			poly 230 284 229 287 233 291 237 284 241 287 242 293 248 302 250 305 252 306 263 312 263 311 258 307 259 305 249 295 245 290 246 285 251 288 257 286 263 287 270 287 273 289 274 285 276 284 272 281 271 277 268 279 262 279 258 275 254 272 252 271 247 274 246 278 244 279 244 283 239 284 237 281 236 283 232 282 230 284 ]
			poly 261 28 273 39 279 59 284 61 286 66 271 97 275 105 275 116 284 122 308 111 320 83 308 75 310 71 302 60 305 54 297 46 298 36 290 32 291 16 282 16 277 22 280 28 275 33 270 32 264 26 ]
			poly 260 29 259 38 252 37 252 42 248 41 244 54 238 64 238 72 235 77 237 83 226 83 223 100 227 106 230 111 227 115 229 121 223 127 220 141 229 160 227 163 231 173 238 171 238 168 242 164 250 164 254 135 261 130 262 117 252 115 257 93 270 83 271 66 279 59 273 39 ]
			poly 312 142 307 131 311 123 294 123 279 132 280 142 290 137 295 138 304 141 ]
			poly 310 164 319 155 318 148 313 142 295 140 298 153 288 149 282 142 277 161 295 158 ]
			poly 288 180 295 184 301 184 309 178 307 170 312 168 308 162 294 157 279 161 279 174 289 174 ]
			poly 300 198 294 182 290 180 270 183 265 184 264 179 250 182 248 186 238 190 238 197 234 199 239 203 241 223 249 225 251 229 255 226 261 230 265 232 268 235 270 237 273 235 276 240 281 237 283 237 289 236 296 242 297 239 297 234 301 223 305 222 304 217 301 214 296 201 ]
			poly 254 250 257 245 261 244 269 236 272 235 276 240 279 238 289 235 297 243 274 250 269 253 269 257 259 254 ]
			poly 299 251 291 245 270 252 269 257 258 252 249 268 254 271 260 279 268 278 275 274 290 272 294 258 ]
			poly 355 291 354 280 361 274 355 269 349 272 346 270 343 259 332 248 330 243 328 242 324 247 314 250 312 248 301 250 294 255 292 265 288 271 282 274 288 281 293 284 293 288 296 290 302 287 301 291 308 294 308 297 317 297 322 297 329 295 339 287 347 288 ]
			poly 309 327 312 322 309 318 305 316 305 310 308 305 302 298 304 294 309 295 310 298 328 297 340 287 354 291 350 297 352 301 348 304 355 309 348 314 347 311 340 316 339 317 339 321 329 324 323 321 316 325 ]
			poly 308 383 305 376 306 374 293 368 294 359 289 351 289 344 294 339 295 333 301 332 304 328 310 326 317 326 322 322 329 325 340 321 340 316 342 319 340 328 328 329 320 331 325 335 339 340 336 342 348 344 350 348 347 358 344 353 348 352 349 348 343 347 345 344 334 341 335 338 328 335 317 341 313 337 311 342 320 350 332 359 339 365 358 359 340 377 331 380 335 376 337 378 342 373 340 370 345 372 353 362 337 366 328 363 327 367 320 367 326 372 319 374 320 382 334 393 355 393 372 372 372 378 368 383 368 377 364 384 365 390 361 387 355 396 340 400 339 395 329 397 329 393 332 392 320 380 314 384 311 378 ]
			poly 419 384 415 381 421 378 421 373 428 371 435 365 430 374 434 376 424 383 ]
			poly 236 248 224 238 221 231 225 227 236 221 240 220 249 225 254 226 260 231 266 230 267 236 261 243 249 245 244 243 ]
			poly 198 263 201 257 204 260 207 258 213 260 224 255 233 248 238 248 241 244 245 244 248 246 255 246 253 250 256 254 250 265 249 268 238 272 229 271 220 268 218 263 210 264 208 266 ]
			poly 249 267 253 273 242 279 244 284 236 282 230 281 227 277 229 271 238 272 ]
			poly 179 298 180 293 174 292 176 287 173 283 178 282 178 278 176 275 181 274 185 273 189 269 189 273 195 273 197 269 199 272 204 269 207 267 210 265 218 263 220 269 230 271 226 281 219 283 222 289 219 290 220 297 231 304 236 319 247 323 253 325 250 327 274 341 273 349 269 341 260 341 257 348 262 355 261 358 257 360 257 364 251 371 248 369 244 377 244 378 244 386 237 386 237 383 230 381 222 375 219 376 219 370 226 368 238 370 245 367 250 365 253 358 248 346 246 347 241 342 241 341 237 340 234 336 230 332 224 331 184 357 181 355 183 343 182 333 185 333 190 329 193 330 196 339 194 340 193 352 224 331 211 317 209 317 203 309 204 308 202 298 190 292 184 297 ]
			rect 224 394 251 405 ]
			poly 14 333 21 334 24 337 27 339 29 333 36 329 33 325 40 319 39 311 43 312 49 298 57 295 54 292 55 289 43 284 42 281 39 280 36 291 36 292 19 313 24 314 20 317 23 318 19 324 19 327 ]
			poly 41 358 38 355 35 355 37 345 32 338 28 338 29 333 37 329 33 326 39 319 39 311 42 312 49 300 56 295 55 292 54 290 43 283 39 280 42 270 39 269 45 266 50 268 51 264 58 266 69 274 71 272 80 279 89 280 95 283 99 287 102 287 114 299 119 301 120 298 124 301 124 304 127 305 135 308 140 309 140 314 145 339 140 337 133 343 126 339 116 349 113 342 120 345 128 337 132 335 136 338 143 335 139 312 136 316 131 317 128 317 114 320 116 322 104 331 100 338 106 345 98 346 92 353 92 356 85 354 76 361 73 357 71 361 66 357 53 354 53 357 46 355 ]
			poly 100 286 111 297 118 300 119 298 126 302 128 302 128 305 139 307 140 301 144 298 152 296 155 300 157 298 165 304 169 305 189 328 195 318 195 306 192 312 188 311 187 327 170 305 178 298 180 294 173 292 176 288 174 284 179 281 176 276 179 272 175 266 170 267 175 262 180 258 178 255 182 256 186 244 190 240 178 234 173 232 169 227 169 225 165 225 162 220 157 216 155 212 151 212 147 218 142 222 137 221 137 224 133 223 125 220 121 218 124 225 121 230 113 227 111 223 107 224 101 223 97 223 97 232 109 241 111 251 115 258 107 284 ]
			poly 202 178 209 178 211 181 218 182 216 185 218 187 231 181 235 184 231 187 238 189 238 197 235 201 238 203 240 222 236 220 234 224 223 228 221 230 224 238 232 247 224 255 217 258 211 259 207 257 203 261 199 256 189 255 183 256 185 244 190 241 181 235 178 224 181 214 180 207 185 201 190 195 192 187 197 187 199 189 202 186 ]
			poly 177 225 174 229 172 235 180 237 180 229 ]
			poly 155 210 157 220 166 225 175 232 173 226 178 225 177 215 171 210 164 212 160 209 ]
			poly 191 188 178 189 162 209 167 209 171 207 170 210 179 215 180 207 188 204 184 200 188 198 ]
			poly 201 177 209 177 222 181 228 176 227 159 219 170 221 177 216 175 214 163 218 158 215 143 202 157 ]
			poly 102 181 92 179 82 181 79 179 75 173 78 168 89 162 84 159 89 151 98 154 100 153 97 150 104 146 109 147 100 156 108 166 106 174 103 177 ]
			desc bottom-left
			</imagemap>
			Through successive ], the EU and its predecessors have grown from the ] of the EEC to {{EUnum}} members. Countries accede to the union by becoming a party to the founding ], thereby subjecting themselves to the privileges and obligations of EU membership. This entails a partial delegation of sovereignty to the institutions in return for representation within those institutions, a practice often referred to as "pooling of sovereignty".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Answers {{ndash}} The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/pooled-sovereignty |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120091030/http://www.answers.com/topic/pooled-sovereignty |archive-date=20 January 2016 |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=Answers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EU institutions and other bodies |url=http://europa.eu/institutions/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601191547/http://europa.eu/institutions/index_en.htm |archive-date=1 June 2009 |access-date=4 September 2009 |publisher=Europa}}</ref> In some policies, there are several member states that ally with strategic partners within the union. Examples of such alliances include the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], and the ].
			To become a member, a country must meet the ], defined at the 1993 meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen. These require a stable democracy that respects human rights and the ]; a functioning ]; and the acceptance of the obligations of membership, including EU law. Evaluation of a country's fulfilment of the criteria is the responsibility of the ].<ref name="Accession Criteria">{{Cite web |title=Accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria) |url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/accession_criteria_copenhague_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705172736/http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/accession_criteria_copenhague_en.htm |archive-date=5 July 2007 |access-date=26 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
			The four countries forming the ] (EFTA) are not EU members, but have partly committed to the EU's economy and regulations: Iceland, ] and Norway, which are a part of the ] through the ], and ], which has similar ties through ].<ref name="EEA" /><ref name="CH">{{Cite web |title=The EU's relations with Switzerland |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/switzerland/index_en.htm |access-date=3 November 2010 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The relationships of the ] ], ], ], and ] include the use of the euro and other areas of co-operation.<ref name="euro use world">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=Use of the euro in the world |url=http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/world/outside_euro_area/index_en.htm |access-date=27 February 2008 |website=The euro outside the euro area |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
			{{sticky header}}{{table alignment}}{{static row numbers}}{{sort under}}
			{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header static-row-numbers sort-under col1left col2center col3center" {{right}}
			|+ {{Nowrap|List of member states}}{{Anchor|Details of member states}}
			! scope="col" | ]
			! scope="col" | ]
			! scope="col" | ]
			! scope="col" | Population{{br}}(2022)<ref name="population" />
			! scope="col" | Area
			! scope="col" | Population{{br}}density
			! scope="col" | ]
			! scope="col" | People{{br}}/MEP
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Austria}}
	!style="background:#f99;" colspan="2"|EU energy production
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1995}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|8978929}}
			| {{Cvt|83855|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(8978929/83855) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 19
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(8978929/19) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Belgium}}
	!style="background:#f99;" colspan="2"|46% of total EU primary energy use
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
			| {{Number table sorting|11617623}}
			| {{Cvt|30528|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(11617623/30528) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 21
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(11617623/21) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Bulgaria}}
	|Nuclear energy<ref>Note that although almost all Uranium is imported,<br/> Nuclear Power is considered primary energy produced in the EU</ref>||29.3%
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 2007}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|6838937}}
			| {{Cvt|110994|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(6838937/110994) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 17
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(6838937/17) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Croatia}}
	|Coal & lignite||21.9%
			| {{Date table sorting|1 July 2013}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|3862305}}
			| {{Cvt|56594|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(3862305/56594) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 12
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(3862305/12) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Cyprus}}
	|Gas||19.4%
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|904705}}
			| {{Cvt|9251|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(904705/9251) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 6
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(904705/6) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Czech Republic}}
	|Renewable energy||14.6%
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|10516707}}
			| {{Cvt|78866|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(10516707/78866) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 21
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(10516707/21) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Denmark}}
	|Oil||13.4%
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1973}}
			| {{Number table sorting|5873420}}
			| {{Cvt|43075|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(5873420/43075) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 14
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(5873420/14) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Estonia}}
	|Other||1.4%
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|1331796}}
			| {{Cvt|45227|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(1331796/45227) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 7
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(1331796/7) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Finland}}
	!style="background:#f99;" colspan="2"|Net imports of energy
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1995}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|5548241}}
			| {{Cvt|338424|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(5548241/338424) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 14
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(5548241/14) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|France}}
	!style="background:#f99;" colspan="2"|54% of total primary EU energy use
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
			| {{Number table sorting|67871925}}
			| {{Cvt|640679|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(67871925/640679) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 79
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(67871925/79) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Germany}}
	|Oil & petroleum products||60.2%
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}<ref group="lower-alpha">On {{Date table sorting|format=dmy|1990|10|3}}, the constituent states of the former ] ] to the ], automatically becoming part of the EU.</ref>
			| {{Number table sorting|83237124}}
			| {{Cvt|357021|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(83237124/357021) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 96
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(83237124/96) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Greece}}
	|Gas||26.4%
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1981}}
			| {{Number table sorting|10459782}}
			| {{Cvt|131990|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(10459782/131990) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 21
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(10459782/21) round 0}} }}
	|-		|-
			| {{flag|Hungary}}
	|Other||13.4%
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|9689010}}
			| {{Cvt|93030|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(9689010/93030) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 21
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(9689010/21) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Ireland}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1973}}
			| {{Number table sorting|5060004}}
			| {{Cvt|70273|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(5060004/70273) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 13
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(5060004/13) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Italy}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
			| {{Number table sorting|58968501}}
			| {{Cvt|301338|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(58968501/301338) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 76
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(58968501/76) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Latvia}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|1862700}}
			| {{Cvt|64589|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(1875757/64589) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 9
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(1862700/8) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Lithuania}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|2805998}}
			| {{Cvt|65200|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(2805998/65200) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 11
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(2805998/11) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Luxembourg}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
			| {{Number table sorting|645397}}
			| {{Cvt|2586|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(645397/2586) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 6
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(645397/6) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Malta}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|520971}}
			| {{Cvt|316|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(520971/316) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 6
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(520971/6) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Netherlands}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|23 July 1952}}
			| {{Number table sorting|17590672}}
			| {{Cvt|41543|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(17590672/41543) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 29
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(17590672/29) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Poland}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|37654247}}
			| {{Cvt|312685|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(37654247/312685) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 52
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(37654247/52) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Portugal}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1986}}
			| {{Number table sorting|10352042}}
			| {{Cvt|92390|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(10352042/92390) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 21
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(10352042/21) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Romania}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 2007}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|19042455}}
			| {{Cvt|238391|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(19042455/238391) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 33
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(19042455/33) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Slovakia}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|5434712}}
			| {{Cvt|49035|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(5434712/49035) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 14
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(5434712/14) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Slovenia}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 May 2004}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|2107180}}
			| {{Cvt|20273|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(2107180/20273) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 8
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(2107180/8) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Spain}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 November 1993|format=hide}} Founder (1993)
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1986}}
			| {{Number table sorting|48,946,035}}
			| {{Cvt|504030|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(48797875/504030) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 61
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(48946035/59) round 0}} }}
			|-
			| {{flag|Sweden}}
			| {{Date table sorting|1 January 1995}}
			|
			| {{Number table sorting|10452326}}
			| {{Cvt|449964|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(10452326/449964) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 21
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(10452326/21) round 0}} }}
			|- class="sortbottom static-row-numbers-norank"
			! colspan="3" | European Union
			| {{right}} {{Number table sorting|446735291}}
			| {{right}} {{Cvt|4233262|km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| {{Cvt|{{formatnum: {{#expr:(446735291/4233262) round 0}}|/km2|disp=br()|sortable=on}}
			| 705 <!-- EU2020 -->
			| {{formatnum: {{#expr:(446735291/705) round 0}} }}
	|}		|}
	</div>
			===Subdivisions===
	In 2006, the 27 member states of the EU had a gross inland ] of 1,825 million tonnes of oil equivalent (toe).<ref name="EurostatEnergy">
			{{Main|Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics}}
	{{cite press release|title=Energy consumption and production: EU27 energy dependence rate at 54% in 2006: Energy consumption stable|publisher=]|date=10 July 2008|format=PDF|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008_MONTH_07/8-10072008-EN-AP.PDF|accessdate=12 September 2008|quote=<br/>
	In the EU27, gross inland energy consumption was 1 825 million tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) in 2006, stable compared with 2005, while energy production decreased by 2.3% to 871 mn toe...<br/>
	Gross inland consumption is defined as primary production plus imports, recovered products and stock change, less exports and fuel supply to maritime bunkers (for seagoing ships of all flags)...
	<br/>
	A tonne of oil equivalent (toe) is a standardised unit defined on the basis of one tonne of oil having a net calorific value of 41.868 Gigajoules.}}</ref> Around 46% of the energy consumed was produced within the member states while 54% was imported.<ref name="EurostatEnergy"/> In these statistics, nuclear energy is treated as ] produced in the EU, regardless of the source of the uranium, of which less than 3% is produced in the EU.<ref name="Euratom2007"> {{cite book|title=Euratom Supply Agency — Annual Report 2007|url=http://ec.europa.eu/euratom/ar/last.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=1 March 2009|year=2008|publisher=Office for Official Publications of the European Communities|location=Luxembourg|isbn=978-92-79-09437-8|page=22|chapter=EU supply and demand for nuclear fuels|quote=European uranium mining supplied just below 3 % of the total EU needs, coming from the Czech Republic and Romania (a total of 526 tU).}} <br/> Nuclear energy and renewable energy are treated differently from oil, gas , and coal in this respect.</ref>
			] are based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS), a ] standard for statistical purposes. The ], adopted in 2003, is developed and regulated by the European Union, and thus only covers the ] in detail. The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics is instrumental in the European Union's ] delivery mechanisms and for locating the area where goods and services subject to European ] legislation are to be delivered.
	The EU has had legislative power in the area of ] for most of its existence; this has its roots in the original ]. The introduction of a mandatory and comprehensive European energy policy was approved at the meeting of the European Council in October 2005, and the first draft policy was published in January 2007.<ref name="Energy Q&A">{{cite news|title=Q&A: EU energy plans|publisher=BBC|date=9 March 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4783996.stm|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref>
			{{Gallery
	The Commission has five key points in its energy policy: increase competition in the ], encourage investment and boost interconnections between ]; diversify energy resources with better systems to respond to a crisis; establish a new treaty framework for energy co-operation with Russia while improving relations with energy-rich states in ]<ref name=oies>{{cite paper|author=Shamil Midkhatovich Yenikeyeff|url=http://www.oxfordenergy.org/pdfs/NG25.pdf|title=Kazakhstan's Gas: Export Markets and Export Routes|publisher=Oxford Institute for Energy Studies|format=PDF|date=November 2008|accessdate=12 November 2008}}</ref> and ]; use existing energy supplies more efficiently while increasing use of renewable energy; and finally increase funding for new energy technologies.<ref name="Energy Q&A"/>
			| title = Maps of Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) subdivisions (prior to 2018, including non-EU member states)
			| align = center
			| mode = nolines
			| File:NUTS 1 regions.svg
			| NUTS 1
			| File:NUTS 2 regions.svg
			| NUTS 2
			| File:NUTS 3 region (2017).svg
			| NUTS 3
			}}
			===Schengen Area===
	The EU currently imports 82% of its ], 57% of its ]<ref name="low carb prop">{{cite web|title='Low-carbon economy' proposed for Europe|publisher=]|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16560106/|accessdate=24 January 2007}}</ref> and 97.48% of its ]<ref name="Euratom2007"/> demands. There are concerns that ] is endangering the Union and its member countries. The EU is attempting to diversify its ].<ref name="Energy Russia">{{cite web|title=Ukraine-Russia gas dispute — call for stronger EU energy policy|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Parliament|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?language=EN&type=IM-PRESS&reference=20060112STO04233&secondRef=0|accessdate=27 February 2008}}</ref>
			{{Main|Schengen Area}}
			[[File:Map of the Schengen Area.svg|thumb|right|upright=1|Map of the Schengen Area
	===Infrastructure===
			{{Leftlegend|#003399|Schengen Area}}
	{{See|European Commissioner for Transport|European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry}}<!--Galileo comes under the latter, not Transport-->
			{{Leftlegend|#a050ff|Members of the Schengen Area (air and maritime borders only)}}
	] between ] and ] is part of the ].]]
			{{Leftlegend|#46a43b|Countries ''de facto'' participating}}
			{{Leftlegend|#ffd617|Members of the EU committed by treaty to join the Schengen Area in the future}}
			]]
			The Schengen Area is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of ] at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider ] policy of the EU, it mostly functions as a single jurisdiction under ] for international travel purposes. The area is named after the 1985 ] and the 1990 ], both signed in ]. Of the 27 EU member states, 25 participate in the Schengen Area, although two—], and ]— are currently only partial members. Of the EU members that are not part of the Schengen Area, one—]—is legally obligated to join the area in the future; ] maintains an ], and instead operates ]. The four ] (EFTA) member states, ], ], ], and ], are not members of the EU, but have signed agreements in association with the Schengen Agreement. Also, three ] – ], ] and the ] – maintain open borders for passenger traffic with their neighbours, and are therefore considered ''de facto'' members of the Schengen Area due to the practical impossibility of travelling to or from them without transiting through at least one Schengen member country.
	The EU is working to improve cross-border ] within the EU, for example through the ] (TEN). Projects under TEN include the ], ], the ], the ] and the ]. In 2001 it was estimated that by 2010 the network would cover: {{convert|75200|km}} of roads; {{convert|78000|km}} of railways; 330 airports; 270 maritime harbours; and 210 internal harbours.<ref>{{cite web|title=The trans-European transport network: new guidelines and financial rules|]|date=1 October 2003|url=http://ec.europa.eu/ten/transport/revision/doc/revision_1692_memo_en.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=15 August 2007|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mirea|first=Silvia|title=The trans-European transport network: new guidelines and financial rules|publisher=The Railway Journal|url=http://www.cfr.ro/jf/engleza/0304/ten-t.htm|accessdate=15 August 2007}}</ref>
			===Candidate countries===
	The developing European transport policies will increase the pressure on the environment in many regions by the increased transport network. In the pre-2004 EU members, the major problem in transport deals with congestion and pollution. After the recent enlargement, the new states that joined since 2004 added the problem of solving accessibility to the transport agenda.<ref>{{cite web|title=White Paper on Transport|publisher=Euractiv|date=22 September 2004|url=http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/white-paper-transport/article-129628|accessdate=15 August 2007}}</ref> The ] in particular was in poor condition: at Poland's accession to the EU, 4,600 roads needed to be upgraded to EU standards, demanding approximately €17&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Transport – How Quickly will Polish Roads Improve After Accession|publisher=Urząd Komitetu Integracji Europejskiej|date=29 May 2003|url=http://www.ukie.gov.pl/WWW/en.nsf/0/574AB36381D2F551C1256E82004F9470?Open|format=|accessdate=15 August 2007}}</ref>
			{{Main|Potential enlargement of the European Union}}
			There are nine countries that are recognised as ]: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="Europa Enlargement" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Luke McGee |date=23 June 2022 |title=Ukraine's EU hopes rise as bloc's leaders approve candidate status |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/23/europe/eu-approves-ukraine-candidateship-intl/index.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2022 |title=Bosnia and Herzegovina set for EU candidate status |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/bosnia-and-herzegovina-set-to-receive-eu-candidate-status/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2023 |title=EU to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67722252 |access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bayer |first=Lili |date=14 December 2023 |title=Deal reached to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova – Europe live |language=en-GB |work=the Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/dec/14/eu-summit-viktor-orban-aid-ukraine-live-latest-updates |access-date=14 December 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> ], ] and ] have submitted membership applications in the past, but subsequently frozen or withdrawn them.<ref name="icelandover">{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Benjamin |date=16 June 2013 |title=Iceland's EU bid is over, commission told |agency=Reuters |url=http://euobserver.com/political/120501 |access-date=16 June 2013}}</ref> Additionally ] is officially recognised as a potential candidate,<ref name="Europa Enlargement">{{Cite web |title=European Commission – Enlargement – Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408221338/http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/index_en.htm |archive-date=8 April 2012 |access-date=13 March 2012 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2014 |title=Georgia can apply for EU membership if it complies with democratic principles |url=https://en.trend.az/scaucasus/georgia/2264637.html |website=Trend.Az}}</ref> and submitted a membership application.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 March 2022 |title=Georgia, Moldova Formally Apply For EU Membership Amid Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-moldova-eu-applications/31734092.html |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref>
	Another infrastructure project is the ]. Galileo is a proposed ], to be built by the EU and launched by the ] (ESA), and is to be operational by 2010. The Galileo project was launched partly to reduce the EU's dependency on the US-operated ], but also to give more complete global coverage and allow for far greater accuracy, given the aged nature of the GPS system.<ref name="Barrot">{{cite web|last=Barrot|first=Jacques|title=Jacques Barrot Home Page, Commission vice president for transport|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/barrot/index_en.htm|accessdate=21 July 2007}}</ref> It has been criticised by some due to costs, delays, and their perception of redundancy given the existence of the GPS system.<ref>{{cite web|last=McKie|first=Robin|title=Sat-nav rival could crash and burn|publisher=Guardian|date=15 July 2007|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/jul/15/spaceexploration.europeanunion|accessdate=11 August 2007}}</ref>
	===Regional development===		===Former members===
			] of the ] provides the basis for a member to ]. Two territories have left the union: ] (an ] of Denmark) withdrew in 1985;<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Greenland Treaty of 1985 |url=http://eu.nanoq.gl/Emner/EuGl/The%20Greenland%20Treaty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503185125/http://eu.nanoq.gl/Emner/EuGl/The%20Greenland%20Treaty.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2011 |access-date=10 November 2010 |website=The European Union and Greenland |publisher=Greenland Home Rule Government}}</ref> the ] formally invoked Article 50 of the Consolidated Treaty on European Union in 2017, and became the only sovereign state to leave when it ] from the EU in 2020.
	{{See|Regional policy of the European Union}}
	] finance infrastructure such as the motorway ]–] (]/]) pictured near ], ]]]
			{{Clear}}
	There are substantial economical disparities across the EU. Even corrected for purchasing power, the difference between the richest and poorest regions (NUTS-2 and NUTS-3 of the ]) is about a factor of ten. On the high end ] has €71,476 ] per capita, ] €68,989, and ] €67,798, while the three poorest NUTS, all in ], are ] with €3,690 PPP per capita, ] with €4,115, and ] with €4,277.<ref name="Frankfurt_Paris">{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/extraction/evalight/EVAlight.jsp?A=1&language=fr&root=/theme1/reg/reg_e3gdp|title=Table: E3GDP95=Gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices at NUTS level 3
	|author=Eurostat|accessdate=11 August 2008}}</ref> Compared to the EU average, the United States GDP per capita is 35% higher and the Japanese GDP per capita is approximately 15% higher.<ref name="STAT/06/166">{{cite web|title=GDP per capita in the Member States ranged from 48% to 251% of the EU25 average in 2005|publisher=Europa web portal|author=Eurostat|date=18 December 2006|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=STAT/06/166&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref>
			==Geography==
	There are a number of ] to support development of underdeveloped regions of the EU. Such regions are primarily located in the ] of ].<ref name="Business2000 Funds">{{cite web|title=EU Structural and Cohesion Funds|publisher=Business 2000|url=http://www.business2000.ie/cases/cases_8th/case12.htm|accessdate=27 June 2007}}</ref> Several funds provide ], support for candidate members to transform their country to conform to the EU's standard (], ], and ]), and support to the ] ] (]). TACIS has now become part of the worldwide ] programme. The EU ] sponsors research conducted by consortia from all EU members to work towards a single ].<ref name="Euractiv FP7">{{cite web|title=7th Research Framework Programme (FP7)|publisher=Euractiv|year=2004|url=http://www.euractiv.com/en/science/7th-research-framework-programme-fp7/article-117494|accessdate=27 June 2007}}</ref>
			<!--Section named and ordered by WikiProject Countries-->
			{{Main|Geography of the European Union}}
			]
			The EU's member states cover an area of {{convert|4,233,262|km2|sqmi|0}},<ref name="Area.and.population.figure" group="lower-alpha">This figure includes the extra-European territories of member states that are part of the EU, and excludes the European territories of member states which are not part of the Union. For more information, see ].</ref> and therefore a large part of the ]. The EU's highest peak is ] in the ], {{convert|4810.45|m|ft|0}} ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 November 2009 |title=Mont Blanc shrinks by {{convert|45|cm|2|abbr=on}} in two years |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/mont-blanc-shrinks-by-45cm-in-two-years-20091106-i0kk.html |access-date=26 November 2010}}</ref> The lowest points in the EU are ], Denmark, and ], Netherlands, at {{convert|7|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} below sea level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/european-union/ |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=cia.gov}}</ref> The landscape, climate, and economy of the EU are influenced by its coastline, which is {{convert|65993|km|mi|0}} long.
			In addition to national territories in Europe, there are 32 ], not all of which are part of the EU. The largest by area is ], which is ], while the largest by population are the ] off Africa, which are part of the EU and the ]. ] in South America is part of the EU and the Eurozone, as is ], north of ].
			===Climate===
			{{Main|Climate of Europe}}
			] map of Europe (including non-EU member states)]]
			The climate of the European Union is of a ], ] nature, with a ] prevailing on the western coasts and a ] in the south. The climate is strongly conditioned by the ], which warms the western region to levels unattainable at similar latitudes on other continents. Western Europe is oceanic, while eastern Europe is continental and dry. Four seasons occur in western Europe, while southern Europe experiences a ] and a ]. Southern Europe is hot and dry during the summer months. The heaviest precipitation occurs downwind of water bodies due to the prevailing ], with higher amounts also seen in the ].
	===Environment===		===Environment===
			{{Main|Climate change in Europe}}
	{{See|European Commissioner for the Environment|European Climate Change Programme}}
			{{See also|European Environment Agency}}
			]
	The first ] of the European Community was launched in 1972. Since then it has addressed issues such as ], the thinning of the ], ], ], ] and ]. The ] is an example of a water policy, aiming for rivers, lakes, ground and coastal waters to be of "good quality" by 2015. Wildlife is protected through the ] programme and covers 30,000 sites throughout Europe.<ref name="BBC Dimas">{{cite news|last=Dimas|first=Stavros|title=Celebrating the Environmental Union|publisher=BBC News|date=23 March 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6476273.stm|accessdate=15 August 2007}}</ref> In 2007, the ] sought to build a motorway through the ], but the Commission has been blocking construction as the valley is a ] covered by the programme.<ref name="FT Respuda">{{cite web|last=Easton|first=Adam|title=Poland ends stand-off with EU over road plans|publisher=]|date=31 July 2007|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/640968f2-3f5b-11dc-b034-0000779fd2ac.html|accessdate=15 August 2007}}</ref>
			In 1957, when the European Economic Community was founded, it had no environmental policy.{{sfn|Jordan|Adelle|2012}} Over the past 50 years, an increasingly dense network of legislation has been created, extending to all areas of environmental protection, including air pollution, water quality, waste management, nature conservation, and the control of chemicals, industrial hazards, and biotechnology.{{sfn|Jordan|Adelle|2012}} According to the ], environmental law comprises over 500 Directives, Regulations and Decisions, making environmental policy a core area of European politics.<ref name="European Environmental Policy 2012">Institute for European Environmental Policy (2012) Manual of European Environmental Policy, Earthscan, London.</ref>
	] in ].]]
			European policy-makers originally increased the EU's capacity to act on environmental issues by defining it as a trade problem.{{sfn|Jordan|Adelle|2012}} ]s and competitive distortions in the Common Market could emerge due to the different environmental standards in each member state.<ref>Johnson, S.P. and Corcelle, G. (1989) The Environmental Policy of the European Communities, Graham & Trotman, London</ref> In subsequent years, the environment became a formal policy area, with its own policy actors, principles and procedures. The legal basis for EU environmental policy was established with the introduction of the Single European Act in 1987.<ref name="European Environmental Policy 2012" />
	The ] was a piece of EU legislation designed to ensure that 30,000 chemicals in daily use are tested for their safety.<ref name="RTE REACH">{{cite web|title=EU chemicals directive agreed|publisher=]|date=1 December 2006|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1201/reach.html|accessdate=15 August 2007}}</ref> In 2006, ], from a European ship, prompted the Commission to look into legislation regarding ]. With members such as Spain now having criminal laws against shipping toxic waste, the Commission proposed to create criminal sentences for "ecological crimes". Although the Commission's right to propose ] was contested, it was confirmed in this case by the Court of Justice.<ref name="E!Sharp0507 Legal">{{cite news|last=Charter|first=David|title=A new legal environment|work=E!Sharp|pages=23–5|publisher=People Power Process|year=2007}}</ref>
			Initially, EU environmental policy focused on Europe. More recently, the EU has demonstrated leadership in global environmental governance, e.g. the role of the EU in securing the ratification and coming into force of the ] despite opposition from the United States. This international dimension is reflected in the EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme,<ref>{{Cite web |title=EUR-Lex – l28027 – EN |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:l28027 |publisher=EUR-Lex}}</ref> which recognises that its objectives can only be achieved if key international agreements are actively supported and properly implemented both at EU level and worldwide. The Lisbon Treaty further strengthened the leadership ambitions.{{sfn|Jordan|Adelle|2012}} EU law has played a significant role in improving habitat and species protection in Europe, as well as contributing to improvements in air and water quality and waste management.<ref name="European Environmental Policy 2012" />
	In 2007, member states agreed that the EU is to use 20% ] in the future and that is has to reduce ] ] in 2020 by at least 20% compared to 1990 levels.<ref name="EUO energy">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jan/23/climatechange.eu1|title=EU sets 20% target for carbon cuts|accessdate=29 February 2008|publisher=]|first=Jessica|last=Aldred}}</ref> This includes measures that in 2020, one-tenth of all cars and trucks in ] should be running on ]s. This is considered to be one of the most ambitious moves of an important industrialised region to fight ].<ref name="Discovery energy">{{cite web|last=Ames|first=Paul|title=European Union agrees on ambitious plan to fight global warming|publisher=], on Valcent Products website|date=9 March 2007|url=http://www.valcent.net/s/RelatedArticles.asp?ReportID=183114&_Type=Related-Articles&_Title=European-Union-agrees-on-ambitious-plan-to-fight-global-warming|accessdate=9 March 2007}}</ref>
			Mitigating ] is one of the top priorities of EU environmental policy. In 2007, member states agreed that, in the future, 20 per cent of the energy used across the EU must be ], and carbon dioxide emissions have to be lower in 2020 by at least 20 per cent compared to 1990 levels.<ref name="EUO energy">{{Cite news |last=Aldred |first=Jessica |date=23 January 2008 |title=EU sets 20% target for carbon cuts |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jan/23/climatechange.eu1 |access-date=29 February 2008}}</ref> In 2017, the EU emitted 9.1 per cent of global ].<ref name="Global Emissions">{{Cite web |title=Global Emissions |url=https://www.c2es.org/content/international-emissions/ |access-date=11 November 2020 |website=Center for Climate and Energy Solutions}}</ref> The European Union claims that already in 2018, its GHG emissions were 23% lower than in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Progress made in cutting emissions |url=https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/progress_en |access-date=21 November 2019 |website=European Commission}}</ref>
	At the ], dealing with the successor to the ], the EU has proposed at 50% cut in greenhouse gases by 2050.<ref name="PostKyoto">{{cite web|title=In Bali, EU Floats 50% Greenhouse Gas Cut|publisher=]|date=4 December 2007|url=http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2007/gb2007124_968205.htm?chan=globalbiz_europe+index+page_top+stories|accessdate=7 December 2007}}</ref> The EU's attempts to cut its ] appear to have also been aided by an expansion of Europe's forests which, between 1990 and 2005, grew 10% in western Europe and 15% in Eastern Europe. During this period they soaked up 126&nbsp;million ] of carbon dioxide, equivalent to 11% of EU emissions from human activities.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|title=Expanding EU forests may aid climate goals|publisher=Reuters|date=29 November 2007|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKL2920316220071129|accessdate=7 December 2007}}</ref>
			The EU has adopted an ] to incorporate ] into the economy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 November 2016 |title=EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) |url=https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets_en |website=Climate Action – European Commission}}</ref> The ] is an annual award given to cities that focuses on the environment, energy efficiency, and quality of life in urban areas to create ]. In the ], the green parties increased their power, possibly because of the rise of post materialist values.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Sheri |author-link=Sheri Berman |date=3 June 2019 |title=Populists, greens and the new map of European politics |url=https://www.socialeurope.eu/populists-greens-new-political-map |access-date=21 June 2019 |website=Social Europe}}</ref> Proposals to reach a zero carbon economy in the European Union by 2050 were suggested in 2018 – 2019. Almost all member states supported that goal at an EU summit in June 2019. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, and Poland disagreed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 June 2019 |title=EU summit deadlock over top jobs and climate discord |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/06/21/eu-summit-deadlock-over-top-jobs-and-climate-discord}}</ref> In June 2021, the European Union passed a ] with targets of 55% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 and ] by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Hoof |first=Sam |date=30 July 2021 |title=European Commission launches proposals to reach 55% emissions reduction by 2030 |url=https://www.unsdsn.org/european-commission-launches-proposals-to-reach-55-emissions-reduction-by-2030 |access-date=8 October 2021 |website=Sustainable Development Solution Network}}</ref> Also in the same year, the European Union and the United States pledged to cut ] by 30% by 2030. The pledge is considered as a big achievement for climate change mitigation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harvey |first=Fiona |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=17 September 2021 |title=US and EU pledge 30% cut in methane emissions to limit global heating |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/17/us-and-eu-pledge-30-cut-in-methane-emissions-to-limit-global-heating |access-date=8 October 2021 |agency=The Guardian}}</ref> A recent research report declared that the ] is the EU's most toxic country in Europe for care emissions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2024 |title=New study says Czechia is EU's 'most toxic' country by car emissions |url=https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/new-study-says-czechia-is-eu-s-most-toxic-country-by-emissions |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=expats.cz |language=en}}</ref>
	===Education and research===
	{{See|Educational policies and initiatives of the European Union|Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development}}
	] is one priority in transnational research activities such as the ].]]
			{{Clear}}
	Education and science are areas where the EU's role is limited to supporting national governments. In education, the policy was mainly developed in the 1980s in programmes supporting exchanges and mobility. The most visible of these has been the ], a university exchange programme which began in 1987. In its first 20&nbsp;years it has supported international exchange opportunities for well over 1.5&nbsp;million university and college students and has become a symbol of European student life.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Erasmus programme celebrates its 20th anniversary|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/erasmus20_en.html|accessdate=21 July 2007}}; {{cite web|last=Jean-Sébastien|first=Lefebvre|title=Erasmus turns 20 - time to grow up?|date=22 January 2007|publisher=Café Babel|url=http://www.cafebabel.com/en/article.asp?T=T&Id=9702|accessdate=10 August 2007}}</ref>
			==Economy==
	There are now similar programmes for school pupils and teachers, for trainees in ], and for ]s in the ]. These programmes are designed to encourage a wider knowledge of other countries and to spread good practices in the education and training fields across the EU.<ref>{{cite web|author=EACEA|title=About the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/index.htm|accessdate=21 July 2007}}; {{cite web|title=Lifelong Learning Programme|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/national_en.html|accessdate=21 July 2007}}</ref> Through its support of the ] the EU is supporting comparable standards and compatible degrees across Europe.
			<!--Section named and ordered by WikiProject Countries-->
			{{Main|Economy of the European Union}}
			] (PPP) per capita in 2021 (including non-EU countries)]]
	]. (Launch of an ] in ])]]
			The ] (GDP), a measure of economic activity, of EU member states was US$16.64 trillion in 2022, around 16.6 percent of the world GDP.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2023 |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/April/weo-report?a=1&c=001,998,&s=NGDPD,&sy=2022&ey=2022&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |access-date=24 March 2023 |publisher=International Monetary Fund}}</ref> There is a significant variation in GDP per capita between and within individual EU states. The difference between the richest and poorest regions (281 NUTS-2 regions of the ]) ranged, in 2017, from 31 per cent (Severozapaden, Bulgaria) of the EU28 average ({{Euro|30,000}}) to 253 per cent (Luxembourg), or from {{Euro|4,600}} to {{Euro|92,600}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 31% to 626% of the EU average in 2017 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/9618249/1-26022019-AP-EN.pdf/f765d183-c3d2-4e2f-9256-cc6665909c80 |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
	Scientific development is facilitated through the EU's ], the first of which started in 1984. The aims of EU policy in this area are to co-ordinate and stimulate research. The independent ] allocates EU funds to European or national research projects.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the ERC?|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Research Council|url=http://erc.europa.eu/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&topicID=12|accessdate=21 July 2007}}</ref> The ] deals in a number of areas, for example energy where it aims to develop a diverse mix of ] for the environment and to reduce dependence on imported fuels.<ref>{{cite web|title=Energy|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm?pg=energy|accessdate=12 November 2007}}</ref>
			EU member states own the estimated third largest after the United States ({{US$|140}}{{nbsp}}trillion) and ] ({{US$|84}}{{nbsp}}trillion) ] in the world, equal to around one sixth ({{US$|76}}{{nbsp}}trillion) of the {{US$|454}}{{nbsp}}trillion global wealth.<ref name="databook2023">{{Cite book |last1=Shorrocks |first1=Anthony |url=https://www.ubs.com/global/en/family-office-uhnw/reports/global-wealth-report-2023.html |title=Global Wealth Databook 2023 |last2=Davies |first2=James |last3=Lluberas |first3=Rodrigo |publisher=] and ] Research Institute |year=2023 |author-link=Anthony Shorrocks}}</ref> Of the top ] in 2010, 161 had their headquarters in the EU.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Global 500 2010: Countries – Australia |work=Fortune |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2010/countries/Australia.html |access-date=8 July 2010}} Number of companies data taken from the "Pick a country" box.</ref> In 2016, unemployment in the EU stood at 8.9 per cent<ref name="UNEMP">{{Cite web |date=1 March 2016 |title=Euro area unemployment rate at 10.3%, EU28 at 8.9% |url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/7197743/3-01032016-AP-EN.pdf/d91b795a-f165-4a39-a961-1ae07d6c4b13 |access-date=1 March 2016 |publisher=Europa web portal |format=PDF}}</ref> while inflation was at 2.2 per cent, and the account balance at −0.9 per cent of GDP. The average annual net earnings in the European Union was around {{Euro|25,000}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Database – Eurostat |url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/labour-market/earnings/database |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref> in 2021.
	Since January 2000 the ] has set its sights on a more ambitious objective, known as the ], and has extensively funded research in a few key areas. This has the support of all member states, and extends the existing financing structure of the frameworks. It aims to focus on co-ordination, sharing knowledge, ensuring mobility of researchers around Europe, improving conditions for researchers and encouraging links with ] as well as removing any legal and administrative barriers.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the European Research Area?|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.html|accessdate=21 July 2007}}</ref>
			===Economic and monetary union===
	The EU is involved with six other countries to develop ], a ] ] which will be built in the EU at ]. ITER builds on the previous project, ], which is currently the largest nuclear fusion reactor in the world.<ref name="ITER">{{cite web|title=ITER fusion research project|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/3_2_iter_en.htm|author=Fusion for energy|accessdate=24 September 2007}}</ref> The Commission foresees this technology to be generating energy in the EU by 2050.<ref name="Energy Q&A"/><!-- is this part of "European Research Area" collaboration?-->
			{{Main|Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union}}
	It has ] within ], there are various agreements with ] and there is collaboration with ].<ref name="ESO"> {{cite web|title=Astronomical research collaborations|url=http://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/collaborations.html|publisher=]|accessdate=29 February 2008}}</ref> These organisations are not under the framework of the EU, but membership heavily overlaps between them.
			[[File:Europäische Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion.svg|thumb|upright=1|Economic and Monetary Union
			{{Leftlegend|#003399|Members of the Eurozone}}
			{{Leftlegend|#339900|ERM II member}}
			{{Leftlegend|#e8984d|ERM II member with opt-out (Denmark)}}
			{{Leftlegend|#704c4c|Other EU members}}
			]]
			The ] is the official currency in 20 member states of the EU. The creation of a ] became an official objective of the European Economic Community in 1969. In 1992, having negotiated the structure and procedures of a currency union, the member states signed the ] and were legally bound to fulfil the agreed-on rules including the ] if they wanted to join the ]. The states wanting to participate had first to join the ]. To prevent the joining states from getting into financial trouble or crisis after entering the monetary union, they were obliged in the Maastricht treaty to fulfil important financial obligations and procedures, especially to show budgetary discipline and a high degree of sustainable economic convergence, as well as to avoid excessive government deficits and limit the government debt to a sustainable level, as agreed in the ].
			====Capital Markets Union and financial institutions====
			{{Main
			| Capital Markets Union
			| European System of Financial Supervision
			|European Stability Mechanism
			}}
			{{See also
			| European Banking Authority
			| European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority
			| European Securities and Markets Authority
			| Single Resolution Board
			}}
			].]]
			<!-- Capital Markets Union -->
			Free movement of capital is intended to permit movement of investments such as property purchases and buying of shares between countries.<ref name="Europa Single Market C">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=A Single Market for Capital |url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_42_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518000627/http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_42_en.htm |archive-date=18 May 2007 |access-date=27 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> Until the drive towards ] the development of the capital provisions had been slow. Post-Maastricht there has been a rapidly developing corpus of ECJ judgements regarding this initially neglected freedom. The free movement of capital is unique insofar as it is granted equally to non-member states.
			<!-- European System of Financial Supervision -->
			The ] is an institutional architecture of the EU's framework of financial supervision composed by three authorities: the ], the ] and the ]. To complement this framework, there is also a ] under the responsibility of the central bank. The aim of this financial control system is to ensure the economic stability of the EU.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 September 2010 |title=Europe seals deal on financial supervision |url=http://euobserver.com/?aid=30866 |website=euobserver.com}}</ref>
			====Eurozone and banking union====
			{{Main
			| Eurozone
			| Euro
			| European banking union
			}}
			{{See also
			| Eurosystem
			| Eurogroup
			}}
			] from the ''Europa'' series (since 2013)]]
			In 1999, the currency union started to materialise through introducing a common accounting (virtual) currency in ]. In 2002, it was turned into a fully-fledged conventible currency, when ] and coins were issued, while the phaseout of national currencies in the eurozone (consisting by then of 12 member states) was initiated. The eurozone (constituted by the EU member states which have adopted the euro) has since grown to 20 countries.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kuchler |first=Teresa |date=25 October 2006 |title=Almunia says 'undesirable' to act on Sweden's euro refusal |publisher=EUobserver.com |url=http://euobserver.com/9/22733 |access-date=26 December 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 March 2009 |title=ERM II |url=http://uk.fm.dk/Portfolio/International%20cooperation/EU%20economic%20and%20political%20coordination/ERM2.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503183816/http://uk.fm.dk/Portfolio/International%20cooperation/EU%20economic%20and%20political%20coordination/ERM2.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2011 |access-date=26 December 2009 |publisher=Danish Finance Ministry}}</ref>
			The 20 EU member states known collectively as the ] have fully implemented the currency union by superseding their national currencies with the ]. The currency union represents 345{{nbsp}}million EU citizens.<ref name="Europa Single Market" /> The euro is the second largest ] as well as the second most traded currency in the world after the ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2007 |title=Triennial Central Bank Survey 2007 |url=http://www.bis.org/publ/rpfxf07t.pdf |access-date=25 July 2009 |publisher=BIS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Aristovnik |first1=Aleksander |last2=Čeč |first2=Tanja |date=30 March 2010 |title=Compositional Analysis of Foreign Currency Reserves in the 1999–2007 Period. The Euro vs. The Dollar As Leading Reserve Currency |url=http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/14350/1/MPRA_paper_14350.pdf |access-date=27 December 2010 |publisher=Munich Personal RePEc Archive, Paper No. 14350}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Boesler |first=Matthew |date=11 November 2013 |title=There Are Only Two Real Threats To The US Dollar's Status As The International Reserve Currency |work=Business Insider |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-as-international-reserve-currency-2013-11 |access-date=8 December 2013}}</ref>
			The euro, and the monetary policies of those who have adopted it in agreement with the EU, are under the control of the ECB.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ECB, ESCB and the Eurosystem |url=http://www.ecb.int/ecb/orga/escb/html/index.en.html |access-date=15 September 2007 |publisher=European Central Bank}}</ref> The ECB is the central bank for the eurozone, and thus controls ] in that area with an agenda to maintain ]. It is at the centre of the ], which comprehends all the Eurozone national central banks.<ref name="ECB org">{{Cite web |title=ECB, ESCB and the Eurosystem |url=http://www.ecb.int/ecb/orga/escb/html/index.en.html |access-date=7 July 2011 |publisher=European Central Bank}}</ref> The ECB is also the central institution of the ] established within the eurozone, as the hub of ]. There is also a ] in case of a bank default.
			{{Clear}}
			===Trade===
			As a political entity, the European Union is represented in the ] (WTO). Two of the original core objectives of the European Economic Community were the development of a common market, subsequently becoming a ], and a ] between its member states.
			====Single market====
			{{Main|European single market}}
			{{Further|Digital Single Market}}
			]
			{{Leftlegend|#003399|]}}
			{{Leftlegend|#a050ffff|Non-EU states which participate}}
			]]
			<!-- European Single Market-->
			The single market involves ],<ref name="Europa Single Market">{{Cite web |title=The Single Market |url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001122551/http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/index_en.htm |archive-date=1 October 2007 |access-date=27 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The free movement of services and of establishment allows self-employed persons to move between member states to provide services on a temporary or permanent basis. While services account for 60 per cent to 70 per cent of GDP, legislation in the area is not as developed as in other areas. This lacuna has been addressed by the ] which aims to liberalise the cross border provision of services.<ref name="Europa Single Market S">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=A Single Market for Services |url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_19_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610133514/http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_19_en.htm |archive-date=10 June 2007 |access-date=27 June 2007 |publisher=Europa}}</ref> According to the treaty the provision of services is a residual freedom that only applies if no other freedom is being exercised.
			====Customs union====
			{{Main|European Union Customs Union}}
			]
			{{Leftlegend|#003399|]}}
			{{Leftlegend|#a050ff|Non-EU states which participate}}
			]]
			<!-- European Customs Union -->
			The customs union involves the application of a ] on all goods entering the market. Once goods have been admitted into the market they cannot be subjected to customs duties, discriminatory taxes or ]s, as they travel internally. The non-EU member states of ], ], ] and ] participate in the single market but not in the customs union.<ref name="EEA">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=The European Economic Area (EEA) |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/eea/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202041812/http://eeas.europa.eu/eea/ |archive-date=2 December 2010 |access-date=10 February 2010 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> Half the trade in the EU is covered by legislation harmonised by the EU.<ref name="Europa Single Market G">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=A Single Market for goods |url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_18_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621214532/http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_18_en.htm |archive-date=21 June 2007 |access-date=27 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
			<!-- European Union Association Agreement -->
			The ] does something similar for a much larger range of countries, partly as a so-called soft approach ('a carrot instead of a stick') to influence the politics in those countries.
			The European Union represents all its members at the ] (WTO), and acts on behalf of member states in any disputes. When the EU negotiates trade related agreement outside the WTO framework, the subsequent agreement must be approved by each individual EU member state government.<ref name="Se-jeong" />
			====External trade====
			{{Main|Common Commercial Policy (EU)}}
			[[File:EU FTAs.svg|thumb|center|400px|EU Free trade agreements
			{{legend|lightblue|European Union}}
			{{legend|green|Agreement in force}}
			{{legend|lightgreen|Agreement (in part) provisionally applied}}
			{{legend|orange|Agreement signed, but not applied}}
			{{legend|#ff8080|Agreement initialed, not signed}}
			{{legend|yellow|Agreement being negotiated}}
			{{legend|#b3b3b3|Agreement negotiations on hold/suspended}}]]
			The European Union has concluded ] (FTAs)<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 2016 |title=Free trade agreements |url=http://trade.ec.europa.eu/tradehelp/free-trade-agreements |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622093930/https://trade.ec.europa.eu/tradehelp/free-trade-agreements |archive-date=22 June 2019 |access-date=22 May 2018 |publisher=European Commission}}</ref> and other agreements with a trade component with many countries worldwide and is negotiating with many others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agreements |url=http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/agreements/ |access-date=17 March 2016 |publisher=European Commission}}</ref> The European Union's services trade surplus rose from $16 billion in 2000 to more than $250 billion in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The European Union and its trade partners {{!}} Fact Sheets on the European Union {{!}} European Parliament |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/160/the-european-union-and-its-trade-partners |access-date=7 June 2021 |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China became the EU's largest trading partner, displacing the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wong |first=Audrye |date=May 2021 |title=How Not to Win Allies and Influence Geopolitics China's Self-Defeating Economic Statecraft |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ |journal=Foreign Affairs |volume=100 |issue=3}}</ref> The European Union is the largest exporter in the world<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Intelligence Agency |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2078rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004073036/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook//rankorder/2078rank.html |archive-date=4 October 2008 |access-date=26 April 2011 |publisher=Cia.gov}}</ref> and in 2008 was the largest importer of goods and services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World trade report 2009 |url=http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/anrep_e/world_trade_report09_e.pdf |publisher=WTO information website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EU position in world trade |url=http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/eu-position-in-world-trade/ |access-date=24 May 2015 |publisher=European Commission}}</ref> Internal trade between the member states is aided by the removal of barriers to trade such as ]s and ]s. In the ], trade is helped by not having any currency differences to deal with amongst most members.<ref name="Se-jeong">{{Cite news |last=Se-jeong |first=Kim |date=19 July 2009 |title=EU-Korea FTA Will Be a Long Process: Greek Ambassador |publisher=] |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/07/139_48696.html |access-date=15 August 2009}}</ref> Externally, the EU's free-trade agreement with ] is perhaps its most notable one. The ] was officially signed on 17 July 2018, becoming the world's largest bilateral free trade deal when it went into effect on 1 February 2019, creating an open trade zone covering nearly one-third of global GDP.<ref>{{cite web|title=European Union and Japan to sign historic trade deal|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0717/979174-eu_japan/|publisher=RTE|date=17 July 2018|access-date=17 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Japan-EU trade deal 'light in darkness' amid Trump's protectionism|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/17/japan-eu-trade-deal-light-in-darkness-amid-trumps-protectionism|work=The Guardian|date=17 July 2018|access-date=17 July 2018}}</ref>
			{{Clear}}
			===Competition and consumer protection===
			{{Main
			| European Union competition law
			| European consumer law
			}}
			{{See also|European Union Intellectual Property Office}}
			The EU operates a ] intended to ensure undistorted competition within the single market.<ref group="lower-alpha">Article 3(1)(g) of the Treaty of Rome</ref> In 2001 the commission for the first time prevented a merger between two companies based in the United States (] and ]) which had already been approved by their national authority.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 July 2001 |title=The Commission prohibits GE's acquisition of Honeywell |url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/01/939 |access-date=12 November 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> Another high-profile case, ], resulted in the commission fining ] over {{Euro|777}}&nbsp;million following nine years of legal action.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gow |first=David |date=22 October 2007 |title=Microsoft caves in to European Commission |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/oct/22/microsoft.microsoft |access-date=12 November 2007}}</ref>
			===Energy===
			{{Main|Energy policy of the European Union}}
			{{See also|European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators}}
			{{Pie chart
			| caption=Total energy supply (2019)<ref></ref>
			| label1 = Oil
			| value1 = 31.7
			| color1 = black
			| label2 = Natural gas
			| value2 = 24.7
			| color2 = #8B8888
			| label3 = Coal
			| value3 = 10.9
			| color3 = #8B3333
			| label4 = Nuclear
			| value4 = 13.2
			| color4 = #ffeeaa
			| label5 = Biofuels, waste, electricity, heat
			| value5 = 19.4
			| color5 = #668B22
			}}
			The total energy supply of the EU was 59 billion ] in 2019, about 10.2 per cent of the world total. Approximately three fifths of the energy available in the EU came from imports (mostly of fossil fuels). ] contributed 18.1 per cent of the EU's total energy supply in 2019, and 11.1 per cent of the final energy consumption.<ref>Eurostat, ''Key figures on the EU in the world'', 2023 edition, p. 70 and 73 </ref>
			The EU has had legislative power in the area of energy policy for most of its existence; this has its roots in the original ]. The introduction of a mandatory and comprehensive European energy policy was approved at the meeting of the European Council in October 2005, and the first draft policy was published in January 2007.<ref name="Energy Q&A">{{Cite news |date=9 March 2007 |title=Q&A: EU energy plans |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4783996.stm |access-date=13 July 2007}}</ref>
			].]]
			The EU has five key points in its energy policy: increase competition in the ], encourage investment and boost interconnections between electricity grids; diversify energy resources with better systems to respond to a crisis; establish a new treaty framework for energy co-operation with Russia while improving relations with energy-rich states in Central Asia<ref name="oies">{{Cite web |last=Shamil Midkhatovich Yenikeyeff |date=November 2008 |title=Kazakhstan's Gas: Export Markets and Export Routes |url=http://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/NG25-KazakhstansgasExportMarketsandExportRoutes-ShamilYenikeyeff-2008.pdf |access-date=17 November 2011 |publisher=]}}</ref> and North Africa; use existing energy supplies more efficiently while increasing ]; and finally increase funding for new energy technologies.<ref name="Energy Q&A" />
			In 2007, EU countries as a whole imported 82 per cent of their oil, 57 per cent of their natural gas<ref name="low carb prop">{{Cite web |date=10 January 2007 |title='Low-carbon economy' proposed for Europe |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16560106 |access-date=24 January 2007 |website=NBC News}}</ref> and 97.48 per cent of their uranium<ref name="Euratom2007">{{Cite book |title=Euratom Supply Agency – Annual Report 2007 |publisher=Office for Official Publications of the European Communities |year=2008 |isbn=978-92-79-09437-8 |location=Luxembourg |page=22 |chapter=EU supply and demand for nuclear fuels |quote=European uranium mining supplied just below 3% of the total EU needs, coming from the Czech Republic and Romania (a total of 526 tU). |access-date=1 March 2009 |chapter-url=http://ec.europa.eu/euratom/ar/last.pdf}} <br />
			Nuclear energy and renewable energy are treated differently from oil, gas, and coal in this respect.</ref> demands. The three largest suppliers of natural gas to the European Union are Russia, Norway and ], that amounted for about three quarters of the imports in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Abnett |first1=Kate |last2=Nasralla |first2=Shadia |date=17 July 2020 |title=EU's greenhouse gas strategy fails to plug methane hole |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-energy-methane-insight/eus-greenhouse-gas-strategy-fails-to-plug-methane-hole-idINKCN24I0IV |website=]}}</ref> There is a strong ] that the EU has been attempting to reduce.<ref name="Energy Russia">{{Cite web |last=European Parliament |title=Ukraine-Russia gas dispute – call for stronger EU energy policy |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?language=EN&type=IM-PRESS&reference=20060112STO04233&secondRef=0 |access-date=27 February 2008 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> However, in May 2022, it was reported that the European Union is preparing another sanction against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. It is expected to target Russian oil, Russian and Belarusian banks, as well as individuals and companies. According to an article by Reuters, two diplomats stated that the European Union may impose a ban on imports of Russian oil by the end of 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 May 2022 |title=EU leans towards Russian oil ban by year-end, diplomats say |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-leans-towards-russian-oil-ban-by-year-end-diplomats-say-2022-05-01/ |access-date=1 May 2022}}</ref> In May 2022, the ] published the 'RePowerEU' initiative, a €300 billion plan outlining the path towards the end of EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2030 and the acceleration on the clean energy transition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 May 2022 |title=EU unveils €300 billion plan to reduce its energy dependency on Russia |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eu-unveils-300-billion-plan-to-reduce-its-energy-dependency-on-russia/a-61838801 |website=]}}</ref>
			{{Clear}}
			=== Transport ===
			{{Main|Transport in the European Union}}
			{{Further|Trans-European Transport Network}}
			{{See also
			| European Union Aviation Safety Agency
			| European Maritime Safety Agency
			| European Union Agency for Railways
			}}
			]]]
			<!-- Road -->
			The European Union manages cross-border road, railway, airport and water infrastructure through the ] (TEN-T), created in 1990,<ref name="Axes page 7">{{Cite web |title=Mobility and transport |url=https://transport.ec.europa.eu/index_en |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=transport.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> and the ]. TEN-T comprises two network layers: the Core Network, which is to be completed by 2030; and the Comprehensive Network, which is to be completed by 2050. The network is currently made up of 9 core corridors: the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the Atlantic Corridor, the ], and the ]. Road transportation was organised under the TEN-T by the ]. ] is the longest national ] in the EU at 963&nbsp;km (598&nbsp;mi).
			<!-- Maritime -->
			]]]
			Maritime transportation is organised under the TEN-T by the ], and the ]. European ]s are categorized as international, community, or regional. The ] is the busiest in the EU, and the world's largest seaport outside of ], located in and near the city of ], in the province of ] in the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Data services – Eurostat |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/eurostat/web/main/help/faq/data-services |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=File:Top 20 ports handling containers, 2008-2018 (thousand TEUs).png |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=File:Top_20_ports_handling_containers,_2008-2018_(thousand_TEUs).png |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref> The ] (EMSA), founded in 2002 in ], Portugal, is charged with reducing the risk of ], ] from ships and the ] by helping to enforce the pertinent EU legislation.
			<!-- Air -->
			Air transportation is organised under the TEN-T by the ]. European ]s are categorized as international, community, or regional. The ] is the busiest in the EU, located in and near the city of ], in France.<ref name=":FR2021">{{Cite web |title=Résultats d'activité desaéroports français 2021 |url=https://www.aeroport.fr/uploads/documents/resultats-activite-aeroports-francais-2021.pdf.pdf |language=fr}}</ref> The ] (ECAA) is a ] in ]. ECAA agreements were signed on 5 May 2006 in ], Austria between the EU and some third countries. The ECAA liberalises the air transport industry by allowing any company from any ECAA member state to fly between any ECAA member states airports, thereby allowing a "foreign" airline to provide domestic flights. The ] (SES) is an initiative that seeks to reform the European ] system through a series of actions carried out in four different levels (institutional, operational, technological and control and supervision) with the aim of satisfying the needs of the European airspace in terms of capacity, safety, efficiency and environmental impact. Civil ] is under the responsibility of the ] (EASA). It carries out ], regulation and standardisation and also performs investigation and monitoring. The idea of a European-level aviation safety authority goes back to 1996, but the agency was only legally established in 2002, and began operating in 2003.
			<!-- Rail -->
			Rail transportation is organised under the TEN-T by the ], made up of the ] and the ]. The ] railway station is the busiest in the EU, located in and near the city of ], in France.<ref name="SNCF">{{Cite web |title=SNCF Open Data — Fréquentation en gares |url=https://ressources.data.sncf.com/explore/dataset/frequentation-gares/table/?disjunctive.nom_gare&disjunctive.code_postal&sort=total_voyageurs_2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921142142/https://ressources.data.sncf.com/explore/dataset/frequentation-gares/table/?disjunctive.nom_gare&disjunctive.code_postal&sort=total_voyageurs_2019 |archive-date=21 September 2021 |access-date=21 September 2021 |publisher=] |via=ressources.data.sncf.com – SNCF OPEN DATA |location=Paris, France}}</ref><ref name="RATP">{{Cite web |title=Trafic annuel entrant par station du réseau ferré 2019 |url=https://data.ratp.fr/explore/dataset/trafic-annuel-entrant-par-station-du-reseau-ferre-2019/table/?sort=trafic |access-date=21 September 2021 |publisher=] |via=Open Data RATP |location=Paris, France}}</ref> ] is being synchronised with the ] (ERTMS) with the goal of greatly enhancing safety, increase efficiency of train transports and enhance cross-border interoperability. This is done by replacing former national ] equipment and operational procedures with a single new Europe-wide standard for train control and command systems. This system is conducted by the ] (ERA).
			{{Gallery
			| title = Transport documents used in the European Union
			| align = center
			| File:Croatian driving licence.jpg
			| ]<br>{{Small|(Croatian version pictured)}}
			<!--| File:Kentekencard voorzijde 1 december 2013.jpg
			| ]<br>{{Small|(Dutch version pictured)}}-->
			| File:Slovak car registration plate 2023.jpg
			| ]<br>{{Small|(Slovak version pictured)}}
			| File:Scheckkartenzulassungsschein Vorderseite.jpg
			| European ]<br>{{Small|(Austrian version pictured)}}
			| File:2016 Karta parkingowa.jpg
			| European ]<br>{{Small|(Polish version pictured)}}
			<!--| File:Licencja maszynisty.jpg
			| European ]'s licence<br>{{Small|(Polish version)}}
			| File:Kompetenznachweis zum Führen von Drohnen in der EU (Kategorien A1 und A3) — LBA 2021.jpg
			| European ]<br>{{Small|(German version)}}-->
			}}
			{{Clear}}
			===Telecommunications and space===
			{{Main
			| Telecommunications in the European Union
			| European Union Space Programme
			}}
			{{Further|European Union roaming regulations}}
			{{See also
			| Agency for Support for BEREC
			| European Union Agency for the Space Programme
			| European Space Agency
			}}
			Mobile communication ] are abolished throughout the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
			] control centre in ]]]
			<!-- European Union Agency for the Space Programme -->
			The ] (EUSPA), headquartered in ], Czech Republic, was established in 2021 to manage the ] in order to implement the pre-existing ''European Space Policy'', established on 22 May 2007 between the EU and the ] (ESA), known collectively as the ''European Space Council''. This was the first common political framework for space activities established by the EU. Each member state has pursued to some extent their own national space policy, though often co-ordinating through the ESA. ], the ], has stated that even though the EU is "a world leader in the technology, it is being put on the defensive by the United States and Russia and that it only has about a 10-year technological advantage on China and India, which are racing to catch up."
			<!-- Infrastructure -->
			] is a ] (GNSS) that went live in 2016, created by the EU through the ESA, operated by the EUSPA, with two ground operations centres in ], Italy, and ], Germany. The €10 billion project is named after the Italian astronomer ]. One of the aims of Galileo is to provide an independent high-precision positioning system so European political and military authorities do not have to rely on the US ], or the Russian ] systems, which could be disabled or degraded by their operators at any time. The ] (EGNOS) is a ] (SBAS) developed by the ESA and ]. Currently, it supplements the GPS by reporting on the reliability and accuracy of their positioning data and sending out corrections. The system will supplement Galileo in a future version. The ] is the EU's Earth observation programme coordinated and managed by EUSPA in partnership with ESA. It aims at achieving a global, continuous, autonomous, high quality, wide range Earth observation capacity, providing accurate, timely and easily accessible information to, among other things, improve the management of the environment, understand and ], and ensure civil security.
			{{Clear}}
			===Agriculture and fisheries===
			{{Main
			| Common Agricultural Policy
			| Common Fisheries Policy
			}}
			{{See also
			| European Fisheries Control Agency
			| European Food Safety Authority
			}}
			] (EEZ). At 25&nbsp;million square kilometres, it is the largest in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summaries of EU legislation |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/browse/summaries.html |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=EUR-Lex |language=en}}</ref>]]
			<!-- Common Agricultural Policy -->
			The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the ] of the European Union. It implements a system of ] and other programmes. It was introduced in 1962 and has since then undergone several changes to reduce the EEC budget cost (from 73% in 1985 to 37% in 2017) and consider rural development in its aims. It has, however, been criticised on the grounds of its cost and its environmental and humanitarian effects.
			<!-- Common Fisheries Policy -->
			Likewise, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the ] policy of the European Union. It sets quotas for which member states are allowed to catch each type of fish, as well as encouraging the ] by various market interventions and ]. It was introduced in 2009 with the Treaty of Lisbon, which formally enshrined fisheries conservation policy as one of the handful of "exclusive competences" reserved for the European Union.
			{{Clear}}
			===Regional development===
			{{Main|Regional policy of the European Union}}
			{{See also|European Committee of the Regions|European Investment Bank}}
			[[File:European regional policy 2021.svg|thumb|right|upright=1|Classification of regions from 2021 to 2027
			{{Leftlegend|#FF0000|Less developed regions}}
			{{Leftlegend|#FFFF00|Transition regions}}
			{{Leftlegend|#0000FF|More developed regions}}
			]]
			The five ] are supporting the development of the EU regions, primarily the underdeveloped ones, located mostly in the states of ] and southern Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Select Committee on European Union |year=2008 |title=Chapter 2: The European Union Structural and Cohesion Funds |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/141/14105.htm |access-date=28 February 2012 |website=Nineteenth Report}}</ref><ref name="Business2000 Funds">{{Cite web |title=EU Structural and Cohesion funds |url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/structural_cohesion_fund_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529083348/http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/structural_cohesion_fund_en.htm |archive-date=29 May 2010 |access-date=1 November 2010}}</ref> Another fund (the ]) provides support for candidate members to transform their country to conform to the EU's standard. Demographic transition to a society of ageing population, low fertility-rates and depopulation of non-metropolitan regions is tackled within this policies.
			===Labour===
			{{See also
			| European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
			| European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
			| European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
			| European Labour Authority
			| European Training Foundation
			| EURES
			}}
			The free movement of persons means that ] can move freely between member states to live, work, study or retire in another country. This required the lowering of administrative formalities and recognition of professional qualifications of other states.<ref name="Europa Single Market P">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=Living and working in the Single Market |url=http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_15_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613212310/http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/index_15_en.htm |archive-date=13 June 2007 |access-date=27 June 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The EU seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent in September 2018.<ref name="unemployment">{{Cite web |title=Eurostat – Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table |url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=teilm020&tableSelection=1&plugin=1 |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref> The euro area unemployment rate was 8.1 per cent.<ref name="unemployment" /> Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.3 per cent), Germany and Poland (both 3.4 per cent), and the highest in Spain (11.27 per cent in 2024) and Greece (19.0 in July 2018).
			The European Union has long sought to mitigate the effects of free markets by protecting workers' rights and preventing ] and ].{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} To this end it has adopted laws establishing minimum employment and environmental standards. These included the ] and the ]. The European Directive about Minimum Wage, which looks to lift minimum wages and strengthen collective bargaining was approved by the European Parliament in September 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 September 2022 |title=EU Parliament approves Minimum Wage Directive |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-parliament-approves-minimum-wage-directive/}}</ref>
			=== Social rights and equality ===
			{{Main|European social model|European Social Fund Plus|Welfare State|European Social Charter|European Voluntary Service|European labour law|List of countries by guaranteed minimum income|European Pillar of Social Rights|List of European Union member states by minimum wage}}
			The EU has also sought to coordinate the social security and health systems of member states to facilitate individuals exercising free movement rights and to ensure they maintain their ability to access social security and health services in other member states. Since 2019 there has been a European commissioner for equality and the ] has existed since 2007. A Directive on countering gender-based violence has been proposed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2022 |title=EU-wide effort on gender-based violence taking shape, but gaps remain |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/09/21/an-eu-wide-approach-to-gender-based-violence-is-taking-shape-but-gaps-remain}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 April 2022 |title=A first insight into the EU proposal for a Directive on countering violence against women and domestic violence |url=https://www.ejiltalk.org/a-first-insight-into-the-eu-proposal-for-a-directive-on-countering-violence-against-women-and-domestic-violence/}}</ref> In September 2022, a European Care strategy was approved in order to provide "quality, affordable and accessible care services".<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2022 |title=Questions and Answers: European Care Strategy |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_5168 |access-date=23 September 2022 |website=European Commission}}</ref> The ] is the main body that recognises the social rights of European citizens.
			In 2020, the first ever European Union Strategy on LGBTIQ equality was approved under ] mandate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=Union of Equality: The Commission presents its first-ever strategy on LGBTIQ equality in the EU |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2068 |website=]}}</ref> In December 2021, the commission announced the intention of codifying a union-wide law against LGBT hate crimes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2021 |title=La Comisión Europea propone ampliar la lista de delitos de la Unión Europea para incluir los delitos de odio |trans-title=The European Commission proposes to extend the list of crimes of the European Union to include hate crimes |url=https://kifkif.info/la-comision-europea-propone-ampliar-la-lista-de-delitos-de-la-union-europea-para-incluir-los-delitos-de-odio/ |website=kifkif.info |language=es |access-date=20 December 2021 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220174010/https://kifkif.info/la-comision-europea-propone-ampliar-la-lista-de-delitos-de-la-union-europea-para-incluir-los-delitos-de-odio/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
			{{Clear}}
			===Freedom, security and justice===
			{{Main|Area of freedom, security and justice}}
			{{Further|Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union}}
			{{See also
			| eu-LISA
			| Eurojust
			| European Institute for Gender Equality
			| European Union Agency for Asylum
			| European Union Agency for Cybersecurity
			| European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training
			| Europol
			| Frontex
			| Fundamental Rights Agency
			}}
			] contains a wide range of political, social, and economic rights for EU citizens.]]
			Since the creation of the European Union in 1993, it has developed its competencies in the area of justice and home affairs; initially at an intergovernmental level and later by supranationalism. Accordingly, the union has legislated in areas such as ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=European arrest warrant replaces extradition between EU Member States |url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/criminal/extradition/fsj_criminal_extradition_en.htm |access-date=4 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> family law,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility (Brussels II) |url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/judicial_cooperation_in_civil_matters/l33194_en.htm |access-date=5 September 2008 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> asylum law,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minimum standards on the reception of applicants for asylum in Member States |url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/free_movement_of_persons_asylum_immigration/l33150_en.htm |access-date=5 September 2008 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> and criminal justice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Specific Programme: 'Criminal Justice' |url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/judicial_cooperation_in_criminal_matters/l10110_en.htm |access-date=5 September 2008 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
			The EU has also established agencies to co-ordinate police, prosecution and civil litigations across the member states: ] for police co-operation, ] for training of police forces<ref>{{Cite web |title=European police office now in full swing |url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/police/europol/fsj_police_europol_en.htm |access-date=4 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> and the ] for co-operation between prosecutors and courts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eurojust coordinating cross-border prosecutions at EU level |url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/criminal/eurojust/fsj_criminal_eurojust_en.htm |access-date=4 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> It also operates the ] database of vehicles and drivers, the ], the ], the ], ], ] and others.
			Prohibitions against discrimination have a long standing in the treaties. In more recent years, these have been supplemented by powers to legislate against discrimination based on race, religion, disability, age, and sexual orientation.<ref name="art2(7) Amsterdam" group="lower-alpha">See Article 2 (7) of the ] on . {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217024604/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/11997D/htm/11997D.html#0001010001|date=17 February 2008}}.</ref> The treaties declare that the European Union itself is "founded on the values of respect for ], ], democracy, ], the ] and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to ]&nbsp;... in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail."<ref>]</ref> By virtue of these powers, the EU has enacted legislation on ] in the work-place, ], and ].<ref group="lower-alpha">Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (OJ L 180, 19 July 2000, pp. 22–26); Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (OJ L 303, 2 December 2000, pp. 16–22).</ref>
			In 2009, the ] gave legal effect to the ]. The charter is a codified catalogue of ]s against which the EU's legal acts can be judged. It consolidates many rights which were previously recognised by the Court of Justice and derived from the "constitutional traditions common to the member states".<ref>Case 11/70, Internationale Handelsgesellschaft v. Einfuhr und Vorratstelle für Getreide und Futtermittel; Article 6(2) of the Maastricht Treaty (as amended).</ref> The Court of Justice has long recognised fundamental rights and has, on occasion, invalidated EU legislation based on its failure to adhere to those fundamental rights.<ref name="europarl-rights">{{Cite web |title=Respect for fundamental rights in the EU – general development |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/2_1_1_en.htm |access-date=6 September 2008 |website=European Parliament Fact Sheets |publisher=The ]}}</ref>
			Signing the ] (ECHR) is a condition for EU membership.<ref group="lower-alpha">And is effectively treated as one of the Copenhagen criteria. This is a political and not a legal requirement for membership. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626175941/http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=%2FDocuments%2FAdoptedText%2Fta08%2FERES1610.htm|date=26 June 2008}}.</ref> Previously, the EU itself could not accede to the convention as it is neither a state<ref group="lower-alpha">{{Cite web |title=Full list - Treaty Office - publi.coe.int |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=Treaty Office |language=en-GB}}</ref> nor had the competence to accede.<ref group="lower-alpha">{{Cite web |title=? |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/ALL/?uri=CELEX%253A61994V0002 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=EUR-Lex |language=en}}</ref> The Lisbon Treaty and Protocol 14 to the ECHR have changed this: the former binds the EU to accede to the convention while the latter formally permits it.
			The EU is independent from the Council of Europe, although they share purpose and ideas, especially on the rule of law, human rights and democracy. Furthermore, the ] and ], as well as the ] for the ] are created by the Council of Europe. The EU has also promoted human rights issues in the wider world. The EU opposes the death penalty and has proposed its worldwide abolition. Abolition of the death penalty is a condition for EU membership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU Policy on Death Penalty |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/human_rights/adp/index_en.htm |access-date=4 June 2013 |website=Europa |publisher=European Union External Action Service}}</ref> On 19 October 2020, the European Union revealed new plans to create a legal structure to act against ] worldwide. The new plan was expected to provide the European Union with greater flexibility to target and sanction those responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Europe Unveils New Sanctions Plan for Human Rights Violations |url=https://news.bloombergtax.com/international-trade/europe-unveils-new-sanctions-plan-for-human-rights-violations |access-date=19 October 2020 |website=Bloomberg Tax}}</ref>
			{{Gallery
			| title = Examples of identity, travel and health documents used in the EU
			| align = center
			| File:Deutscher Personalausweis im ab 2021 vorgesehenen Design, Bundesregierung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Stärkung der Sicherheit im Pass-, Ausweis- und ausländerrechtlichen Dokumentenwesen.jpeg
			| ]<br>{{Small|(German version pictured)}}
			| File:Schengen uniform visa format Germany 2018.png
			| ]<br>{{Small|(German version)}}
			| File:Eirepas.JPG
			| A ], displaying the name of the member state, the national ] and the words "European Union" given in their official language(s)<br>{{Small|(Irish version pictured)}}
			| File:EHIC Slovenia.jpg
			| ]<br>{{Small|(Slovenian version pictured)}}
			}}
			{{Clear}}
	==Demographics==		==Demographics==
			<!--Section named and ordered by WikiProject Countries-->
	{{Main|Demographics of the European Union}}		{{Main|Demographics of the European Union}}
			{{See also|European Union citizenship}}
	<!-- The above are in alphabetical order.
	Please note that the design of this table was agreed after considerable discussion. Please submit proposed changes to the discussion page before editing. -->
	{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; text-align:right; line-height:1.4em; margin-left:20px;"
	|+ {{nowrap|Population of the 5 largest cities in the EU<ref>LUZ figures all for 2004 {{cite web|url=http://www.urbanaudit.org/DataAccessed.aspx|title=Data that can be accessed|accessdate=31 July 2008|work=Urban Audit|publisher=European Commission, Directorate-General Regional Policy, Unit D2 Urban Actions}}<br/>
	Urban areas: all figures for 2005 (est.):
	{{cite web|url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/chifcle_fiche.asp?ref_id=CMPTEF01103&tab_id=18|title=Pays, villes d'Europe et du monde|accessdate=6 February 2008|publisher=InsInstitut National de la Statistiqueet des Études Économiques}}<br/>
	City limits figures: <br/>
	London as at 1 July 2006:
	{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D9664.csv|title=Mid-2006 Population Estimates|format=CSV|accessdate=6 February 2008|publisher=]}}<br/>
	Berlin as at September 2007:
	{{cite web|url=http://www.statistik-portal.de/Statistik-Portal/de_zs01_bl.asp|title=Bevölkerung Berlin|accessdate=6 February 2008|publisher=Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (German statistics office)}}<br/>
	Madrid as at 1 january 2007:
	{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/jaxi/tabla.do|title=Cifras de población|accessdate=6 February 2008|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spanish national statistics office)}}<br/>
	Paris as at 1 July 2005:
	{{cite web|url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/recensement/nouv_recens/resultats/grandes-villes.htm#P|title=Résultats des enquêtes annuelles de recensement de 2004 à 2007 pour les grandes villes|accessdate=6 February 2008|publisher=Institut National de la Statistique
	et des Études Économiques (French national institute for statistics)}}<br/>
	Rome as at 31 December 2007
	{{cite web|url=http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2007gen/index02.html|title=Bilancio demografico Anno 2007|accessdate=6 February 2008|publisher=ISTAT (Italian national statistics office)}}<br/>
	</ref>
	}}
	| style="background:#f0f0f0; text-align:center; text-align:center;"|'''City'''
	! style="background:#f0f0f0; text-align:center; text-align:center;"|]<br/><small>(2006)</small><br/>
	! style="background:#f0f0f0; text-align:center; text-align:center;"|'''Density <div class="center">/km²</div>''' <small>(city limits)</small><br/>
	! style="background:#f0f0f0; text-align:center; text-align:center;"|'''Density <div class="center">/sq&nbsp;mi</div>''' <small>(city limits)</small><br/>
	! style="background:#f0f0f0; text-align:center; text-align:center;"|] <br/><small>(2005)</small>
	! style="background:#f0f0f0; text-align:center; text-align:center;"|]<br/><small>(2004)</small>
	|-
	!align=left|''']'''
	|align=right|3,410,000||3,815<!--/km2-->||9,880<!--/sqmi-->||3,761,000||4,971,331
	|-
	!align=left|''']'''
	|align=right|7,512,400||4,761<!--/km2-->||12,330<!--/sqmi-->||9,332,000||11,917,000
	|-
	!align=left|''']'''
	|align=right|3,228,359||5,198<!--/km2-->||13,460<!--/sqmi-->||4,990,000||5,804,829
	|-
	!align=left|''']'''
	|align=right|2,153,600||24,672<!--/km2-->||63,900<!--/sqmi-->||9,928,000||11,089,124
	|-
	!align=left|''']'''
	|align=right|2,708,395||2,105<!--/km2-->||5,450<!--/sqmi-->||2,867,000||3,457,690
	|}
			], 2017, including non-EU countries]]
	The combined population of all 27 member states has been estimated at 499,794,855 as of January 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=tps00001|title=Total population - At 1 January|accessdate=2009-07-24|publisher=]|quote=499794855 (provisional value)}}</ref>
			The population of the EU in 2021 was about 447&nbsp;million people, corresponding to 5.8 per cent of the world population.<ref name="population">{{Cite web |title=Population on 1st January by age, sex and type of projection |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tps00001/default/table?lang=en |access-date=29 January 2022 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Share of world population, 1960, 2015 and 2060 (%) |url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/File:Share_of_world_population,_1960,_2015_and_2060_(%25)_2.png |access-date=28 June 2017 |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref> The ] across the EU was 106 inhabitants per square kilometre, which is more than the world average.<ref name="ec.europa.eu"></ref> It is highest in areas in central and western Europe, sometimes referred to as the "]", while ] and ] in the north are much more sparsely populated.
	The EU's population is 7.3% of the world total, yet the EU covers just 3% of the Earth's land, amounting to a ] of {{convert|113|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} making the EU one of the ]. One third of EU citizens live in cities of over a million people, rising to 80% living in ]s generally.<ref name="urban dens">{{cite web|title=A densely populated area|publisher=Telsat Guide|url=http://telsat.belspo.be/beo/en/profs/europe-population.asp?section=6.3.3|accessdate=22 July 2007}}</ref> The EU is home to more ] than any other region in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=The World According to GaWC|publisher=Loughborough University|url=http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/citymap.html|accessdate=29 June 2007}}</ref> It contains 16&nbsp;cities with populations of over one million.
			The total population of the EU has been slightly decreasing for several years, contracting by 0.04 per cent in 2021.<ref></ref> This is due to a low birth rate of about 1.5 children per woman, less than the world average of 2.3.<ref></ref> In total, 4.1 million babies were born in the EU in 2021.<ref></ref> ] partially compensates for the natural population decrease.
	Besides many large cities, the EU also includes several densely populated regions that have no single core but have emerged from the connection of several cites and are now encompassing large ]s. The largest are ] having approximately 11.5&nbsp;million inhabitants (], ], ] et al.), ] approx. 7&nbsp;million (], ], ], ] et al.), ] approx. 5.8&nbsp;million (], ] et al.), the ] approx. 5.5&nbsp;million (urban area in between ], ], ] and ]), the ] approx. 3.5&nbsp;million (], ] et al.), and the ] approx. 2.5&nbsp;million (], ] and ], ]).<ref name="Eurostat Urban zones">{{cite web|title=Indicators for larger urban zones 1999 - 2003|publisher=Europa web portal|author=Eurostat|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1996,45323734&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&screen=welcomeref&open=/&product=EU_MASTER_urban_audit&depth=2|accessdate=25 January 2007}}</ref>
			5.3 per cent of the people residing in the EU are not ].<ref name="ec.europa.eu" /> There were 31 non-EU citizenships that each accounted for at least 1 per cent of non-EU citizens living in the EU, of which the largest were ], ], ]n and ].<ref></ref> Around 1.9 million people ] from a non-EU country during 2020, and a total of 956,000 people emigrated from a member state to go to a non-EU country during the same year.<ref></ref>
			===Urbanisation===
			{{See also|List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits|List of urban areas in the European Union}}
			] is the most populous urban area in the EU.]]
			More than two thirds (68.2%) of EU inhabitants lived in ]s in 2020, which is slightly less than the world average.<ref name="ec.europa.eu" /> Cities are largely spread out across the EU with a large grouping in and around the ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006 |title=Urban sprawl in Europe: The ignored challenge, European Environmental Agency |url=http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2006_10/eea_report_10_2006.pdf |access-date=13 October 2013}}</ref> The EU contains about 40 urban areas with populations of over 1{{nbsp}}million. With a population of over 13 million,<ref name="paris_AAV20_pop">{{Cite web |title=Comparateur de territoire: Aire d'attraction des villes 2020 de Paris (001) |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/1405599?geo=AAV2020-001 |access-date=10 February 2021 |publisher=INSEE}}</ref> ] is the largest metropolitan area and the only ] in the EU.<ref name="eurostat">{{Cite web |title=Eurostat – Data Explorer |url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en |access-date=22 November 2018 |publisher=Eurostat}}</ref> Paris is followed by ], ], ], the ], ], and ], all with a metropolitan population of over 4{{nbsp}}million.
			The EU also has numerous ] urbanised regions like ] (], ], ] et al.), ] (], ], ], ] et al.), ] (], ], ] et al.), the ] (], ], ], ] et al.) and ] (], ] et al.).<ref name="eurostat" />
			{{Largest population centres
			| country = the European Union
			| stat_ref = metropolitan regions, ] 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population on 1 January by broad age group, sex and metropolitan regions – Eurostat |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-datasets/-/met_pjanaggr3 |access-date=29 February 2024 |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
			| list_by_pop = Larger urban zone#List of larger urban zones
			| div_link = Member state of the European Union{{!}}State
			| city_1 = Paris | div_1 = France | pop_1 = 12,388,388
			| city_2 = Madrid | div_2 = Spain | pop_2 = 6,871,903
			| city_3 = Barcelona | div_3 = Spain | pop_3 = 5,797,356
			| city_4 = Berlin | div_4 = Germany | pop_4 = 5,481,613
			| city_5 = Ruhr | div_5 = Germany | pop_5 = 5,147,820
			| city_6 = Milan | div_6 = Italy | pop_6 = 4,329,748
			| city_7 = Rome | div_7 = Italy | pop_7 = 4,227,059
			| city_8 = Athens | div_8 = Greece | pop_8 = 3,626,216
			| city_9 = Hamburg | div_9 = Germany | pop_9 = 3,423,121
			| city_10 = Amsterdam | div_10 = Netherlands | pop_10 = 3,397,323
			| city_11 = Brussels | div_11 = Belgium | pop_11 = 3,395,581
			| city_12 = Warsaw | div_12 = Poland | pop_12 = 3,269,510
			| city_13 = Marseille | div_13 = France | pop_13 = 3,183,476
			| city_14 = Budapest | div_14 = Hungary | pop_14 = 3,031,887
			| city_15 = Munich | div_15 = Germany | pop_16 = 2,981,735
			| city_16 = Naples | div_16 = Italy | pop_15 = 2,980,338
			| city_17 = Vienna | div_17 = Austria | pop_17 = 2,971,753
			| city_18 = Lisbon | div_18 = Portugal | pop_18 = 2,899,670
			| city_19 = Stuttgart | div_19 = Germany | pop_19 = 2,816,924
			| city_20 = Prague | div_20 = Czech Republic| pop_20 = 2,796,717
			}}
	===Languages===		===Languages===
	{{Main|Languages of the European Union}}		{{Main|Languages of the European Union}}
			{{See also|Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union}}
	{| class="wikitable sortable" style="line-height:0.9em; border:1px black; float:right; margin-left:1em; text-align:right;"
	|+ '''European official languages report (EU-25)'''
			{|class="wikitable floatright mw-collapsible plainrowheaders sortable" style="border: 0.5em; font-size: 90%; line-height: 0.9em; max-width: 20em; text-align: center;"
			|+ Official languages by percentage of speakers, 2012{{Efn|Reference article dated February 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keating |first=Dave |title=Despite Brexit, English Remains The EU's Most Spoken Language By Far |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davekeating/2020/02/06/despite-brexit-english-remains-the-eus-most-spoken-language-by-far/ |access-date=7 February 2020 |website=Forbes}}</ref> taking survey data from 2012<ref>{{Cite web |title=Europeans and Their Languages, 2012 Report |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106183351/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf |archive-date=6 January 2016 |access-date=3 June 2013}}</ref>}}{{failed verification|date=March 2023|reason=2020 source gives "the overall number of EU citizens who can speak English has only dropped to 44% – if we apply the 2012 data to the EU's new population. English is still the most spoken language in the EU by far, with German now spoken by 36% of citizens and French spoken by 29%"}}
			! scope="col" style="width: 60%;" | Language
			! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | ]{{Efn|Native language<ref name="nativeLanguages">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |year=2012 |title=Europeans and their Languages |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_anx_en.pdf |access-date=16 December 2012 |website=Special ] 386 |publisher=europa.eu |pages=54–59}}</ref>}}
			! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Total{{Efn|EU citizens able to hold a conversation in this language<ref name="totalLanguages">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |year=2012 |title=Europeans and their Languages |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_anx_en.pdf |access-date=16 December 2012 |website=Special ] 386 |publisher=europa.eu |pages=78–83}}</ref>}}
	|-		|-
			! scope="row" | ]
	! style="width:40px;"|Language
			|18%
	! style="width:40px;"|]
	! style="width:40px;"|Total
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]
	|13%
	|'''51%'''
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]
	|'''18%'''
	|32%		|32%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
	|12%
	|26%
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]
	|13%		|13%
			|26%
			|-
			! scope="row" | ]
			|12%
	|16%		|16%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | Spanish
	|9%		|8%
	|15%		|15%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
			|8%
	|9%		|9%
	|10%		|-
			! scope="row" | ]
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]
	|5%		|5%
	|6%		|5%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
			|4%
			|5%
			|-
			! scope="row" | ]
	|3%		|3%
			|4%
			|-
			! scope="row" | ]
	|3%		|3%
			|3%
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
			|-
	|align=left|]
			! scope="row" | ]
	|2%		|2%
	|3%		|3%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
	|2%		|2%
	|3%		|3%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
	|2%		|2%
	|2%		|3%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
	|2%		|2%
	|2%		|2%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
			! scope="row" | English
	|align=left|]
	|1%		|1%
	|2%		|51%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
	|1%		|1%
	|2%		|2%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
	|1%		|1%
	|1%		|1%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
	|1%		|1%
	|1%		|1%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
	|1%		|1%
	|1%		|1%
			|-
	|- style="line-height: 1.1em"
	|align=left|]		! scope="row" | ]
	|1%		|1%
	|1%		|1%
			|-
	|- style="line-height:1em; background:#f2f2f2;" class="sortbottom"
			! scope="row" | ]
	| colspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|<small>
			|<1%
	Published in 2006, before the<br/>].<br/>
			|<1%
	Native: Native language<ref name=nativeLanguages>{{cite
			|-
	|work=Special ] 243
			! scope="row" | ]
	|title=Europeans and their Languages
			|<1%
	|publisher=]
			|<1%
	|author=European Commission
			|-
	|year=2006
			! scope="row" | ]
	|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf
			|<1%
	|format=PDF
			|<1%
	|pages=141–143
			|-
	|accessdate=19 November 2008}}</ref><br/>
			! scope="row" | ]
	Total: EU citizens able to hold a<br/>conversation in this language<ref name=totalLanguages>{{cite
			|<1%
	|work=Special ] 243
			|<1%
	|title=Europeans and their Languages
			|-
	|publisher=]
			! scope="row" | ]
	|author=European Commission
			|<1%
	|year=2006
			|<1%
	|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf
	|format=PDF
	|pages=152–154
	|accessdate=19 November 2008}}</ref></small>
	|}		|}
	Among the many languages and dialects used in the EU, it has 23 ] and ]s: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="Official Languages">{{cite web|title=Council Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 of 20 November 2006|publisher=Europa web portal|author=EUR-Lex|work=]|date=12 December 2006|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31958R0001:EN:NOT|accessdate=2 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Languages in Europe - Official EU Languages|publisher=EUROPA web portal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/languages-of-europe/doc135_en.htm|accessdate=2009-10-12}}</ref> Important documents, such as legislation, are translated into every official language. The European Parliament provides translation into all languages for documents and its plenary sessions.<ref>{{cite web|title=europarltv, official webtv of the European Parliament, is also available in all UE languages|See|url=http://www.europarltv.europa.eu/StartPage.aspx}}</ref> Some institutions use only a handful of languages as internal working languages.<ref>{{cite web|title=Languages and Europe. FAQ: Is every document generated by the EU translated into all the official languages?|publisher=Europa web portal|year=2004|url=http://europa.eu/languages/en/document/59#5|accessdate=3 February 2007}}</ref> ] is the responsibility of member states, but EU institutions promote the learning of other languages.<ref>{{cite web|title=Consolidated version of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Articles 149 to 150|publisher=Europa web portal|author=EUR-Lex|work=]|year=2004|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/12002E/htm/C_2002325EN.003301.html#anArt150|accessdate=1 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=European Parliament Fact Sheets: 4.16.3. Language policy|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Parliament|year=2004|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/facts/4_16_3_en.htm|accessdate=3 February 2007}}</ref>
			The EU has 24 official languages: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Important documents, such as legislation, are translated into every official language and the ] provides translation for documents and plenary sessions.<ref name="Official Languages">{{Cite web |last=EUR-Lex |date=12 December 2006 |title=Council Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 of 20 November 2006 |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31958R0001:EN:NOT |access-date=2 February 2007 |website=Official Journal of the European Union |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Languages in Europe – Official EU Languages |url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/languages-of-europe/doc135_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202112407/http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/languages-of-europe/doc135_en.htm |archive-date=2 February 2009 |access-date=12 October 2009 |publisher=EUROPA web portal}}</ref> Most EU institutions use only a handful of working languages: the European Commission conducts its internal business in three ''procedural languages'': English, French, and German;<ref name="procedural">{{Cite web |title=European Commission – Frequently asked questions on languages in Europe |url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-825_en.htm |website=europa.eu}}</ref> the ] uses French as the working language,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharpston |first=Eleanor V.E. |date=29 March 2011 |title=Appendix 5: Written Evidence of Advocate General Sharpston |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldselect/ldeucom/128/12816.htm |access-date=27 August 2013 |website=The Workload of the Court of Justice of the European Union |publisher=House of Lords European Union Committee}}</ref> and the ] conducts its business primarily in English.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buell |first=Todd |date=29 October 2014 |title=Translation Adds Complexity to European Central Bank's Supervisory Role: ECB Wants Communication in English, But EU Rules Allow Use of Any Official Language |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/translation-adds-complexity-to-european-central-banks-supervisory-role-1414580925 |access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Athanassiou |first=Phoebus |date=February 2006 |title=The Application of multilingualism in the European Union Context |url=http://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scplps/ecblwp2.pdf |access-date=11 October 2015 |publisher=ECB |page=26}}</ref> Even though ] is the responsibility of member states, EU institutions promote multilingualism among its citizens.<ref name="art249" group="lower-alpha" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=European Parliament |year=2004 |title=European Parliament Fact Sheets: 4.16.3. Language policy |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/facts/4_16_3_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219033654/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/facts/4_16_3_en.htm |archive-date=19 February 2007 |access-date=3 February 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
	German is the most widely spoken mother tongue (about 88.7&nbsp;million people as of 2006), followed by English, Italian and French. English is by far the most spoken ] at over half (51%) of the population, with German and French following. 56% of European citizens are able to engage in a conversation in a language other than their mother tongue.<ref name="Eurobarometer Languages">{{cite web|title=Special Eurobarometer 243: Europeans and their Languages (Survey)|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|year=2006|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=3 February 2007}}<br/>{{cite web|title=Special Eurobarometer 243: Europeans and their Languages (Executive Summary)|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|year=2006|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_sum_en.pdf|format=PDF|doi=|accessdate=3 February 2007}}</ref> Most official languages of the EU belong to the ] ], except Estonian, Finnish, and Hungarian, which belong to the ] language family, and Maltese, which is an ]. Most EU official languages are written in the ] except Bulgarian, written in ], and Greek, written in the ].<ref name="Many tongues, one family">{{cite web|title=Many tongues, one family. Languages in the European Union|publisher=Europa web portal|author=European Commission|year=2004|url=http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/move/45/en.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=3 February 2007}}</ref>
			The most widely spoken language in the EU is ]; the language is spoken by 44 per cent of the population (2016 data) and studied by 95 per cent of school students,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Euobserver |date=27 September 2011 |title=News in Brief / English studied by 95% of EU students |url=http://euobserver.com/1016/113742 |website=EUobserver}}</ref> although following the ] less than 1 per cent of the population speak it natively. ] and ] are spoken by 36 per cent and 30 per cent of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Technical Specification |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_anx_en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106183351/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_anx_en.pdf |archive-date=6 January 2016 |mode=cs2}}, in {{cite report|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf|date=June 2012 |title=Europeans and their Languages|work=Special Eurobarometer 386|publisher=European Commission|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106183351/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf |archive-date=6 January 2016 |url-status=dead |ref={{harvid|Europeans and their Languages|2012}}}}</ref> More than half (56 per cent) of EU citizens are able to engage in a conversation in a language other than their mother tongue.<ref name="Eurobarometer Languages_P3">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |year=2006 |title=Special Eurobarometer 243: Europeans and their Languages (Executive Summary) |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_sum_en.pdf |access-date=11 March 2011 |publisher=Europa web portal |page=3 |quote=56% of citizens in the EU Member States are able to hold a conversation in one language apart from their mother tongue.}}</ref>
	Besides the 23 official languages, there are about 150 ] and ]s, spoken by up to 50&nbsp;million people.<ref name="Many tongues, one family"/> Of these, only the Spanish regional languages (], ], and the non-Indo-European ]), ] and ] <ref>{{cite|title=Welsh and Gaelic are official EU tongues|newspaper=The Times|author=Rory Watson|date=5 July 2008|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4272797.ece|accessdate=13 March 2009}}</ref> can be used by citizens in communication with the main European institutions.<ref name="Mercator">{{cite web|title=Mercator Newsletter - n. 29|publisher=Mercator Central|year=2006|url=http://www.mercator-central.org/newsletter/newsletter29.htm#2|accessdate=1 February 2007}}</ref> Although EU programmes can support regional and minority languages, the protection of ] is a matter for the individual member states. Though the population of ] speakers is triple<ref></ref> that of Welsh speakers (despite the ]) and the history of ] in Europe is seven centuries long, their language is not official in any EU state.
			] (in Luxembourg) and ] (in Cyprus) are the only two national languages that are not official languages of the EU. ], ] and ] are not recognised official languages of the EU but have official status in Spain. Therefore, official translations of the treaties are made into them and citizens have the right to correspond with the institutions in these languages.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Klimczak-Pawlak |first=Agata |url={{GBurl|id=BWK4BAAAQBAJ|p=1}} |title=Towards the Pragmatic Core of English for European Communication: The Speech Act of Apologising in Selected Euro-Englishes |publisher=Springer Science & Business |year=2014 |isbn=978-3-319-03557-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 March 2010 |title=MEPs push for EU recognition of Catalan, Welsh languages |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/languages-culture/news/meps-push-for-eu-recognition-of-catalan-welsh-languages/ |access-date=28 June 2017 |website=Euractiv |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170903120902/https://www.euractiv.com/section/languages-culture/news/meps-push-for-eu-recognition-of-catalan-welsh-languages/ |archive-date=3 September 2017 }}</ref> There are about 150 ] and ]s in the EU, spoken by up to 50&nbsp;million people.<ref name="Many tongues, one family">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |year=2004 |title=Many tongues, one family. Languages in the European Union |url=http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/move/45/en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329125431/http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/move/45/en.pdf |archive-date=29 March 2007 |access-date=3 February 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> The ] ratified by most EU states provides general guidelines that states can follow to protect their linguistic heritage. The ] is held annually on 26 September and is aimed at encouraging language learning across Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001 |title=Committee of Ministers – European Year of Languages Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1539 |url=https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=776/7.1&Sector=secCM&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=original&BackColorInternet=9999CC&BackColorIntranet=FFBB55&BackColorLogged=FFAC75%20 |access-date=26 September 2012 |publisher=Wcd.coe.int}}</ref>
	Besides the many regional languages, a broad variety of languages from other parts of the world are spoken by ] communities in the member states: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] are spoken in many parts of the EU. Many older immigrant communities are ], being fluent in both the local (EU) language and in that of their ancestral community. Migrant languages have no formal status or recognition in the EU or in the EU countries, although from 2007 they are eligible for support from the ] section of the EU's ].<ref name="Many tongues, one family"/>
			{{Clear}}
	===Religion===		===Religion===
	{{Main|Religion in the European Union}}		{{Main|Religion in the European Union}}
	]<ref name=believeInGod>{{cite|work=Special ] 225|title=Social values, Science and Technology|publisher=]|author=European Commission|year=2005|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf|format=PDF|pages=9|accessdate=19 May 2009}}</ref>]]<!---"a God" in quotes because of unusual capitalisation in source --->
			{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible plainrowheaders floatright" style="font-size: 90%;"
	The EU is a ] body with no formal connections to any ] and no mention of religion in any current or proposed treaty.<ref name="Consolidated Treaties"/> Discussion over the draft texts of the European Constitution and later the Treaty of Lisbon included proposals to mention ] or ]<!-- changed to uppercase on 20081028: in the context of the TEC, "god" was proposed as a reference to a monotheistic deity (i.e., references to the Hindu gods in the Treaty were not foreseen): being a proper noun in the context of any applicable monotheistic religion - including Islam, when using the word "god" to mean Allah - it needs to be capitalised, regardless of the specific denomination -->, or both, in the preamble of the text, but the idea faced opposition and was dropped.<ref name="EUO Merkel God">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/eu-celebrates-its-50th-birthday--with-a-row-about-religion-440976.html|title=EU celebrates 50th birthday-with a row about religion|publisher=]|first=Stephen|last=Castle|date=21 March 2007|accessdate=4 March 2008}}</ref> Other significant religions present in EU countries are ], ] and ], the latter two having a strong presence in the ].<ref></ref>
			|+ Religious affiliation in the EU (2015)<ref name="EB2015">{{Cite web |year=2015 |title=Discrimiation in the EU in 2015 |url=http://zacat.gesis.org/webview/index.jsp?headers=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA6595_V355&V355slice=1&previousmode=table&stubs=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA6595_V10&weights=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA6595_V42&analysismode=table&study=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2FZA6595&tabcontenttype=row&gs=362&V10slice=1&mode=table&top=yess |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314105932/https://zacat.gesis.org/webview/index.jsp?headers=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA6595_V355&V355slice=1&previousmode=table&stubs=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA6595_V10&weights=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FZA6595_V42&analysismode=table&study=http%3A%2F%2F193.175.238.79%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2FZA6595&tabcontenttype=row&gs=362&V10slice=1&mode=table&top=yess |archive-date=14 March 2020 |access-date=15 October 2017 |website=] |series=437 |publisher=] |via=] |location=European Union}}</ref>
			! scope="col" | Affiliation
			! scope="colgroup" colspan="2" | Per cent of EU population
			|-
			! scope="row" | ]
			| style="text-align: right;" | {{Bartable|71.6||2||background:darkblue}}
			|-
			! scope="row" style="text-indent: 15px;" | ]
			| style="text-align: right;" | {{Bartable|45.3||2||background:lightblue}}
			|-
			! scope="row" style="text-indent: 15px;" | ]
			| style="text-align: right;" | {{Bartable|11.1||2||background:lightblue}}
			|-
			! scope="row" style="text-indent: 15px;" | ]
			| style="text-align: right;" | {{Bartable|9.6||2||background:lightblue}}
			|-
			! scope="row" style="text-indent: 15px;" | Other Christian
			| align=right |{{Bartable| 5.6||2||background:lightblue}}
			|-
			! scope="row" | ]
			| style="text-align: right;" | {{Bartable| 1.8||2||background:green}}
			|-
			! scope="row" | Other faiths
			| style="text-align: right;" | {{Bartable| 2.6||2||background:purple}}
			|-
			! scope="row" | ]
			| style="text-align: right;" | {{Bartable| 24.0||2||background:grey}}
			|-
			! scope="row" style="text-indent: 15px;" | Non-believer/]
			| style="text-align: right;" | {{Bartable| 13.6||2||background:lightgrey}}
			|-
			! scope="row" style="text-indent: 15px;" | ]
			| style="text-align: right;" | {{Bartable| 10.4||2||background:lightgrey}}
			|-
			|}
			The EU has no formal connection to any religion. Article 17 of the ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union |url=https://en.wikisource.org/Consolidated_version_of_the_Treaty_on_the_Functioning_of_the_European_Union/Part_One:_Principles#Article_17 |via=Wikisource}}</ref> recognises the "status under national law of churches and religious associations" as well as that of "philosophical and non-confessional organisations".<ref name="Consolidated Treaties" /> The preamble to the ] mentions the "cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe".<ref name="Consolidated Treaties">{{Cite web |title=Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.C_.2010.083.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AC%3A2010%3A083%3ATOC |access-date=1 January 2022 |website=eur-lex.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lähdesmäki |first=Tuuli |date=2022 |title=The role of Christianity in the European Union's heritage and history initiatives |journal=] |volume=52 |issue=3–4 |pages=170–186 |doi=10.1177/00472441221115571 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Discussion over the draft texts of the European Constitution and later the ] included proposals to mention ] or a ], or both, in the preamble of the text, but the idea faced opposition and was dropped.<ref name="EUO Merkel God">{{Cite news |last=Castle |first=Stephen |date=21 March 2007 |title=EU celebrates 50th birthday-with a row about religion |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/eu-celebrates-its-50th-birthday--with-a-row-about-religion-440976.html |url-status=dead |access-date=4 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405065450/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/eu-celebrates-its-50th-birthday--with-a-row-about-religion-440976.html |archive-date=5 April 2008}}</ref>
	This emphasis on Christianity stems from it being by far the largest ]. Christians in the EU are divided among followers of ], numerous ] denominations (especially in ]) and ] and ] (in south eastern Europe). Other religions, such as ] and ], are also represented in the EU population. {{As of|2009}}, the EU had an estimated ] of 23 &nbsp;million,<ref name="mgmpPRC">{{Cite book | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = ] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population | format = ] | url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 2009-11-11|pages=31–32 }}</ref> and an estimated ] of over a million.<ref>Jewish population figures may be unreliable. {{cite web|url=http://www.jafi.org.il/education/100/concepts/demography/demjpop.html|title=World Jewish Population (2002)|accessdate=3 May 2007|author=Sergio DellaPergola|work=American Jewish Year Book|publisher=The Jewish Agency for Israel}}</ref>
			Christians in the EU include ] of both ] and ], numerous ] denominations with ], ], and ] forming the majority of Protestant affiliations, and the ]. In 2009, the EU had an estimated ] of 13&nbsp;million,<ref name="mgmpPRC">, about 3 per cent of the population, {{Cite web |title=Muslims in the European Union – Discrimination and Islamophobia |url=http://www.fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Manifestations_EN.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722185047/http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Manifestations_EN.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2012 |access-date=1 November 2010 |publisher=Europa |website=EUMC }}</ref> and an estimated ] of over a million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Jewish Agency for Israel – U.S. |url=https://www.jewishagency.org/ |access-date=21 December 2022 |website= jewishagency.org}}</ref> The other world religions of ], ], and ] are also represented in the EU population.
	]'s ] ]s show that the majority of EU citizens have some form of belief system, with 21% seeing it as important. Many countries have experienced falling church attendance and membership in recent years.<ref name="About SecE">{{cite web|publisher=]|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-02-21-god-europe_x.htm|title=What place for God in Europe|accessdate=24 July 2009|date=22 February 2005|first=Peter|last=Ford}}</ref> The 2005 Eurobarometer showed that of the European citizens (of the 25 members at that time), 52% believed in a god, 27% in ''some sort of spirit or life force'' and 18% had no form of belief. The countries where the fewest people reported a ] were the Czech Republic (19%) and Estonia (16%),<ref name="Eurostat Religion">{{cite web|title=Eurobarometer 225: Social values, Science & Technology|publisher=Europa web portal|author=Eurostat|year=2005|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=21 July 2007}}</ref>
			]'s ] opinion polls showed in 2005 that 52 per cent of EU citizens believed in a god, 27 per cent in "some sort of spirit or life force", and 18 per cent had no form of belief.<ref name="Eurostat Religion">{{Cite journal |last=Eurostat |author-link=Eurostat |date= June 2005 |title=Social values, Science and Technology |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Special Eurobarometer 225 |publisher=Europa |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524004644/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf |archive-date=24 May 2006 |access-date=11 June 2009}}</ref> Many countries have experienced falling church attendance and membership in recent years.<ref name="About SecE">{{Cite news |last=Ford |first=Peter |date=22 February 2005 |title=What place for God in Europe |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-02-21-god-europe_x.htm |agency=The Christian Science Monitor |access-date=24 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831045337/https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-02-21-god-europe_x.htm |archive-date= 31 August 2010 }}</ref> The countries where the fewest people reported a religious belief were Estonia (16 per cent) and the Czech Republic (19 per cent).<ref name="Eurostat Religion" /> The most religious countries were Malta (95 per cent, predominantly Catholic) as well as Cyprus and Romania (both predominantly Orthodox) each with about 90 per cent of citizens professing a belief in God. Across the EU, belief was higher among women, older people, those with religious upbringing, those who left school at 15 or 16, and those "positioning themselves on the right of the political scale".<ref name="Eurostat Religion" />
	The most religious countries are Malta (95%; predominantly Roman Catholic), and Cyprus and Romania both with about 90% of citizens believing in God (both predominantly ]). Across the EU, belief was higher among women, increased with age, those with religious upbringing, those who left school at 15 with a ], and those "positioning themselves on the right of the political scale (57%)."<ref name="Eurostat Religion"/>
			{{Clear}}
	==Culture and sport==
	{{See|Cultural policies of the European Union|Sport policies of the European Union}}
			===Education and research===
	] is one of the two ] in 2009.]]
			{{Main|Educational policies and initiatives of the European Union|Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development}}
			{{See also|European Institute of Innovation and Technology}}
			], the ] after whom the ] is named]]
	Policies affecting cultural matters are mainly set by individual member states.
	Cultural co-operation between member states has been a concern of the EU since its inclusion as a community competency in the ].<ref name="Bozoki">{{cite web|last=Bozoki|first=Andras|title=Cultural Policy and Politics in the European Union|publisher=IECOB, Institute for Central Eastern and Balkan Europe|url=http://137.204.115.130/activities/download/Bozoki/Cultural%20Policy%20and%20Politics%20in%20the%20European%20Union.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref> Actions taken in the ] by the EU include the ] 7-year programme,<ref name="Bozoki"/> the ] event,<ref name="Culture Month">{{cite web|title=European Culture Month|author=European Commission|publisher=Europa web portal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/ecocs/present_cap/retrospective_en.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080202062436/http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/ecocs/present_cap/retrospective_en.html|archivedate=2008-02-02|accessdate=27 February 2008}}</ref> the ] programme,<ref name="Media Plus">{{cite web|title=Media programme|publisher=Europa web portal|date=5 July 2007|author=European Commission|url=http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/media/index_en.htm|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref> orchestras such as the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euyo.org.uk/about/history.htm|title=An Overture to the European Union Youth Orchestra|publisher=The European Youth Orchestra|accessdate=12 August 2007}}</ref> and the ] programme{{ndash}} where one or more cities in the EU are selected for one year to assist the ] of that city.<ref name="Capital Culture">{{cite web |title=European Capitals of Culture|publisher=Europa web portal |author=European Commission |url=http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/ecocs/present_cap/present_cap_en.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071215093302/http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/ecocs/present_cap/present_cap_en.html |archivedate=2007-12-15 |accessdate=27 February 2008}}</ref>
			Basic education is an area where the EU's role is limited to supporting national governments. In higher education, the policy was developed in the 1980s in programmes supporting exchanges and mobility. The most visible of these has been the ], a university exchange programme which began in 1987. In its first 20&nbsp;years, it supported international exchange opportunities for well over 1.5&nbsp;million university and college students and became a symbol of European student life.<ref>{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=The Erasmus programme celebrates its 20th anniversary |url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/erasmus20_en.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703000422/http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/erasmus20_en.html |archive-date=3 July 2007 |access-date=21 July 2007 |publisher=Europa – Education and Training |postscript=;}} {{cite web|url=http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/article/19702/erasmus-turns-20-time-to-grow-up.html|title=Erasmus turns 20 – time to grow up?|last=Jean-Sébastien|first=Lefebvre|date=22 January 2007|publisher=Café Babel|access-date=10 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912002728/http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/article/19702/erasmus-turns-20-time-to-grow-up.html|archive-date=12 September 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	In addition, the EU gives grants to cultural projects (totalling 233 in 2004) and has launched a ] dedicated to Europe and culture, responding to the European Council's expressed desire to see the Commission and the member states "promote the networking of cultural information to enable all citizens to access European cultural content by the most advanced technological means".<ref name="Culture Portal">{{cite web |title=Cultural heritage as a vehicle of cultural identity |publisher=Europa web portal |date=3 May 2006 |accessdate=4 March 2008 |url=http://ec.europa.eu/culture/portal/activities/heritage/cultural_heritage_vehic_en.htm}}</ref>
			There are similar programmes for school pupils and teachers, for trainees in ], and for adult learners in the ]. These programmes are designed to encourage a wider knowledge of other countries and to spread good practices in the education and training fields across the EU.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Commission |url=http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429185547/http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/index.htm |archive-date=29 April 2015 |access-date=21 July 2007 |publisher=Europa |date= 24 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=Lifelong Learning Programme |url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/national_en.html |access-date=21 July 2007 |publisher=Europa – Education and Training |date=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815214706/http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/national_en.html |archive-date= 15 August 2007 }}</ref> Through its support of the ], the EU is supporting comparable standards and compatible degrees across Europe.
	Sport is mainly the responsibility of individual member states or other international organisations rather than that of the EU. However, some EU policies have had an impact on sport, such as the free movement of workers which was at the core of the ], which prohibited national football leagues from imposing quotas on foreign players with European citizenship.<ref name="BBC Boseman">{{cite news |last=Fordyce |first=Tom |title=10&nbsp;years since Bosman|publisher=BBC News |date=11 July 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4528732.stm|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref> Under the ] sports were given a special status which exempted this sector from many of the EU's economic rules. This followed lobbying by governing organisations such as the ] and ], due to objections over the applications of ] principles to sport which led to an increasing gap between rich and poor clubs.<ref name="IHT RT">{{cite web|title=IOC, FIFA presidents welcomes new EU treaty, call it breakthrough to give sports more power|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=19 October 2007|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/19/sports/EU-SPT-OLY-EU-Treaty.php|accessdate=21 October 2007}}</ref>
			Scientific development is facilitated through the EU's ], the first of which started in 1984. The aims of EU policy in this area are to co-ordinate and stimulate research. The independent ] allocates EU funds to European or national research projects.<ref>{{Cite web |last=European Research Council |title=Mission – What is the ERC? |url=http://erc.europa.eu/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&topicID=12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813041547/http://erc.europa.eu/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&topicID=12 |archive-date=13 August 2011 |access-date=21 July 2007 |publisher=Europa |date=15 April 2008 }}</ref> EU ] deal in a number of areas, for example energy where the aim is to develop a diverse mix of ] to help the environment and to reduce dependence on imported fuels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=Cooperation: Energy – FP7 |url=http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm?pg=energy |access-date=12 November 2007 |publisher=Europa |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080302114200/http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm?pg=energy |archive-date= 2 March 2008 }}</ref>
			===Health===
			{{Main|Healthcare in Europe}}
			{{See also
			| European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
			| European Chemicals Agency
			| European Medicines Agency
			| European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
			}}
			Article 35 of the ] affirms that "A high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities". The ]'s ] seeks to align national laws on the protection of people's health, on the consumers' rights, on the safety of food and other products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our vision |url=http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/about_us/our_vision_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112200650/http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/about_us/our_vision_en.htm |archive-date=12 November 2010 |access-date=26 November 2010 |website=Directorate General for Health & Consumers |publisher=Europa }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Directorate General for Health & Consumers |url=http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111154145/http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm |archive-date=11 November 2010 |access-date=26 November 2010 |website=Europa }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 November 2010 |title=Health-EU Portal |url=http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/index_en.htm |access-date=26 November 2010 |website=Europa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130120219/http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/index_en.htm |archive-date= 30 November 2010 }}</ref>
			All EU and many other European countries offer their citizens a free ] which, on a reciprocal basis, provides insurance for emergency medical treatment insurance when visiting other participating European countries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 April 2010 |title=info about health care and EHIC |url=http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcareabroad/pages/Healthcareabroad.aspx |access-date=26 November 2010 |publisher=Nhs.uk}}</ref> A directive on cross-border healthcare aims at promoting co-operation on health care between member states and facilitating access to safe and high-quality cross-border healthcare for European patients.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Consilium.europa.eu |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/lsa/119514.pdf |access-date=3 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Eur-lex.europa.eu |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:088:0045:0065:EN:PDF |access-date=3 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 May 2011 |title=NHSconfed.org |url=http://www.nhsconfed.org/Publications/Factsheets/Pages/Cross-border-healthcare-commissioners.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728184655/http://www.nhsconfed.org/Publications/Factsheets/Pages/Cross-border-healthcare-commissioners.aspx |archive-date=28 July 2013 |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=NHSconfed.org}}</ref>
			The life expectancy in the EU was 80.1 year at birth in 2021, among the highest in the world and around nine years higher than the world average.<ref></ref> In general, life expectancy is lower in ] than in ].<ref>{{Cite news |title=In Europe, life expectancy is lower in the east |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2018/09/24/in-europe-life-expectancy-is-lower-in-the-east}}</ref> In 2018, the EU region with the highest life expectancy was ], Spain at 85.2 years, followed by the Spanish regions of ] and ] both at 84.3 years, ] in Italy at 84.3 years and ] in France at 84.2 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Life expectancy: Are you in one of the top 5 regions? |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/DDN-20181026-1 |website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
			{{Clear}}
			==Culture==
			<!--Section named and ordered by WikiProject Countries-->
			{{Main|Cultural policies of the European Union}}
			Cultural co-operation between member states has been an interest of the European Union since its inclusion as a community competency in the Maastricht Treaty.<ref name="Bozoki">{{Cite web |last=Bozoki |first=Andras |title=Cultural Policy and Politics in the European Union |url=http://www.ecoc-doc-athens.eu/attachments/1249_Cultural%20Policy%20and%20Politics%20in%20the%20European%20Union_speech_Bozoki_Andras.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222205051/http://www.ecoc-doc-athens.eu/attachments/1249_Cultural%20Policy%20and%20Politics%20in%20the%20European%20Union_speech_Bozoki_Andras.pdf |archive-date=22 February 2013 |access-date=4 June 2013 |publisher=Cultural Policy and Politics in the European Union.pdf}}</ref> Actions taken in the cultural area by the EU include the ] seven-year programme,<ref name="Bozoki" /> the ] event,<ref name="Culture Month">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=European Culture Month |url=http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/ecocs/present_cap/retrospective_en.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202062436/http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/ecocs/present_cap/retrospective_en.html |archive-date=2 February 2008 |access-date=27 February 2008 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> and orchestras such as the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=An Overture to the European Union Youth Orchestra |url=http://www.euyo.org.uk/about/history.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611140551/http://www.euyo.org.uk/about/history.htm |archive-date=11 June 2007 |access-date=12 August 2007 |publisher=The European Youth Orchestra}}</ref> The ] programme selects one or more cities in every year to assist the ] of that city.<ref name="Capital Culture">{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=European Capitals of Culture |url=http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803205745/http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm |archive-date=3 August 2010 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>
			===Sport===
			{{Main|Sport policies of the European Union}}
			Sport is mainly the responsibility of the member states or other international organisations, rather than of the EU. There are some EU policies that have affected sport, such as the free movement of workers, which was at the core of the ] that prohibited national football leagues from imposing quotas on foreign players with EU member state citizenship.<ref name="BBC Boseman">{{Cite news |last=Fordyce |first=Tom |date=11 July 2007 |title=10&nbsp;years since Bosman |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4528732.stm |access-date=13 July 2007}}</ref>
			The ] requires any application of economic rules to take into account the specific nature of sport and its structures based on voluntary activity.<ref>Cases C-403/08 and C-429/08, Opinion of Advocate General Kokott, para 207</ref> This followed lobbying by governing organisations such as the ] and ], due to objections over the application of free market principles to sport, which led to an increasing gap between rich and poor clubs.<ref name="IHT RT">{{Cite news |date=19 October 2007 |title=IOC, FIFA presidents welcomes new EU treaty, call it breakthrough to give sports more power |work=] |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/19/sports/EU-SPT-OLY-EU-Treaty.php |url-status=dead |access-date=21 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201201945/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/19/sports/EU-SPT-OLY-EU-Treaty.php |archive-date=1 December 2008}}</ref> The EU does fund a programme for Israeli, Jordanian, Irish, and British football coaches, as part of the Football 4 Peace project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2011 |title=Sports coaches from Israel travel to UK for training |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/israel/press_corner/all_news/news/2011/20110329_01_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425235908/http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/israel/press_corner/all_news/news/2011/20110329_01_en.htm |archive-date=25 April 2013 |access-date=3 June 2013 |publisher=Eeas.europa.eu}}</ref>
			===Symbols===
			{{Further|European Heritage Label}}
			] and the Bull on a Greek vase, {{Circa|480 BC}}. ], Italy]]
			The ] consists of a ] 12 golden stars on a blue background. Originally designed in 1955 for the Council of Europe, the flag was adopted by the ], the predecessors of the present European Union, in 1986. The Council of Europe gave the flag a symbolic description in the following terms,<ref name="36th">{{Cite web |date=9 December 1955 |title=Thirty-sixth meeting of the ministers' deputies: resolution (55) 32 |url=http://www.coe.int/t/dgal/dit/ilcd/fonds/themes/flags/Res(55)32_en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528195931/http://www.coe.int/t/dgal/dit/ilcd/Fonds/Themes/Flags/Res%2855%2932_en.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2009 |access-date=2 February 2008 |publisher=Council of Europe}}</ref> though the official symbolic description adopted by the EU omits the reference to the "Western world":<ref name="1996guide">{{in lang|fr}} '''' (1996), p. 3: ''Description symbolique: Sur le fond bleu du ciel, les étoiles figurant les peuples d'Europe forment un cercle en signe d'union. Elles sont au nombre invariable de douze, symbole de la perfection et de la plénitude''...''Description héraldique: Sur fond azur, un cercle composé de douze étoiles d'or à cinq rais, dont les pointes ne se touchent pas''. c.f. {{Cite web |title=Graphical specifications for the European Emblem |url=http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/graphics1_en.htm#symbol |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622134708/http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/graphics1_en.htm#symbol |archive-date=22 June 2006 |access-date=4 August 2004 |publisher=]}}</ref>
			{{blockquote|Against the blue sky of the Western world, the stars symbolise the peoples of Europe in a form of a circle, the sign of union. The number of stars is invariably ], the figure twelve being the symbol of perfection and entirety.|Council of Europe. Paris, 7–9 December 1955.|source=}}
			'']'' was adopted as the motto of the union in 2000, having been selected from ] submitted by school pupils.{{sfn|Simons|2002|page=110}} Since 1985, the ] of the union has been ], on 9 May (the date of the 1950 ]). The ] is an instrumental version of the prelude to the '']'', the 4th movement of ]'s ]. The anthem was adopted by European Community leaders in 1985 and has since been played on official occasions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Council of Europe |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/home |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219175535/http://www.coe.int/T/E/Com/About_Coe/emblems/emblemes.asp |archive-date=19 December 2009 |website=www.coe.int}}</ref>
			Besides naming the continent, the ] figure of ] has frequently been employed as a ] of Europe. Known from the myth in which ] seduces her in the guise of a white bull, Europa has also been referred to in relation to the present union. Statues of Europa and the bull decorate several of the EU's institutions and a portrait of her is seen on the 2013 series of ]. The bull is, for its part, depicted on all residence permit cards.{{sfn|Demey|2007|page=387}}
			], also known as Charlemagne ({{langx|la|Carolus Magnus}}) and later recognised as ''Pater Europae'' ("Father of Europe"),<ref name="ReferenceB">Riché, Preface xviii, Pierre Riché reflects: "e enjoyed an exceptional destiny, and by the length of his reign, by his conquests, legislation and legendary stature, he also profoundly marked the history of Western Europe."</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Der Karlspreisträger Seine Heiligkeit Papst Johannes Paul II. außerordentlicher Karlspreis 2004 |url=http://www.karlspreis.de/preistraeger/seine_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii/ansprache_von_seiner_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117151907/http://www.karlspreis.de/preistraeger/seine_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii/ansprache_von_seiner_heiligkeit_papst_johannes_paul_ii.html |archive-date=17 January 2012 |access-date=1 January 2012 |publisher=Karlspreis.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chamberlin |first=Russell |title=The Emperor Charlemagne |publisher=] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7509-3482-4 |location=], ]}}</ref> has a symbolic relevance to Europe. The commission has named ] in Brussels after Charlemagne and the city of ] has since 1949 awarded the ] to champions of European unification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laureates |url=http://www.karlspreis.de/en/laureates |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=karlspreis.de}}</ref> Since 2008, the organisers of this prize, in conjunction with the European Parliament, have awarded the ] in recognition of similar efforts led by young people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winners 2015 |url=http://www.charlemagneyouthprize.eu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212170932/http://www.charlemagneyouthprize.eu/ |archive-date=12 December 2015 |access-date=12 February 2016 |website=charlemagneyouthprize.eu}}</ref>
			=== Media ===
			{{Main|Media freedom in the European Union|European Broadcasting Union}}
			] headquarters in ], France]]
			] is a ] that applies to all ] of the European Union and its ], as defined in the ] as well as the ].<ref name="eprs">Maria Poptcheva, , EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service, Briefing April 2015</ref>{{rp|1}} Within the ] process, guaranteeing media freedom is named a "key indicator of a country's readiness to become part of the EU".<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/policy/policy-highlights/media-freedom/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124161814/http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/policy/policy-highlights/media-freedom/index_en.htm |archive-date=24 January 2016 |access-date=8 February 2016 |publisher=European Commission }}</ref>
			The majority of media in the European Union are national-orientated, although some EU-wide media focusing on European affairs have emerged since the early 1990s, such as ], ], ], ] or ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mollin |first=Sandra |title=Euro-English : assessing variety status |publisher=Gunter Narr Verlag |year=2006 |isbn=978-3-8233-6250-0 |location=Tübingen |pages=56 |oclc=804963256}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=2018 EU Media Survey |url=http://www.comresglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Final_Presentation_BM.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203103312/http://comresglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Final_Presentation_BM.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2021 |access-date=21 July 2020 |publisher=]/]}}</ref> ] is a public Franco-German TV network that promotes programming in the areas of culture and the arts. 80 per cent of its programming are provided in equal proportion by the two member companies, while the remainder is being provided by the ] ''ARTE GEIE'' and the channel's European partners.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How is ARTE funded? |url=http://www.arte.tv/sites/en/corporate/qui-sommes-nous-cluster/publications/?lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428061038/http://www.arte.tv/sites/en/corporate/qui-sommes-nous-cluster/publications/?lang=en |archive-date=28 April 2016 |access-date=26 June 2016 |publisher=ARTE Entreprise}}</ref>
			The ] of the European Union has supported the European popular film and audiovisual industries since 1991. It provides support for the development, promotion and distribution of European works within Europe and beyond.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Media Programme |url=http://ec.europa.eu/culture/media/about/index_en.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621054048/http://ec.europa.eu/culture/media/about/index_en.htm |archive-date=21 June 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |website=Europa |publisher=European Commission}}</ref>
			===Influence===
			] emblazoned on the ]]]
			The European Union has had a significant positive economic effect on most member states.<ref name="JoME" /> According to a 2019 study of the member states who joined from 1973 to 2004, "without European integration, per capita incomes would have been, on average, approximately 10% lower in the first ten years after joining the EU".<ref name="JoME">{{Cite journal |last1=Campos |first1=Nauro F. |last2=Coricelli |first2=Fabrizio |last3=Moretti |first3=Luigi |date=1 May 2019 |title=Institutional integration and economic growth in Europe |journal=Journal of Monetary Economics |volume=103 |pages=88–104 |doi=10.1016/j.jmoneco.2018.08.001 |issn=0304-3932 |doi-access=free|hdl=20.500.11850/342557 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Greece was the exception reported by the study, which analysed up to 2008, "to avoid confounding effects from the global financial crisis".<ref name="JoME" /> A 2021 study in the ''Journal of Political Economy'' found that the 2004 enlargement had aggregate beneficial economic effects on all groups in both the old and new member states. The largest winners were the new member states, in particular unskilled labour in the new member states.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Caliendo |first1=Lorenzo |last2=Parro |first2=Fernando |last3=Opromolla |first3=Luca David |last4=Sforza |first4=Alessandro |date=2021 |title=Goods and Factor Market Integration: A Quantitative Assessment of the EU Enlargement |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/716560 |journal=Journal of Political Economy |volume=129 |issue=12 |pages=3491–3545 |doi=10.1086/716560 |issn=0022-3808 |s2cid=240811706|hdl=10419/171064 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
			The European Union is frequently cited as having made a major contribution to peace in Europe, in particular by pacifying border disputes,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Diez |first1=Thomas |last2=Stetter |first2=Stephan |last3=Albert |first3=Mathias |date=July 2006 |title=The European Union and Border Conflicts: The Transformative Power of Integration |journal=International Organization |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=563–593 |doi=10.1017/S0020818306060218 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |issn=1531-5088 |s2cid=102491575}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/european-union-and-border-conflicts/A266F908B4C67C91C17F511DD9BB9AF3 |title=The European Union and Border Conflicts: The Power of Integration and Association |date=2008 |publisher=Cambridge Core |isbn=978-0-511-49133-7 |editor-last=Diez |editor-first=Thomas |doi=10.1017/cbo9780511491337 |access-date=19 December 2019 |editor-last2=Albert |editor-first2=Mathias |editor-last3=Stetter |editor-first3=Stephan}}</ref> and to the spread of democracy, especially by encouraging democratic reforms in aspiring Eastern European member states after the collapse of the USSR.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Poast |first1=Paul |last2=Chinchilla |first2=Alexandra |date=2020 |title=Good for democracy? Evidence from the 2004 NATO expansion |journal=International Politics |volume=57 |issue=3 |pages=471–490 |doi=10.1057/s41311-020-00236-6 |issn=1740-3898 |s2cid=219012478}}</ref><ref name="Risse-2009" /> Scholar ] wrote in 2009, "there is a consensus in the literature on Eastern Europe that the EU membership perspective had a huge anchoring effects for the new democracies."<ref name="Risse-2009">{{Cite book |last=Risse |first=Thomas |url=https://archive.org/details/promotingdemocra00mage |title=Promoting Democracy and the Rule of Law: American and European Strategies |date=2009 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK |isbn=978-0-230-24452-8 |editor-last=Magen |editor-first=Amichai |series=Governance and Limited Statehood Series |pages=–271 |chapter=Conclusions: Towards Transatlantic Democracy Promotion? |doi=10.1057/9780230244528_9 |editor-last2=Risse |editor-first2=Thomas |editor-last3=McFaul |editor-first3=Michael A. |url-access=limited}}</ref> However, ] argues that the EU has proved beneficial to leaders who are overseeing ], as the EU is reluctant to intervene in domestic politics, gives authoritarian governments funds which they can use to strengthen their regimes, and because freedom of movement within the EU allows dissenting citizens to leave their backsliding countries. At the same time, the union might provide through ] an external constraint that prevents ], currently Hungary,<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2022-0217_EN.html |title=INTERIM REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision determining, pursuant to Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union, the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded |last=Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs |date=25 July 2022 |publisher=European Parliament}}</ref> from progressing into ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kelemen |first=R. Daniel |date=3 March 2020 |title=The European Union's authoritarian equilibrium |journal=Journal of European Public Policy |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=481–499 |doi=10.1080/13501763.2020.1712455 |issn=1350-1763 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
			{{Clear}}
	==See also==		==See also==
	*]		{{portal|European Union|Europe}}
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			==Notes==
			{{Reflist|group=note}}
			{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha|30em|refs=}}
	==References==		==References==
			=== Citations ===
	{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
			{{reflist}}
			=== Works cited ===
			{{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Craig |first1=Paul |title=EU Law: Text, Cases and Materials |last2=De Burca |first2=Grainne |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-19-957699-9 |edition=5th |location=Oxford}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Demey |first=Thierry |title=Brussels, capital of Europe |publisher=Badeaux |others=S. Strange (trans.) |year=2007 |isbn=978-2-9600414-6-0 |location=Brussels}}
			* {{Cite book |title=Environmental Policy in the European Union: Contexts, Actors and Policy Dynamics |publisher=] |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-84971-469-3 |editor-last=Jordan |editor-first=A.J. |edition=3rd |location=] |editor-last2=Adelle |editor-first2=Camilla}}
			* {{Cite book |last=McCormick |first=John |title=The European superpower |date=2007 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-4039-9845-3 |oclc=71266552 |author-link=John McCormick (political scientist)}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Piris |first=Jean-Claude |title=The Lisbon Treaty: A Legal and Political Analysis |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-521-19792-2 |location=Cambridge}}
			* {{Cite book |title=EuroDiversity |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-87719-381-4 |editor-last=Simons |editor-first=George F. |location=Abingdon-on-Thames}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Wilkinson |first=Paul |url=https://archive.org/details/internationalrel00wilk_012 |title=International Relations: A Very Short Introduction |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-19-280157-9 |edition=1st |location=Oxford |url-access=limited}}
			{{Refend}}
	==Further reading==		==Further reading==
			{{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
	{{refbegin}}
	*{{cite book | last1 = Craig | first1 = Paul | first2 = Gráinne | last2 = de Búrca | title = EU Law, Text, Cases and Materials | edition = 4th | year = 2007 | publisher = ] | location = Oxford | isbn = 978-0-19-927389-8 | author = Paul Craig and Gráinne de Búrca.}}		* {{Cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=M. |title=Frontiers of the European Union |last2=Bort |first2=E. |date=2001 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-0-230-50797-5}}
	*{{cite book | title = Europe Recast: A History of European Union | first1 = Desmond | last1 = Dinan | publisher = Palgrave Macmillan | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-0-333-98734-6 | author = Desmond Dinan.}}		* {{Cite book |last=Barnard |first=Catherine |title=The Substantive Law of the EU: The four freedoms |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-19-956224-4 |edition=3rd |location=Oxford |author-link=Catherine Barnard}}
			* {{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/europeanunionhow0000unse |title=The European Union: How Does it Work? (New European Union) |publisher=] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-19-957080-5 |editor-last=Bomberg |editor-first=Elizabeth |edition=3rd |location=Oxford |editor-last2=Peterson |editor-first2=John |editor-last3=Corbett |editor-first3=Richard |url-access=registration}}
	*{{cite book | title = The Political System of the European Union | first1 = Simon | last1 = Hix | edition = 2nd | publisher = Palgrave MacMillan | series = The European Union Series | isbn = 0-333-96182-X | year = 2005 | author = Simon Hix.}}
	*{{cite book | title = The Institutions of the European Union | editor1-first = John | editor1-last = Peterson | editor2-first = Michael | editor2-last = Shackleton | edition = 2nd | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-19-870052-0 | author = ed. by John Peterson ...}}		* {{Cite book |last=Berend |first=Ivan T. |title=The Contemporary Crisis of the European Union: Prospects for the Future |publisher=Routledge |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-138-24419-1 |location=New York}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Bretherton |first1=Charlotte |title=The European Union as a Global Actor |last2=Vogler |first2=John |date=2005 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-45882-0}}
	*Podmore, Will & Nicholls, Doug (2006), The EU: bad for Britain - a ] view. Bread Books, ISBN 0-942112-5-1.
			* {{Cite book |last1=Cini |first1=Michelle |title=European Union Politics |last2=Borragán |first2=Nieves Pérez-Solórzano |date=2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-880653-0}}
	*{{cite book | title = The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream | first1 = Jeremy | last1 = Rifkin | publisher = Jeremy P. Tarcher | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-1-58542-345-3 | author = Jeremy Rifkin.}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Corbett |first1=Richard |title=The European Parliament |last2=Jacobs |first2=Francis |last3=Shackleton |first3=Michael |publisher=] |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-9564508-5-2 |edition=8th |location=London |author-link2=Francis Jacobs}}
	*{{cite book | last = Smith | first = Charles | authorlink = Charles Emrys Smith | coauthors = | title = International Trade and Globalisation, 3rd edition | publisher = Anforme | year = 2007 | location = Stocksfield | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1-905504-10-1}}
			* {{Cite book |title=The Foreign Policy of the European Union: Assessing Europe's Role in the World |publisher=] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8157-2252-6 |editor-last=Federiga |editor-first=Bindi |edition=2nd |location=Washington, DC}}
	*{{cite book | last1 = Steiner | first1 = Josephine | first2 = Lorna | last2 = Woods | first3 = Christian | last3 = Twigg-Flesner | title = EU Law | edition = 9th | year = 2006 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = Oxford | isbn = 978-0-19-927959-3 | author = Jo Steiner, Lorna Woods and Christian Twigg-Flesner.}}
			* {{Cite book |title=The European Union – A Global Actor? |publisher=Barbara Budrich Publishers |year=2013 |isbn=978-3-8474-0040-0 |editor-last=Gareis |editor-first=Sven |location=Leverkusen, Germany |editor-last2=Hauser |editor-first2=Gunther |editor-last3=Kernic |editor-first3=Franz}}
	*{{cite book | title = The European Union Collective: Enemy of its member states | first1 = Christopher | last1 = Story | publisher = Edward Harle | year = 2002 | isbn = 1-899798-01-3 | author = Christopher Story.}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Grinin |first1=L. |title=Economic Cycles, Crises, and the Global Periphery |last2=Korotayev |first2=A. |last3=Tausch |first3=A. |publisher=Springer International Publishing |year=2016 |isbn=978-3-319-17780-9 |location=Heidelberg, New York, Dordrecht, London}}
	{{refend}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Erik |title=The Oxford Handbook of the European Union |last2=Anand |first2=Menon |last3=Weatherill |first3=Stephen |publisher=] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-19-954628-2 |location=Oxford}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Kaiser |first=Wolfram |title=Christian Democracy and the Origins of European Union |publisher=] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-511-49705-6 |location=Cambridge}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Kaiser |first1=Wolfram |title=European Union History: Themes and Debates |last2=Varsori |first2=A. |publisher=Springer |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-230-28150-9}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Le Gales |first1=Patrick |title=Reconfiguring European States in Crisis |last2=King |first2=Desmond |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-19-879337-3 |location=Corby}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Mather |first=J. |title=Legitimating the European Union: Aspirations, Inputs and Performance |publisher=Springer |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-230-62562-4}}
			* {{Cite news |last=McAuley |first=James |date=15 August 2019 |title=A More Perfect Union? |work=New York Review of Books |url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2019/08/15/europe-more-perfect-union |issn=0028-7504}}
			* {{Cite book |last=McCormick |first=John |title=Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction |date=2014 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-1-137-36234-6}}
			* {{Cite book |last=McCormick |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/europeanunionpol0000mcco_d3k0 |title=The European Union: Politics and Policies |publisher=] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-8133-4202-3 |edition=5th |location=Boulder, CO |url-access=registration}}
			* {{Cite book |last=McLaren |first=L. |title=Identity, Interests and Attitudes to European Integration |date=2005 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-0-230-50424-0}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Murray |first=Fiona |title=The European Union and Member State Territories: A New Legal Framework Under the EU Treaties |date=2012 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-90-6704-825-5}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Nugent |first=Neill |title=The Government and Politics of the European Union |date=2006 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-3870-3}}
			* {{Cite book |last=O'Brennan |first=John |title=The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union |date=2006 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-23440-0}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Pagden |first1=Anthony |title=The Idea of Europe: From Antiquity to the European Union |last2=Hamilton |first2=Lee H. |date=2002 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-79552-4}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Pinder |first1=John |title=The European Union: A Very Short Introduction |last2=Usherwood |first2=Simon |publisher=] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-19-968169-3 |edition=3rd |location=Oxford}}
			* {{Cite news |last=Mount |first=Ferdinand |date=6 June 2019 |title=Why we go to war |volume=41 |work=London Review of Books |issue=11 |url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v41/n11/ferdinand-mount/why-we-go-to-war |access-date=11 October 2020 |issn=0260-9592}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Rifkin |first=Jeremy |url=https://archive.org/details/europeandreamhow00rifk_0 |title=The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream |publisher=] |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-58542-435-1 |location=], London}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Rosamond |first=Ben |title=Theories of European Integration |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-312-23120-0}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Scheuer |first=Angelika |title=How Europeans See Europe: Structure and Dynamics of European Legitimacy Beliefs |date=2005 |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |isbn=978-90-5629-408-3}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Charles |title=International Trade and Globalisation |publisher=Anforme Ltd |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-905504-10-7 |edition=3rd |location=] |author-link=Charles Emrys Smith}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Hazel Knowles |title=European Union Foreign Policy: What it is and What it Does |date=2002 |publisher=Pluto Press |isbn=978-0-7453-1870-7}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Karen E. |title=European Union Foreign Policy in a Changing World |date=2008 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-0-7456-4018-1}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Staab |first=Andreas |title=The European Union Explained: Institutions, Actors, Global Impact |publisher=] |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-253-22303-6 |location=Bloomington, IN}} .
			* {{Cite book |last1=Steiner |first1=Josephine |title=EU Law |last2=Woods |first2=Lorna |last3=Twigg-Flesner |first3=Christian |publisher=] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-19-927959-3 |edition=9th |location=Oxford}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Tausch |first=Arno |title=Globalization, the Human Condition, and Sustainable Development in the Twenty-first Century: Cross-national Perspectives and European Implications. With Almas Heshmati and a Foreword by Ulrich Brand |publisher=Anthem Press, London |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-85728-410-5 |edition=1st}}
			* {{Citation | author1=Tausch, Arno | author2=Neriyah, Jacques | title=Destabilizing forces and resilience in the current world crisis : comparisons of global opinion data and a Middle East analysis | publication-date=2023 | publisher=Nova Science Publishers | isbn=9798891131224}}
			* {{Cite book |last=Urwin |first=Derek W. |title=The Community of Europe: A History of European Integration Since 1945 |date=2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-89252-6}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Weigall |first1=David |title=The Origins and development of the European Community |last2=Stirk |first2=Peter M.R. |date=1992 |publisher=Leicester University Press |isbn=978-0-7185-1428-0}}
			* {{Cite book |last1=Yesilada |first1=Birol A. |title=The Emerging European Union |last2=Wood |first2=David M. |publisher=] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-205-72380-5 |edition=5th |location=]}}
			{{Refend}}
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Latest revision as of 21:33, 25 December 2024

Supranational political and economic union "EU" redirects here. For other uses, see EU (disambiguation).

European Union (in other official languages) Bulgarian Европейски съюз Czech Evropská unie Danish Den Europæiske Union German Europäische Union Greek Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση Spanish Unión Europea Estonian Euroopa Liit Finnish Euroopan unioni French Union européenne Irish An tAontas Eorpach Croatian Europska unija Hungarian Európai Unió Italian Unione europea Lithuanian Europos Sąjunga Latvian Eiropas Savienība Maltese Unjoni Ewropea Dutch Europese Unie Polish Unia Europejska Portuguese União Europeia Romanian Uniunea Europeană Slovak Európska únia Slovene Evropska unija Swedish Europeiska unionen
Flag
Motto: "In Varietate Concordia" (Latin)"United in Diversity"
Anthem: "Anthem of Europe"
Show globe Show special territoriesLocation of the European Union (dark green) in Europe (dark grey)
Capital	Brussels (de facto)
Institutional seats	Brussels Commission European Council Council of the EU Parliament (secondary) Frankfurt Central Bank Luxembourg Court of Auditors Court of Justice Council of the EU (April, June and October sessions) Secretariat of the Parliament Commission (various departments and services) Strasbourg Parliament
Largest metropolis	Paris
Official languages	24 languages
Official scripts	Latin Greek Cyrillic
Religion (2015)	71.6% Christianity 45.3% Catholic 11.1% Protestant 9.6% Eastern Orthodox 5.6% other Christian 24.0% no religion 1.8% Islam 2.6% other
Demonym(s)	European
Type	Continental union Confederation (de facto)
Membership	27 members  Austria  Belgium  Bulgaria  Croatia  Cyprus  Czech Republic  Denmark  Estonia  Finland  France  Germany  Greece  Hungary  Ireland  Italy  Latvia  Lithuania  Luxembourg  Malta  Netherlands  Poland  Portugal  Romania  Slovakia  Slovenia  Spain  Sweden
Government	Mixed supranational and intergovernmental directorial parliamentary confederation
• President of the European Council	António Costa
• President of the European Commission	Ursula von der Leyen
• Presidency of the Council of the European Union	Hungary
• President of the European Parliament	Roberta Metsola
Legislature	The European Parliament and the Council
• Upper house	Council of the European Union
• Lower house	European Parliament
Formation
• Treaty of Paris	18 April 1951
• Treaty of Rome	1 January 1958
• Single European Act	1 July 1987
• Treaty of Maastricht	1 November 1993
• Treaty of Lisbon	1 December 2009
Area
• Total	4,225,104 km (1,631,322 sq mi)
• Water (%)	2.93
Population
• 2024 estimate	449,206,579
• Density	106.3/km (275.3/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$28.044 trillion
• Per capita	$62,660
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$19.403 trillion
• Per capita	$43,194
Gini (2023)	29.6 low inequality
Currency	Euro (€) (EUR) Others Bulgarian lev (BGN) Czech koruna (CZK) Danish krone (DKK) Hungarian forint (HUF) Polish złoty (PLN) Romanian leu (RON) Swedish krona (SEK)
Time zone	UTC to UTC+2 (WET, CET, EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 to UTC+3 (WEST, CEST, EEST)
	(see also Summer time in Europe)
Internet TLD	.eu, .ευ, .ею
Website europa.eu

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 (1,634,469 sq mi) and an estimated total population of over 449 million. The EU has often been described as a sui generis political entity combining the characteristics of both a federation and a confederation.

Containing 5.8% of the world population in 2020, EU member states generated a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of around US$16.6 trillion in 2022, constituting approximately one sixth of global nominal GDP. Additionally, all EU states except Bulgaria have a very high Human Development Index according to the United Nations Development Programme. Its cornerstone, the Customs Union, paved the way to establishing an internal single market based on standardised legal framework and legislation that applies in all member states in those matters, and only those matters, where the states have agreed to act as one. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market; enact legislation in justice and home affairs; and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. Passport controls have been abolished for travel within the Schengen Area. The eurozone is a group composed of the 20 EU member states that have fully implemented the economic and monetary union and use the euro currency. Through the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the union has developed a role in external relations and defence. It maintains permanent diplomatic missions throughout the world and represents itself at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the G7 and the G20. Due to its global influence, the European Union has been described by some scholars as an emerging superpower.

The EU was established, along with its citizenship, when the Maastricht Treaty came into force in 1993, and was incorporated as an international legal juridical person upon entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009. Its beginnings can be traced to the Inner Six states (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany) at the start of modern European integration in 1948, and to the Western Union, the International Authority for the Ruhr, the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, which were established by treaties. These increasingly amalgamated bodies grew, with their legal successor the EU, both in size through the accessions of a further 22 states from 1973 to 2013, and in power through acquisitions of policy areas.

In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The United Kingdom became the only member state to leave the EU, in 2020; ten countries are aspiring or negotiating to join it.

Etymology

Main article: Europe This paragraph is an excerpt from Europe § Name. The place name Evros was first used by the ancient Greeks to refer to their northernmost province, which bears the same name today. The principal river there – Evros (today's Maritsa) – flows through the fertile valleys of Thrace, which itself was also called Europe, before the term meant the continent.

History

Main article: History of the European Union For a chronological guide, see Timeline of European Union history. Further information: Treaties of the European Union and European integration

Background: World Wars and aftermath

Further information: Ideas of European unity before 1948

Internationalism and visions of European unity had existed since well before the 19th century, but gained particularly as a reaction to World War I and its aftermath. In this light the first advances for the idea of European integration were made. In 1920 John Maynard Keynes proposed a European customs union for the struggling post-war European economies, and in 1923 the oldest organisation for European integration, the Paneuropean Union was founded, led by Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, who later would found in June 1947 the European Parliamentary Union (EPU). Aristide Briand—who was Prime Minister of France, a follower of the Paneuropean Union, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate for the Locarno Treaties—delivered a widely recognized speech at the League of Nations in Geneva on 5 September 1929 for a federal Europe to secure Europe and settle the historic Franco-German enmity.

With large-scale war being waged in Europe once again in the 1930s and becoming World War II, the question of what to fight against and what for, had to be agreed on. A first agreement was the Declaration of St James's Palace of 1941, when Europe's resistance gathered in London. This was expanded on by the 1941 Atlantic Charter, establishing the Allies and their common goals, inciting a new wave of global international institutions like the United Nations (founded 1945) or the Bretton Woods System (1944).

In 1943 at the Moscow Conference and Tehran Conference, plans to establish joint institutions for a post-war world and Europe increasingly became a part of the agenda. This led to a decision at the Yalta Conference in 1944 to form a European Advisory Commission, later replaced by the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Allied Control Council, following the German surrender and the Potsdam Agreement in 1945.

By the end of the war, European integration became seen as an antidote to the extreme nationalism that had caused the war. On 19 September 1946, in a much recognized speech, Winston Churchill, speaking at the University of Zürich, reiterated his calls since 1930 for a "European Union" and "Council of Europe", coincidentally parallel to the Hertenstein Congress of the Union of European Federalists, one of the then founded and later constituting members of the European Movement. One month later, the French Union was installed by the new Fourth French Republic to direct the decolonization of its colonies so that they would become parts of a European community.

By 1947 a growing rift between the western Allied Powers and the Soviet Union became evident as a result of the rigged 1947 Polish legislative election, which constituted an open breach of the Yalta Agreement. March of that year saw two important developments. First was the signing of the Treaty of Dunkirk between France and the United Kingdom. The treaty assured mutual assistance in the event of future military aggression against either nation. Though it officially named Germany as a threat, in reality the actual concern was for the Soviet Union. A few days later came the announcement of the Truman Doctrine which pledged American support for democracies to counter the Soviets.

Initial years and the Paris Treaty (1948‍–‍1957)

Main article: History of European integration (1948–1957) An excerpt of the Schuman Declaration, by Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950 (Europe Day)Treaty of Paris (1951), establishing the ECSC

Immediately following the February 1948 coup d'état by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, the London Six-Power Conference was held, resulting in the Soviet boycott of the Allied Control Council and its incapacitation, an event marking the beginning of the Cold War.

The year 1948 marked the beginning of the institutionalised modern European integration. In March 1948 the Treaty of Brussels was signed, establishing the Western Union (WU), followed by the International Authority for the Ruhr. Furthermore, the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), the predecessor of the OECD, was also founded in 1948 to manage the Marshall Plan, which led to the Soviets creating Comecon in response. The ensuing Hague Congress of May 1948 was a pivotal moment in European integration, as it led to the creation of the European Movement International, the College of Europe and most importantly to the foundation of the Council of Europe on 5 May 1949 (which is now Europe Day). The Council of Europe was one of the first institutions to bring the sovereign states of (then only Western) Europe together, raising great hopes and fevered debates in the following two years for further European integration. It has since been a broad forum to further cooperation and shared issues, achieving for example the European Convention on Human Rights in 1950. Essential for the actual birth of the institutions of the EU was the Schuman Declaration on 9 May 1950 (the day after the fifth Victory in Europe Day) and the decision by six nations (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, West Germany and Italy) to follow Schuman and draft the Treaty of Paris. This treaty was created in 1952 the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which was built on the International Authority for the Ruhr, installed by the Western Allies in 1949 to regulate the coal and steel industries of the Ruhr area in West Germany. Backed by the Marshall Plan with large funds coming from the United States since 1948, the ECSC became a milestone organisation, enabling European economic development and integration and being the origin of the main institutions of the EU such as the European Commission and Parliament. Founding fathers of the European Union understood that coal and steel were the two industries essential for waging war, and believed that by tying their national industries together, a future war between their nations became much less likely. In parallel with Schuman, the Pleven Plan of 1951 tried but failed to tie the institutions of the developing European community under the European Political Community, which was to include the also proposed European Defence Community, an alternative to West Germany joining NATO which was established in 1949 under the Truman Doctrine. In 1954 the Modified Brussels Treaty transformed the Western Union into the Western European Union (WEU). West Germany eventually joined both the WEU and NATO in 1955, prompting the Soviet Union to form the Warsaw Pact in 1955 as an institutional framework for its military domination in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Assessing the progress of European integration the Messina Conference was held in 1955, ordering the Spaak report, which in 1956 recommended the next significant steps of European integration.

Treaty of Rome (1958‍–‍1972)

Main article: History of the European Communities (1958–1972)

In 1957, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany signed the Treaty of Rome, which created the European Economic Community (EEC) and established a customs union. They also signed another pact creating the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for cooperation in developing nuclear power. Both treaties came into force in 1958. Although the EEC and Euratom were created separately from the ECSC, they shared the same courts and the Common Assembly. The EEC was headed by Walter Hallstein (Hallstein Commission) and Euratom was headed by Louis Armand (Armand Commission) and then Étienne Hirsch (Hirsch Commission). The OEEC was in turn reformed in 1961 into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and its membership was extended to states outside of Europe, the United States and Canada. During the 1960s, tensions began to show, with France seeking to limit supranational power. Nevertheless, in 1965 an agreement was reached, and on 1 July 1967 the Merger Treaty created a single set of institutions for the three communities, which were collectively referred to as the European Communities. Jean Rey presided over the first merged commission (Rey Commission).

First enlargement and European co-operation (1973‍–‍1993)

Main article: History of the European Communities (1973–1993)

In 1973, the communities were enlarged to include Denmark (including Greenland), Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Norway had negotiated to join at the same time, but Norwegian voters rejected membership in a referendum. The Ostpolitik and the ensuing détente led to establishment of a first truly pan-European body, the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), predecessor of the modern Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In 1979, the first direct elections to the European Parliament were held. Greece joined in 1981. In 1985, Greenland left the Communities, following a dispute over fishing rights. During the same year, the Schengen Agreement paved the way for the creation of open borders without passport controls between most member states and some non-member states. In 1986, the Single European Act was signed. Portugal and Spain joined in 1986. In 1990, after the fall of the Eastern Bloc, the former East Germany became part of the communities as part of a reunified Germany.

Treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice (1993‍–‍2004)

Main article: History of the European Union (1993–2004)

The European Union was formally established when the Maastricht Treaty—whose main architects were Horst Köhler, Helmut Kohl and François Mitterrand—came into force on 1 November 1993. The treaty also gave the name European Community to the EEC, even if it was referred to as such before the treaty. With further enlargement planned to include the former communist states of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Cyprus and Malta, the Copenhagen criteria for candidate members to join the EU were agreed upon in June 1993. The expansion of the EU introduced a new level of complexity and discord. In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU.

In 2002, euro banknotes and coins replaced national currencies in 12 of the member states. Since then, the eurozone has increased to encompass 20 countries. The euro currency became the second-largest reserve currency in the world. In 2004, the EU saw its biggest enlargement to date when Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the union.

Treaty of Lisbon and Brexit (2004‍–‍present)

Main article: History of the European Union (2004–present)

In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania became EU members. Later that year, Slovenia adopted the euro, followed by Cyprus and Malta in 2008, Slovakia in 2009, Estonia in 2011, Latvia in 2014, and Lithuania in 2015.

On 1 December 2009, the Lisbon Treaty entered into force and reformed many aspects of the EU. In particular, it changed the legal structure of the European Union, merging the EU three pillars system into a single legal entity provisioned with a legal personality, created a permanent president of the European Council, the first of which was Herman Van Rompuy, and strengthened the position of the high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy.

In 2012, the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize for having "contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy, and human rights in Europe". In 2013, Croatia became the 28th EU member.

From the beginning of the 2010s, the cohesion of the European Union has been tested by several issues, including a debt crisis in some of the Eurozone countries, a surge in asylum seekers in 2015, and the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU. A referendum in the UK on its membership of the European Union was held in 2016, with 51.9 per cent of participants voting to leave. The UK formally notified the European Council of its decision to leave on 29 March 2017, initiating the formal withdrawal procedure for leaving the EU; following extensions to the process, the UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020, though most areas of EU law continued to apply to the UK for a transition period which lasted until 31 December 2020.

The early 2020s saw Denmark abolishing one of its three opt-outs and Croatia adopting the Euro.

After the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU leaders agreed for the first time to create common debt to finance the European Recovery Program called Next Generation EU (NGEU).

On 24 February 2022, after massing on the borders of Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces undertook an attempt for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The European Union imposed heavy sanctions on Russia and agreed on a pooled military aid package to Ukraine for lethal weapons funded via the European Peace Facility off-budget instrument.

Next Generation EU (NGEU) is a European Commission economic recovery package to support the EU member states to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular those that have been particularly hard hit. It is sometimes styled NextGenerationEU and Next Gen EU, and also called the European Union Recovery Instrument. Agreed in principle by the European Council on 21 July 2020 and adopted on 14 December 2020, the instrument is worth €750 billion. NGEU will operate from 2021 to 2026, and will be tied to the regular 2021–2027 budget of the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The comprehensive NGEU and MFF packages are projected to reach €1824.3 billion.

Preparing the Union for a new great enlargement is a political priority for the Union, with the goal of achieving over 35 member states by 2030. Institutional and budgetary reforms are being discussed in order to the Union to be ready for the new members.

In May 2024, concerns rise, that the outcome of the elections in June, can undermine some of the crucial policies of the EU in the domain of environment, diplomacy, economy. The war in Ukraine by creating inflation, lowering life level created a possibility of strong changes in the 2024 elections.

Timeline

Since the end of World War II, sovereign European countries have entered into treaties and thereby co-operated and harmonised policies (or pooled sovereignty) in an increasing number of areas, in the European integration project or the construction of Europe (French: la construction européenne). The following timeline outlines the legal inception of the European Union (EU)—the principal framework for this unification. The EU inherited many of its present responsibilities from the European Communities (EC), which were founded in the 1950s in the spirit of the Schuman Declaration.

Legend:   S: signing   F: entry into force   T: termination   E: expiry     de facto supersession   Rel. w/ EC/EU framework:    de facto inside    outside

European Union (EU)

European Communities (EC)

(Pillar I)

European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom)

/ / / European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)

(Distr. of competences)

European Economic Community (EEC)

Schengen Rules

European Community (EC)

'TREVI'

Justice and Home Affairs (JHA, pillar II)

/ North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters (PJCC, pillar II)

Anglo-French alliance

European Political Co-operation (EPC)

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP, pillar III)

Western Union (WU)

/ Western European Union (WEU)

v t e

Council of Europe (CoE)

Entente Cordiale S: 8 April 1904

Dunkirk Treaty S: 4 March 1947 F: 8 September 1947 E: 8 September 1997

Brussels Treaty S: 17 March 1948 F: 25 August 1948 T: 30 June 2011

London and Washington treaties S: 5 May/4 April 1949 F: 3 August/24 August 1949

Paris treaties: ECSC and EDC S: 18 April 1951/27 May 1952 F: 23 July 1952/— E: 23 July 2002/—

Protocol Modifying and Completing the Brussels Treaty S: 23 October 1954 F: 6 May 1955

Rome treaties: EEC and EAEC S: 25 March 1957 F: 1 January 1958

WEU-CoE agreement S: 21 October 1959 F: 1 January 1960

Brussels (Merger) Treaty S: 8 April 1965 F: 1 July 1967

Davignon report S: 27 October 1970

European Council conclusions S: 2 December 1975

Single European Act (SEA) S: 17/28 February 1986 F: 1 July 1987

Schengen Treaty and Convention S: 14 June 1985/19 June 1990 F: 26 March 1995

Maastricht Treaty S: 7 February 1992 F: 1 November 1993

Amsterdam Treaty S: 2 October 1997 F: 1 May 1999

Nice Treaty S: 26 February 2001 F: 1 February 2003

Lisbon Treaty S: 13 December 2007 F: 1 December 2009

1. ^ Although not EU treaties per se, these treaties affected the development of the EU defence arm, a main part of the CFSP. The Franco-British alliance established by the Dunkirk Treaty was de facto superseded by WU. The CFSP pillar was bolstered by some of the security structures that had been established within the remit of the 1955 Modified Brussels Treaty (MBT). The Brussels Treaty was terminated in 2011, consequently dissolving the WEU, as the mutual defence clause that the Lisbon Treaty provided for EU was considered to render the WEU superfluous. The EU thus de facto superseded the WEU.
2. Plans to establish a European Political Community (EPC) were shelved following the French failure to ratify the Treaty establishing the European Defence Community (EDC). The EPC would have combined the ECSC and the EDC.
3. The European Communities obtained common institutions and a shared legal personality (i.e. ability to e.g. sign treaties in their own right).
4. The treaties of Maastricht and Rome form the EU's legal basis, and are also referred to as the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), respectively. They are amended by secondary treaties.
5. Between the EU's founding in 1993 and consolidation in 2009, the union consisted of three pillars, the first of which were the European Communities. The other two pillars consisted of additional areas of cooperation that had been added to the EU's remit.
6. The consolidation meant that the EU inherited the European Communities' legal personality and that the pillar system was abolished, resulting in the EU framework as such covering all policy areas. Executive/legislative power in each area was instead determined by a distribution of competencies between EU institutions and member states. This distribution, as well as treaty provisions for policy areas in which unanimity is required and qualified majority voting is possible, reflects the depth of EU integration as well as the EU's partly supranational and partly intergovernmental nature.

Politics

Main article: Politics of the European Union

The European Union operates through a hybrid system of supranational and intergovernmental decision-making, and according to the principle of conferral (which says that it should act only within the limits of the competences conferred on it by the treaties) and of subsidiarity (which says that it should act only where an objective cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states acting alone). Laws made by the EU institutions are passed in a variety of forms. Generally speaking, they can be classified into two groups: those which come into force without the necessity for national implementation measures (regulations) and those which specifically require national implementation measures (directives).

EU policy is in general promulgated by EU directives, which are then implemented in the domestic legislation of its member states, and EU regulations, which are immediately enforceable in all member states. Lobbying at the EU level by special interest groups is regulated to try to balance the aspirations of private initiatives with public interest decision-making process.

Budget

Main article: Budget of the European Union EU funding programmes 2014–2020
(€1,087 billion)   Sustainable Growth/Natural Resources (38.6%)  Competitiveness for Growth and Jobs (13.1%)  Global Europe (6.1%)  Economic, Territorial and Social Cohesion (34.1%)  Administration (6.4%)  Security and Citizenship (1.7%)

The European Union had an agreed budget of €170.6 billion in 2022. The EU had a long-term budget of €1,082.5 billion for the period 2014–2020, representing 1.02% of the EU-28's GNI. In 1960, the budget of the European Community was 0.03 per cent of GDP.

Of this, €54bn subsidised agriculture enterprise, €42bn was spent on transport, building and the environment, €16bn on education and research, €13bn on welfare, €20bn on foreign and defence policy, €2bn in finance, €2bn in energy, €1.5bn in communications, and €13bn in administration.

In November 2020, two members of the union, Hungary and Poland, blocked approval to the EU's budget at a meeting in the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper), citing a proposal that linked funding with adherence to the rule of law. The budget included a COVID-19 recovery fund of €750 billion. The budget may still be approved if Hungary and Poland withdraw their vetoes after further negotiations in the council and the European Council.

Bodies combatting fraud have also been established, including the European Anti-fraud Office and the European Public Prosecutor's Office. The latter is a decentralized independent body of the European Union (EU), established under the Treaty of Lisbon between 22 of the 27 states of the EU following the method of enhanced cooperation. The European Public Prosecutor's Office investigate and prosecute fraud against the budget of the European Union and other crimes against the EU's financial interests including fraud concerning EU funds of over €10,000 and cross-border VAT fraud cases involving damages above €10 million.

Governance

Main articles: Bodies of the European Union and the Euratom, Institutions of the European Union, and Subsidiarity (European Union) § EU competences

Member states retain in principle all powers except those that they have agreed collectively to delegate to the Union as a whole, though the exact delimitation has on occasions become a subject of scholarly or legal disputes.

In certain fields, members have awarded exclusive competence and exclusive mandate to the Union. These are areas in which member states have entirely renounced their own capacity to enact legislation. In other areas, the EU and its member states share the competence to legislate. While both can legislate, the member states can only legislate to the extent to which the EU has not. In other policy areas, the EU can only co-ordinate, support and supplement member state action but cannot enact legislation with the aim of harmonising national laws. That a particular policy area falls into a certain category of competence is not necessarily indicative of what legislative procedure is used for enacting legislation within that policy area. Different legislative procedures are used within the same category of competence, and even with the same policy area. The distribution of competences in various policy areas between member states and the union is divided into the following three categories:

Competences of the European Union in relation to those of its member states

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Exclusive competence	Shared competence		Supporting competence
The Union has exclusive competence to make directives and conclude international agreements when provided for in a Union legislative act as to … the customs union the establishing of the competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market monetary policy for the Member States whose currency is the euro the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy Common Commercial Policy conclusion of certain international agreements	Member States cannot exercise competence in areas where the Union has done so, that is … the internal market social policy, for the aspects defined in this Treaty economic, social and territorial cohesion agriculture and fisheries, excluding the conservation of marine biological resources environment consumer protection transport trans-European networks energy the area of freedom, security and justice common safety concerns in public health matters, for the aspects defined in this Treaty	Union exercise of competence shall not result in Member States being prevented from exercising theirs in … research, technological development and (outer) space development cooperation, humanitarian aid The Union coordinates Member States policies or implements supplemental to their common policies not covered elsewhere in … the coordination of economic, employment and social policies common foreign, security and defence policies	The Union can carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement Member States' actions in … the protection and improvement of human health industry culture tourism education, youth, sport and vocational training civil protection (disaster prevention) administrative cooperation

The European Union has seven principal decision-making bodies, its institutions: the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the European Court of Auditors. Competence in scrutinising and amending legislation is shared between the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, while executive tasks are performed by the European Commission and in a limited capacity by the European Council (not to be confused with the aforementioned Council of the European Union). The monetary policy of the eurozone is determined by the European Central Bank. The interpretation and the application of EU law and the treaties are ensured by the Court of Justice of the European Union. The EU budget is scrutinised by the European Court of Auditors. There are also a number of ancillary bodies which advise the EU or operate in a specific area.

Branches of power

Main article: Bodies of the European Union and the Euratom

Executive branch

Main articles: European Council and European Commission António Costa,
President of the European CouncilUrsula von der Leyen,
President of the European Commission

The Union's executive branch is organised as a directorial system, where the executive power is jointly exercised by several people. The executive branch consists of the European Council and European Commission.

The European Council sets the broad political direction of the Union. It convenes at least four times a year and comprises the president of the European Council (presently António Costa), the president of the European Commission and one representative per member state (either its head of state or head of government). The high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy (presently Kaja Kallas) also takes part in its meetings. Described by some as the union's "supreme political leadership", it is actively involved in the negotiation of treaty changes and defines the EU's policy agenda and strategies. Its leadership role involves solving disputes between member states and the institutions, and to resolving any political crises or disagreements over controversial issues and policies. It acts as a "collective head of state" and ratifies important documents (for example, international agreements and treaties). Tasks for the president of the European Council are ensuring the external representation of the EU, driving consensus and resolving divergences among member states, both during meetings of the European Council and over the periods between them. The European Council should not be mistaken for the Council of Europe, an international organisation independent of the EU and based in Strasbourg.

The European Commission acts both as the EU's executive arm, responsible for the day-to-day running of the EU, and also the legislative initiator, with the sole power to propose laws for debate. The commission is 'guardian of the Treaties' and is responsible for their efficient operation and policing. It has 27 European commissioners for different areas of policy, one from each member state, though commissioners are bound to represent the interests of the EU as a whole rather than their home state. The leader of the 27 is the president of the European Commission (presently Ursula von der Leyen for 2019–2024, reelected for the 2024–2029 term), proposed by the European Council, following and taking into account the result of the European elections, and is then elected by the European Parliament. The President retains, as the leader responsible for the entire cabinet, the final say in accepting or rejecting a candidate submitted for a given portfolio by a member state, and oversees the commission's permanent civil service. After the President, the most prominent commissioner is the high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy, who is ex-officio a vice-president of the European Commission and is also chosen by the European Council. The other 25 commissioners are subsequently appointed by the Council of the European Union in agreement with the nominated president. The 27 commissioners as a single body are subject to approval (or otherwise) by a vote of the European Parliament. All commissioners are first nominated by the government of the respective member state.

Legislative branch

Main articles: Council of the European Union and European Parliament Roberta Metsola,
President of the European Parliament

The council, as it is now simply called (also called the Council of the European Union and the "Council of Ministers", its former title), forms one half of the EU's legislature. It consists of a representative from each member state's government and meets in different compositions depending on the policy area being addressed. Notwithstanding its different configurations, it is considered to be one single body. In addition to the legislative functions, members of the council also have executive responsibilities, such as the development of a Common Foreign and Security Policy and the coordination of broad economic policies within the Union. The Presidency of the council rotates between member states, with each holding it for six months. Beginning on 1 July 2024, the position is held by Hungary.

The European Parliament is one of three legislative institutions of the EU, which together with the Council of the European Union is tasked with amending and approving the European Commission's proposals. 705 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are directly elected by EU citizens every five years on the basis of proportional representation. MEPs are elected on a national basis and they sit according to political groups rather than their nationality. Each country has a set number of seats and is divided into sub-national constituencies where this does not affect the proportional nature of the voting system. In the ordinary legislative procedure, the European Commission proposes legislation, which requires the joint approval of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to pass. This process applies to nearly all areas, including the EU budget. The parliament is the final body to approve or reject the proposed membership of the commission, and can attempt motions of censure on the commission by appeal to the Court of Justice. The president of the European Parliament carries out the role of speaker in Parliament and represents it externally. The president and vice-presidents are elected by MEPs every two and a half years.

Judicial branch

Main article: Court of Justice of the European Union Koen Lenaerts,
President of the Court of Justice

The judicial branch of the European Union is formally called the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and consists of two courts: the Court of Justice and the General Court. The Court of Justice is the supreme court of the European Union in matters of European Union law. As a part of the CJEU, it is tasked with interpreting EU law and ensuring its uniform application across all EU member states under Article 263 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The Court was established in 1952, and is based in Luxembourg. It is composed of one judge per member state – currently 27 – although it normally hears cases in panels of three, five or fifteen judges. The Court has been led by president Koen Lenaerts since 2015. The CJEU is the highest court of the European Union in matters of Union law. Its case-law provides that EU law has supremacy over any national law that is inconsistent with EU law. It is not possible to appeal against the decisions of national courts in the CJEU, but rather national courts refer questions of EU law to the CJEU. However, it is ultimately for the national court to apply the resulting interpretation to the facts of any given case. Although, only courts of final appeal are bound to refer a question of EU law when one is addressed. The treaties give the CJEU the power for consistent application of EU law across the EU as a whole. The court also acts as an administrative and constitutional court between the other EU institutions and the Member States and can annul or invalidate unlawful acts of EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies.

The General Court is a constituent court of the European Union. It hears actions taken against the institutions of the European Union by individuals and member states, although certain matters are reserved for the Court of Justice. Decisions of the General Court can be appealed to the Court of Justice, but only on a point of law. Prior to the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, it was known as the Court of First Instance.

Additional branches

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Christine Lagarde,
President of the European Central Bank

The European Central Bank (ECB) is one of the institutions of the monetary branch of the European Union, the prime component of the Eurosystem and the European System of Central Banks. It is one of the world's most important central banks. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy for the Eurozone and the European Union, administers the foreign exchange reserves of EU member states, engages in foreign exchange operations, and defines the intermediate monetary objectives and key interest rate of the EU. The ECB Executive Board enforces the policies and decisions of the Governing Council, and may direct the national central banks when doing so. The ECB has the exclusive right to authorise the issuance of euro banknotes. Member states can issue euro coins, but the volume must be approved by the ECB beforehand. The bank also operates the T2 (RTGS) payments system. The European System of Central Banks (ESCB) consists of the ECB and the national central banks (NCBs) of all 27 member states of the European Union. The ESCB is not the monetary authority of the eurozone, because not all EU member states have joined the euro. The ESCB's objective is price stability throughout the European Union. Secondarily, the ESCB's goal is to improve monetary and financial cooperation between the Eurosystem and member states outside the eurozone.

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) is the auditory branch of the European Union. It was established in 1975 in Luxembourg in order to improve EU financial management. It has 27 members (1 from each EU member-state) supported by approximately 800 civil servants. The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is the EU's civil service recruitment body and operates its selection of candidates via generalist and specialist competitions. Each institution is then able to recruit staff from among the pool of candidates selected by EPSO. On average, EPSO receives around 60,000–70,000 applications a year with around 1,500–2,000 candidates recruited by the European Union institutions. The European Ombudsman is the ombudsman branch of the European Union that holds the institutions, bodies and agencies of the EU to account, and promotes good administration. The Ombudsman helps people, businesses and organisations facing problems with the EU administration by investigating complaints, as well as by proactively looking into broader systemic issues. The current Ombudsman is Emily O'Reilly. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) is the prosecutory branch of the union with juridical personality, established under the Treaty of Lisbon between 23 of the 27 states of the EU following the method of enhanced cooperation. It is based in Kirchberg, Luxembourg City alongside the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Auditors.

Law

Main article: European Union law Further information: European Union legislative procedure See also: Treaties of the European Union and European Citizens' Initiative

Constitutionally, the EU bears some resemblance to both a confederation and a federation, but has not formally defined itself as either. (It does not have a formal constitution: its status is defined by the Treaty of European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union). It is more integrated than a traditional confederation of states because the general level of government widely employs qualified majority voting in some decision-making among the member states, rather than relying exclusively on unanimity. It is less integrated than a federal state because it is not a state in its own right: sovereignty continues to flow 'from the bottom up', from the several peoples of the separate member states, rather than from a single undifferentiated whole. This is reflected in the fact that the member states remain the 'masters of the Treaties', retaining control over the allocation of competences to the union through constitutional change (thus retaining so-called Kompetenz-kompetenz); in that they retain control of the use of armed force; they retain control of taxation; and in that they retain a right of unilateral withdrawal under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. In addition, the principle of subsidiarity requires that only those matters that need to be determined collectively are so determined.

Under the principle of supremacy, national courts are required to enforce the treaties that their member states have ratified, even if doing so requires them to ignore conflicting national law, and (within limits) even constitutional provisions. The direct effect and supremacy doctrines were not explicitly set out in the European Treaties but were developed by the Court of Justice itself over the 1960s, apparently under the influence of its then most influential judge, Frenchman Robert Lecourt. The question whether the secondary law enacted by the EU has a comparable status in relation to national legislation, has been a matter of debate among legal scholars.

Primary law

The European Union is based on a series of treaties. These first established the European Community and the EU, and then made amendments to those founding treaties. These are power-giving treaties which set broad policy goals and establish institutions with the necessary legal powers to implement those goals. These legal powers include the ability to enact legislation which can directly affect all member states and their inhabitants. The EU has legal personality, with the right to sign agreements and international treaties.

Secondary law

The main legal acts of the European Union come in three forms: regulations, directives, and decisions. Regulations become law in all member states the moment they come into force, without the requirement for any implementing measures, and automatically override conflicting domestic provisions. Directives require member states to achieve a certain result while leaving them discretion as to how to achieve the result. The details of how they are to be implemented are left to member states. When the time limit for implementing directives passes, they may, under certain conditions, have direct effect in national law against member states. Decisions offer an alternative to the two above modes of legislation. They are legal acts which only apply to specified individuals, companies or a particular member state. They are most often used in competition law, or on rulings on State Aid, but are also frequently used for procedural or administrative matters within the institutions. Regulations, directives, and decisions are of equal legal value and apply without any formal hierarchy.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of the European Union See also: European External Action Service Kaja Kallas,
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Foreign policy co-operation between member states dates from the establishment of the community in 1957, when member states negotiated as a bloc in international trade negotiations under the EU's common commercial policy. Steps for more wide-ranging co-ordination in foreign relations began in 1970 with the establishment of European Political Cooperation which created an informal consultation process between member states with the aim of forming common foreign policies. In 1987 the European Political Cooperation was introduced on a formal basis by the Single European Act. EPC was renamed as the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) by the Maastricht Treaty.

The stated aims of the CFSP are to promote both the EU's own interests and those of the international community as a whole, including the furtherance of international co-operation, respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The CFSP requires unanimity among the member states on the appropriate policy to follow on any particular issue. The unanimity and difficult issues treated under the CFSP sometimes lead to disagreements, such as those which occurred over the war in Iraq.

The coordinator and representative of the CFSP within the EU is the high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy who speaks on behalf of the EU in foreign policy and defence matters, and has the task of articulating the positions expressed by the member states on these fields of policy into a common alignment. The high representative heads up the European External Action Service (EEAS), a unique EU department that has been officially implemented and operational since 1 December 2010 on the occasion of the first anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. The EEAS serves as a foreign ministry and diplomatic corps for the European Union.

Besides the emerging international policy of the European Union, the international influence of the EU is also felt through enlargement. The perceived benefits of becoming a member of the EU act as an incentive for both political and economic reform in states wishing to fulfil the EU's accession criteria, and are considered an important factor contributing to the reform of European formerly Communist countries. This influence on the internal affairs of other countries is generally referred to as "soft power", as opposed to military "hard power".

Humanitarian aid

Further information: Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department, or "ECHO", provides humanitarian aid from the EU to developing countries. In 2012, its budget amounted to €874 million, 51 per cent of the budget went to Africa and 20 per cent to Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Pacific, and 20 per cent to the Middle East and Mediterranean.

Humanitarian aid is financed directly by the budget (70 per cent) as part of the financial instruments for external action and also by the European Development Fund (30 per cent). The EU's external action financing is divided into 'geographic' instruments and 'thematic' instruments. The 'geographic' instruments provide aid through the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI, €16.9 billion, 2007–2013), which must spend 95 per cent of its budget on official development assistance (ODA), and from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), which contains some relevant programmes. The European Development Fund (EDF, €22.7 billion for the period 2008–2013 and €30.5 billion for the period 2014–2020) is made up of voluntary contributions by member states, but there is pressure to merge the EDF into the budget-financed instruments to encourage increased contributions to match the 0.7 per cent target and allow the European Parliament greater oversight.

In 2016, the average among EU countries was 0.4 per cent and five had met or exceeded the 0.7 per cent target: Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

International cooperation and development partnerships

Main articles: Directorate-General for International Partnerships, ACP–EU development cooperation, European Solidarity Corps, European Union Global Strategy, European Neighbourhood Policy, Global Europe, and European Political Community

The European Union uses foreign relations instruments like the European Neighbourhood Policy which seeks to tie those countries to the east and south of the European territory of the EU to the union. These countries, primarily developing countries, include some who seek to one day become either a member state of the European Union, or more closely integrated with the European Union. The EU offers financial assistance to countries within the European Neighbourhood, so long as they meet the strict conditions of government reform, economic reform and other issues surrounding positive transformation. This process is normally underpinned by an Action Plan, as agreed by both Brussels and the target country.

There is also the worldwide European Union Global Strategy. International recognition of sustainable development as a key element is growing steadily. Its role was recognised in three major UN summits on sustainable development: the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa; and the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio de Janeiro. Other key global agreements are the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (United Nations, 2015). The SDGs recognise that all countries must stimulate action in the following key areas – people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership – in order to tackle the global challenges that are crucial for the survival of humanity.

EU development action is based on the European Consensus on Development, which was endorsed on 20 December 2005 by EU Member States, the council, the European Parliament and the commission. It is applied from the principles of Capability approach and Rights-based approach to development. Funding is provided by the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance and the Global Europe programmes.

Partnership and cooperation agreements are bilateral agreements with non-member nations.

Defence

Main article: Common Security and Defence Policy See also: Frontex, European Defence Agency, European Union Institute for Security Studies, and European Union Satellite Centre

The predecessors of the European Union were not devised as a military alliance because NATO was largely seen as appropriate and sufficient for defence purposes. 23 EU members are members of NATO while the remaining member states follow policies of neutrality. The Western European Union, a military alliance with a mutual defence clause, closed in 2011 as its role had been transferred to the EU. Following the Kosovo War in 1999, the European Council agreed that "the Union must have the capacity for autonomous action, backed by credible military forces, the means to decide to use them, and the readiness to do so, in order to respond to international crises without prejudice to actions by NATO". To that end, a number of efforts were made to increase the EU's military capability, notably the Helsinki Headline Goal process. After much discussion, the most concrete result was the EU Battlegroups initiative, each of which is planned to be able to deploy quickly about 1500 personnel. The EU Strategic Compass adopted in 2022 reaffirmed the bloc's partnership with NATO, committed to increased military mobility and formation of a 5,000-strong EU Rapid Deployment Capacity

Since the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, France is the only member officially recognised as a nuclear weapon state and the sole holder of a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. France and Italy are also the only EU countries that have power projection capabilities outside of Europe. Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium participate in NATO nuclear sharing. Most EU member states opposed the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty.

EU forces have been deployed on peacekeeping missions from middle and northern Africa to the western Balkans and western Asia. EU military operations are supported by a number of bodies, including the European Defence Agency, European Union Satellite Centre and the European Union Military Staff. The European Union Military Staff is the highest military institution of the European Union, established within the framework of the European Council, and follows on from the decisions of the Helsinki European Council (10–11 December 1999), which called for the establishment of permanent political-military institutions. The European Union Military Staff is under the authority of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Political and Security Committee. It directs all military activities in the EU context, including planning and conducting military missions and operations in the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy and the development of military capabilities, and provides the Political and Security Committee with military advice and recommendations on military issues. In an EU consisting of 27 members, substantial security and defence co-operation is increasingly relying on collaboration among all member states.

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) is an agency of the EU aiming to detect and stop illegal immigration, human trafficking and terrorist infiltration. The EU also operates the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, the Entry/Exit System, the Schengen Information System, the Visa Information System and the Common European Asylum System which provide common databases for police and immigration authorities. The impetus for the development of this co-operation was the advent of open borders in the Schengen Area and the associated cross-border crime.

Member states

Main article: Member state of the European Union

Through successive enlargements, the EU and its predecessors have grown from the six founding states of the EEC to 27 members. Countries accede to the union by becoming a party to the founding treaties, thereby subjecting themselves to the privileges and obligations of EU membership. This entails a partial delegation of sovereignty to the institutions in return for representation within those institutions, a practice often referred to as "pooling of sovereignty". In some policies, there are several member states that ally with strategic partners within the union. Examples of such alliances include the Baltic Assembly, the Benelux Union, the Bucharest Nine, the Craiova Group, the EU Med Group, the Lublin Triangle, the New Hanseatic League, the Three Seas Initiative, the Visegrád Group, and the Weimar Triangle.

To become a member, a country must meet the Copenhagen criteria, defined at the 1993 meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen. These require a stable democracy that respects human rights and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the acceptance of the obligations of membership, including EU law. Evaluation of a country's fulfilment of the criteria is the responsibility of the European Council.

The four countries forming the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are not EU members, but have partly committed to the EU's economy and regulations: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, which are a part of the single market through the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, which has similar ties through bilateral treaties. The relationships of the European microstates Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City include the use of the euro and other areas of co-operation.

List of member states

State	Accession to EU	Accession to EU predecessor	Population (2022)	Area	Population density	MEPs	People /MEP
Austria	1 January 1995		8,978,929	83,855 km (32,377 sq mi)	107	19	472,575
Belgium	Founder (1993)	23 July 1952	11,617,623	30,528 km (11,787 sq mi)	381	21	553,220
Bulgaria	1 January 2007		6,838,937	110,994 km (42,855 sq mi)	62	17	402,290
Croatia	1 July 2013		3,862,305	56,594 km (21,851 sq mi)	68	12	321,859
Cyprus	1 May 2004		904,705	9,251 km (3,572 sq mi)	98	6	150,784
Czech Republic	1 May 2004		10,516,707	78,866 km (30,450 sq mi)	133	21	500,796
Denmark	Founder (1993)	1 January 1973	5,873,420	43,075 km (16,631 sq mi)	136	14	419,530
Estonia	1 May 2004		1,331,796	45,227 km (17,462 sq mi)	29	7	190,257
Finland	1 January 1995		5,548,241	338,424 km (130,666 sq mi)	16	14	396,303
France	Founder (1993)	23 July 1952	67,871,925	640,679 km (247,368 sq mi)	106	79	859,138
Germany	Founder (1993)	23 July 1952	83,237,124	357,021 km (137,847 sq mi)	233	96	867,053
Greece	Founder (1993)	1 January 1981	10,459,782	131,990 km (50,960 sq mi)	79	21	498,085
Hungary	1 May 2004		9,689,010	93,030 km (35,920 sq mi)	104	21	461,381
Ireland	Founder (1993)	1 January 1973	5,060,004	70,273 km (27,133 sq mi)	72	13	389,231
Italy	Founder (1993)	23 July 1952	58,968,501	301,338 km (116,347 sq mi)	196	76	775,901
Latvia	1 May 2004		1,862,700	64,589 km (24,938 sq mi)	29	9	232,838
Lithuania	1 May 2004		2,805,998	65,200 km (25,200 sq mi)	43	11	255,091
Luxembourg	Founder (1993)	23 July 1952	645,397	2,586 km (998 sq mi)	250	6	107,566
Malta	1 May 2004		520,971	316 km (122 sq mi)	1,649	6	86,829
Netherlands	Founder (1993)	23 July 1952	17,590,672	41,543 km (16,040 sq mi)	423	29	606,575
Poland	1 May 2004		37,654,247	312,685 km (120,728 sq mi)	120	52	724,120
Portugal	Founder (1993)	1 January 1986	10,352,042	92,390 km (35,670 sq mi)	112	21	492,954
Romania	1 January 2007		19,042,455	238,391 km (92,043 sq mi)	80	33	577,044
Slovakia	1 May 2004		5,434,712	49,035 km (18,933 sq mi)	111	14	388,194
Slovenia	1 May 2004		2,107,180	20,273 km (7,827 sq mi)	104	8	263,398
Spain	Founder (1993)	1 January 1986	48,946,035	504,030 km (194,610 sq mi)	97	61	829,594
Sweden	1 January 1995		10,452,326	449,964 km (173,732 sq mi)	23	21	497,730
European Union			446,735,291	4,233,262 km (1,634,472 sq mi)	106	705	633,667

Subdivisions

Main article: Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics

Subdivisions of member-states are based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS), a geocode standard for statistical purposes. The standard, adopted in 2003, is developed and regulated by the European Union, and thus only covers the member states of the EU in detail. The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics is instrumental in the European Union's Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund delivery mechanisms and for locating the area where goods and services subject to European public procurement legislation are to be delivered.

Maps of Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) subdivisions (prior to 2018, including non-EU member states)

• NUTS 1
• NUTS 2
• NUTS 3

Schengen Area

Main article: Schengen Area

The Schengen Area is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the EU, it mostly functions as a single jurisdiction under a common visa policy for international travel purposes. The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the 1990 Schengen Convention, both signed in Schengen, Luxembourg. Of the 27 EU member states, 25 participate in the Schengen Area, although two—Bulgaria, and Romania— are currently only partial members. Of the EU members that are not part of the Schengen Area, one—Cyprus—is legally obligated to join the area in the future; Ireland maintains an opt-out, and instead operates its own visa policy. The four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, are not members of the EU, but have signed agreements in association with the Schengen Agreement. Also, three European microstates – Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City – maintain open borders for passenger traffic with their neighbours, and are therefore considered de facto members of the Schengen Area due to the practical impossibility of travelling to or from them without transiting through at least one Schengen member country.

Candidate countries

Main article: Potential enlargement of the European Union

There are nine countries that are recognised as candidates for membership: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Norway, Switzerland and Iceland have submitted membership applications in the past, but subsequently frozen or withdrawn them. Additionally Kosovo is officially recognised as a potential candidate, and submitted a membership application.

Former members

Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty provides the basis for a member to leave the EU. Two territories have left the union: Greenland (an autonomous province of Denmark) withdrew in 1985; the United Kingdom formally invoked Article 50 of the Consolidated Treaty on European Union in 2017, and became the only sovereign state to leave when it withdrew from the EU in 2020.

Geography

Main article: Geography of the European Union

The EU's member states cover an area of 4,233,262 square kilometres (1,634,472 sq mi), and therefore a large part of the European continent. The EU's highest peak is Mont Blanc in the Graian Alps, 4,810.45 metres (15,782 ft) above sea level. The lowest points in the EU are Lammefjorden, Denmark, and Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands, at 7 m (23 ft) below sea level. The landscape, climate, and economy of the EU are influenced by its coastline, which is 65,993 kilometres (41,006 mi) long.

In addition to national territories in Europe, there are 32 special territories of members of the European Economic Area, not all of which are part of the EU. The largest by area is Greenland, which is not part of the EU but whose citizens are EU citizens, while the largest by population are the Canary Islands off Africa, which are part of the EU and the Schengen area. French Guiana in South America is part of the EU and the Eurozone, as is Mayotte, north of Madagascar.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Europe

The climate of the European Union is of a temperate, continental nature, with a maritime climate prevailing on the western coasts and a mediterranean climate in the south. The climate is strongly conditioned by the Gulf Stream, which warms the western region to levels unattainable at similar latitudes on other continents. Western Europe is oceanic, while eastern Europe is continental and dry. Four seasons occur in western Europe, while southern Europe experiences a wet season and a dry season. Southern Europe is hot and dry during the summer months. The heaviest precipitation occurs downwind of water bodies due to the prevailing westerlies, with higher amounts also seen in the Alps.

Environment

Main article: Climate change in Europe See also: European Environment Agency

In 1957, when the European Economic Community was founded, it had no environmental policy. Over the past 50 years, an increasingly dense network of legislation has been created, extending to all areas of environmental protection, including air pollution, water quality, waste management, nature conservation, and the control of chemicals, industrial hazards, and biotechnology. According to the Institute for European Environmental Policy, environmental law comprises over 500 Directives, Regulations and Decisions, making environmental policy a core area of European politics.

European policy-makers originally increased the EU's capacity to act on environmental issues by defining it as a trade problem. Trade barriers and competitive distortions in the Common Market could emerge due to the different environmental standards in each member state. In subsequent years, the environment became a formal policy area, with its own policy actors, principles and procedures. The legal basis for EU environmental policy was established with the introduction of the Single European Act in 1987.

Initially, EU environmental policy focused on Europe. More recently, the EU has demonstrated leadership in global environmental governance, e.g. the role of the EU in securing the ratification and coming into force of the Kyoto Protocol despite opposition from the United States. This international dimension is reflected in the EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme, which recognises that its objectives can only be achieved if key international agreements are actively supported and properly implemented both at EU level and worldwide. The Lisbon Treaty further strengthened the leadership ambitions. EU law has played a significant role in improving habitat and species protection in Europe, as well as contributing to improvements in air and water quality and waste management.

Mitigating climate change is one of the top priorities of EU environmental policy. In 2007, member states agreed that, in the future, 20 per cent of the energy used across the EU must be renewable, and carbon dioxide emissions have to be lower in 2020 by at least 20 per cent compared to 1990 levels. In 2017, the EU emitted 9.1 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions. The European Union claims that already in 2018, its GHG emissions were 23% lower than in 1990.

The EU has adopted an emissions trading system to incorporate carbon emissions into the economy. The European Green Capital is an annual award given to cities that focuses on the environment, energy efficiency, and quality of life in urban areas to create smart city. In the 2019 elections to the European Parliament, the green parties increased their power, possibly because of the rise of post materialist values. Proposals to reach a zero carbon economy in the European Union by 2050 were suggested in 2018 – 2019. Almost all member states supported that goal at an EU summit in June 2019. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, and Poland disagreed. In June 2021, the European Union passed a European Climate Law with targets of 55% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. Also in the same year, the European Union and the United States pledged to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. The pledge is considered as a big achievement for climate change mitigation. A recent research report declared that the Czech Republic is the EU's most toxic country in Europe for care emissions.

Economy

Main article: Economy of the European Union

The gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of economic activity, of EU member states was US$16.64 trillion in 2022, around 16.6 percent of the world GDP. There is a significant variation in GDP per capita between and within individual EU states. The difference between the richest and poorest regions (281 NUTS-2 regions of the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) ranged, in 2017, from 31 per cent (Severozapaden, Bulgaria) of the EU28 average (€30,000) to 253 per cent (Luxembourg), or from €4,600 to €92,600.

EU member states own the estimated third largest after the United States (US$140 trillion) and China (US$84 trillion) net wealth in the world, equal to around one sixth (US$76 trillion) of the US$454 trillion global wealth. Of the top 500 largest corporations in the world measured by revenue in 2010, 161 had their headquarters in the EU. In 2016, unemployment in the EU stood at 8.9 per cent while inflation was at 2.2 per cent, and the account balance at −0.9 per cent of GDP. The average annual net earnings in the European Union was around €25,000 in 2021.

Economic and monetary union

Main article: Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union

The Euro is the official currency in 20 member states of the EU. The creation of a European single currency became an official objective of the European Economic Community in 1969. In 1992, having negotiated the structure and procedures of a currency union, the member states signed the Maastricht Treaty and were legally bound to fulfil the agreed-on rules including the convergence criteria if they wanted to join the monetary union. The states wanting to participate had first to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. To prevent the joining states from getting into financial trouble or crisis after entering the monetary union, they were obliged in the Maastricht treaty to fulfil important financial obligations and procedures, especially to show budgetary discipline and a high degree of sustainable economic convergence, as well as to avoid excessive government deficits and limit the government debt to a sustainable level, as agreed in the European Fiscal Pact.

Capital Markets Union and financial institutions

Main articles: Capital Markets Union, European System of Financial Supervision, and European Stability Mechanism See also: European Banking Authority, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, European Securities and Markets Authority, and Single Resolution Board

Free movement of capital is intended to permit movement of investments such as property purchases and buying of shares between countries. Until the drive towards economic and monetary union the development of the capital provisions had been slow. Post-Maastricht there has been a rapidly developing corpus of ECJ judgements regarding this initially neglected freedom. The free movement of capital is unique insofar as it is granted equally to non-member states.

The European System of Financial Supervision is an institutional architecture of the EU's framework of financial supervision composed by three authorities: the European Banking Authority, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority and the European Securities and Markets Authority. To complement this framework, there is also a European Systemic Risk Board under the responsibility of the central bank. The aim of this financial control system is to ensure the economic stability of the EU.

Eurozone and banking union

Main articles: Eurozone, Euro, and European banking union See also: Eurosystem and Eurogroup

In 1999, the currency union started to materialise through introducing a common accounting (virtual) currency in eleven of the member states. In 2002, it was turned into a fully-fledged conventible currency, when euro notes and coins were issued, while the phaseout of national currencies in the eurozone (consisting by then of 12 member states) was initiated. The eurozone (constituted by the EU member states which have adopted the euro) has since grown to 20 countries.

The 20 EU member states known collectively as the eurozone have fully implemented the currency union by superseding their national currencies with the euro. The currency union represents 345 million EU citizens. The euro is the second largest reserve currency as well as the second most traded currency in the world after the United States dollar.

The euro, and the monetary policies of those who have adopted it in agreement with the EU, are under the control of the ECB. The ECB is the central bank for the eurozone, and thus controls monetary policy in that area with an agenda to maintain price stability. It is at the centre of the Eurosystem, which comprehends all the Eurozone national central banks. The ECB is also the central institution of the Banking Union established within the eurozone, as the hub of European Banking Supervision. There is also a Single Resolution Mechanism in case of a bank default.

Trade

As a political entity, the European Union is represented in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Two of the original core objectives of the European Economic Community were the development of a common market, subsequently becoming a single market, and a customs union between its member states.

Single market

Main article: European single market Further information: Digital Single Market

The single market involves the free circulation of goods, capital, people, and services within the EU, The free movement of services and of establishment allows self-employed persons to move between member states to provide services on a temporary or permanent basis. While services account for 60 per cent to 70 per cent of GDP, legislation in the area is not as developed as in other areas. This lacuna has been addressed by the Services in the Internal Market Directive 2006 which aims to liberalise the cross border provision of services. According to the treaty the provision of services is a residual freedom that only applies if no other freedom is being exercised.

Customs union

Main article: European Union Customs Union

The customs union involves the application of a common external tariff on all goods entering the market. Once goods have been admitted into the market they cannot be subjected to customs duties, discriminatory taxes or import quotas, as they travel internally. The non-EU member states of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland participate in the single market but not in the customs union. Half the trade in the EU is covered by legislation harmonised by the EU.

The European Union Association Agreement does something similar for a much larger range of countries, partly as a so-called soft approach ('a carrot instead of a stick') to influence the politics in those countries. The European Union represents all its members at the World Trade Organization (WTO), and acts on behalf of member states in any disputes. When the EU negotiates trade related agreement outside the WTO framework, the subsequent agreement must be approved by each individual EU member state government.

External trade

Main article: Common Commercial Policy (EU)

The European Union has concluded free trade agreements (FTAs) and other agreements with a trade component with many countries worldwide and is negotiating with many others. The European Union's services trade surplus rose from $16 billion in 2000 to more than $250 billion in 2018. In 2020, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China became the EU's largest trading partner, displacing the United States. The European Union is the largest exporter in the world and in 2008 was the largest importer of goods and services. Internal trade between the member states is aided by the removal of barriers to trade such as tariffs and border controls. In the eurozone, trade is helped by not having any currency differences to deal with amongst most members. Externally, the EU's free-trade agreement with Japan is perhaps its most notable one. The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement was officially signed on 17 July 2018, becoming the world's largest bilateral free trade deal when it went into effect on 1 February 2019, creating an open trade zone covering nearly one-third of global GDP.

Competition and consumer protection

Main articles: European Union competition law and European consumer law See also: European Union Intellectual Property Office

The EU operates a competition policy intended to ensure undistorted competition within the single market. In 2001 the commission for the first time prevented a merger between two companies based in the United States (General Electric and Honeywell) which had already been approved by their national authority. Another high-profile case, against Microsoft, resulted in the commission fining Microsoft over €777 million following nine years of legal action.

Energy

Main article: Energy policy of the European Union See also: European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators

Total energy supply (2019)

  Oil (31.7%)  Natural gas (24.7%)  Coal (10.9%)  Nuclear (13.2%)  Biofuels, waste, electricity, heat (19.4%)

The total energy supply of the EU was 59 billion GJ in 2019, about 10.2 per cent of the world total. Approximately three fifths of the energy available in the EU came from imports (mostly of fossil fuels). Renewable energy contributed 18.1 per cent of the EU's total energy supply in 2019, and 11.1 per cent of the final energy consumption.

The EU has had legislative power in the area of energy policy for most of its existence; this has its roots in the original European Coal and Steel Community. The introduction of a mandatory and comprehensive European energy policy was approved at the meeting of the European Council in October 2005, and the first draft policy was published in January 2007.

The EU has five key points in its energy policy: increase competition in the internal market, encourage investment and boost interconnections between electricity grids; diversify energy resources with better systems to respond to a crisis; establish a new treaty framework for energy co-operation with Russia while improving relations with energy-rich states in Central Asia and North Africa; use existing energy supplies more efficiently while increasing renewable energy commercialisation; and finally increase funding for new energy technologies.

In 2007, EU countries as a whole imported 82 per cent of their oil, 57 per cent of their natural gas and 97.48 per cent of their uranium demands. The three largest suppliers of natural gas to the European Union are Russia, Norway and Algeria, that amounted for about three quarters of the imports in 2019. There is a strong dependence on Russian energy that the EU has been attempting to reduce. However, in May 2022, it was reported that the European Union is preparing another sanction against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. It is expected to target Russian oil, Russian and Belarusian banks, as well as individuals and companies. According to an article by Reuters, two diplomats stated that the European Union may impose a ban on imports of Russian oil by the end of 2022. In May 2022, the European Commission published the 'RePowerEU' initiative, a €300 billion plan outlining the path towards the end of EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2030 and the acceleration on the clean energy transition.

Transport

Main article: Transport in the European Union Further information: Trans-European Transport Network See also: European Union Aviation Safety Agency, European Maritime Safety Agency, and European Union Agency for Railways

The European Union manages cross-border road, railway, airport and water infrastructure through the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), created in 1990, and the Trans-European Combined Transport network. TEN-T comprises two network layers: the Core Network, which is to be completed by 2030; and the Comprehensive Network, which is to be completed by 2050. The network is currently made up of 9 core corridors: the Baltic–Adriatic Corridor, the North Sea–Baltic Corridor, the Mediterranean Corridor, the Orient/East–Med Corridor, the Scandinavian–Mediterranean Corridor, the Rhine–Alpine Corridor, the Atlantic Corridor, the North Sea–Mediterranean Corridor, and the Rhine–Danube Corridor. Road transportation was organised under the TEN-T by the Trans-European road network. Bundesautobahn 7 is the longest national motorway in the EU at 963 km (598 mi).

Maritime transportation is organised under the TEN-T by the Trans-European Inland Waterway network, and the Trans-European Seaport network. European seaports are categorized as international, community, or regional. The Port of Rotterdam is the busiest in the EU, and the world's largest seaport outside of East Asia, located in and near the city of Rotterdam, in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), founded in 2002 in Lisbon, Portugal, is charged with reducing the risk of maritime accidents, marine pollution from ships and the loss of human lives at sea by helping to enforce the pertinent EU legislation.

Air transportation is organised under the TEN-T by the Trans-European Airport network. European airports are categorized as international, community, or regional. The Charles de Gaulle Airport is the busiest in the EU, located in and near the city of Paris, in France. The European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) is a single market in aviation. ECAA agreements were signed on 5 May 2006 in Salzburg, Austria between the EU and some third countries. The ECAA liberalises the air transport industry by allowing any company from any ECAA member state to fly between any ECAA member states airports, thereby allowing a "foreign" airline to provide domestic flights. The Single European Sky (SES) is an initiative that seeks to reform the European air traffic management system through a series of actions carried out in four different levels (institutional, operational, technological and control and supervision) with the aim of satisfying the needs of the European airspace in terms of capacity, safety, efficiency and environmental impact. Civil aviation safety is under the responsibility of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs investigation and monitoring. The idea of a European-level aviation safety authority goes back to 1996, but the agency was only legally established in 2002, and began operating in 2003.

Rail transportation is organised under the TEN-T by the Trans-European Rail network, made up of the high-speed rail network and the conventional rail network. The Gare du Nord railway station is the busiest in the EU, located in and near the city of Paris, in France. Rail transport in Europe is being synchronised with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) with the goal of greatly enhancing safety, increase efficiency of train transports and enhance cross-border interoperability. This is done by replacing former national signalling equipment and operational procedures with a single new Europe-wide standard for train control and command systems. This system is conducted by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA).

Transport documents used in the European Union

• European driving licence
  (Croatian version pictured)
• European vehicle registration plate
  (Slovak version pictured)
• European vehicle registration certificate
  (Austrian version pictured)
• European disabled parking permit
  (Polish version pictured)

Telecommunications and space

Main articles: Telecommunications in the European Union and European Union Space Programme Further information: European Union roaming regulations See also: Agency for Support for BEREC, European Union Agency for the Space Programme, and European Space Agency

Mobile communication roaming charges are abolished throughout the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, was established in 2021 to manage the European Union Space Programme in order to implement the pre-existing European Space Policy, established on 22 May 2007 between the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA), known collectively as the European Space Council. This was the first common political framework for space activities established by the EU. Each member state has pursued to some extent their own national space policy, though often co-ordinating through the ESA. Günter Verheugen, the European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, has stated that even though the EU is "a world leader in the technology, it is being put on the defensive by the United States and Russia and that it only has about a 10-year technological advantage on China and India, which are racing to catch up."

Galileo is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that went live in 2016, created by the EU through the ESA, operated by the EUSPA, with two ground operations centres in Fucino, Italy, and Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The €10 billion project is named after the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. One of the aims of Galileo is to provide an independent high-precision positioning system so European political and military authorities do not have to rely on the US GPS, or the Russian GLONASS systems, which could be disabled or degraded by their operators at any time. The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) developed by the ESA and EUROCONTROL. Currently, it supplements the GPS by reporting on the reliability and accuracy of their positioning data and sending out corrections. The system will supplement Galileo in a future version. The Copernicus Programme is the EU's Earth observation programme coordinated and managed by EUSPA in partnership with ESA. It aims at achieving a global, continuous, autonomous, high quality, wide range Earth observation capacity, providing accurate, timely and easily accessible information to, among other things, improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change, and ensure civil security.

Agriculture and fisheries

Main articles: Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy See also: European Fisheries Control Agency and European Food Safety Authority

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the agricultural policy of the European Union. It implements a system of agricultural subsidies and other programmes. It was introduced in 1962 and has since then undergone several changes to reduce the EEC budget cost (from 73% in 1985 to 37% in 2017) and consider rural development in its aims. It has, however, been criticised on the grounds of its cost and its environmental and humanitarian effects.

Likewise, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries policy of the European Union. It sets quotas for which member states are allowed to catch each type of fish, as well as encouraging the fishing industry by various market interventions and fishing subsidies. It was introduced in 2009 with the Treaty of Lisbon, which formally enshrined fisheries conservation policy as one of the handful of "exclusive competences" reserved for the European Union.

Regional development

Main article: Regional policy of the European Union See also: European Committee of the Regions and European Investment Bank

The five European Structural and Investment Funds are supporting the development of the EU regions, primarily the underdeveloped ones, located mostly in the states of central and southern Europe. Another fund (the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance) provides support for candidate members to transform their country to conform to the EU's standard. Demographic transition to a society of ageing population, low fertility-rates and depopulation of non-metropolitan regions is tackled within this policies.

Labour

See also: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, European Labour Authority, European Training Foundation, and EURES

The free movement of persons means that EU citizens can move freely between member states to live, work, study or retire in another country. This required the lowering of administrative formalities and recognition of professional qualifications of other states. The EU seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent in September 2018. The euro area unemployment rate was 8.1 per cent. Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.3 per cent), Germany and Poland (both 3.4 per cent), and the highest in Spain (11.27 per cent in 2024) and Greece (19.0 in July 2018).

The European Union has long sought to mitigate the effects of free markets by protecting workers' rights and preventing social and environmental dumping. To this end it has adopted laws establishing minimum employment and environmental standards. These included the Working Time Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. The European Directive about Minimum Wage, which looks to lift minimum wages and strengthen collective bargaining was approved by the European Parliament in September 2022.

Social rights and equality

Main articles: European social model, European Social Fund Plus, Welfare State, European Social Charter, European Voluntary Service, European labour law, List of countries by guaranteed minimum income, European Pillar of Social Rights, and List of European Union member states by minimum wage

The EU has also sought to coordinate the social security and health systems of member states to facilitate individuals exercising free movement rights and to ensure they maintain their ability to access social security and health services in other member states. Since 2019 there has been a European commissioner for equality and the European Institute for Gender Equality has existed since 2007. A Directive on countering gender-based violence has been proposed. In September 2022, a European Care strategy was approved in order to provide "quality, affordable and accessible care services". The European Social Charter is the main body that recognises the social rights of European citizens.

In 2020, the first ever European Union Strategy on LGBTIQ equality was approved under Helena Dalli mandate. In December 2021, the commission announced the intention of codifying a union-wide law against LGBT hate crimes.

Freedom, security and justice

Main article: Area of freedom, security and justice Further information: Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union See also: eu-LISA, Eurojust, European Institute for Gender Equality, European Union Agency for Asylum, European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, Europol, Frontex, and Fundamental Rights Agency

Since the creation of the European Union in 1993, it has developed its competencies in the area of justice and home affairs; initially at an intergovernmental level and later by supranationalism. Accordingly, the union has legislated in areas such as extradition, family law, asylum law, and criminal justice.

The EU has also established agencies to co-ordinate police, prosecution and civil litigations across the member states: Europol for police co-operation, CEPOL for training of police forces and the Eurojust for co-operation between prosecutors and courts. It also operates the EUCARIS database of vehicles and drivers, the Eurodac, the European Criminal Records Information System, the European Cybercrime Centre, FADO, PRADO and others.

Prohibitions against discrimination have a long standing in the treaties. In more recent years, these have been supplemented by powers to legislate against discrimination based on race, religion, disability, age, and sexual orientation. The treaties declare that the European Union itself is "founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities ... in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail." By virtue of these powers, the EU has enacted legislation on sexism in the work-place, age discrimination, and racial discrimination.

In 2009, the Lisbon Treaty gave legal effect to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The charter is a codified catalogue of fundamental rights against which the EU's legal acts can be judged. It consolidates many rights which were previously recognised by the Court of Justice and derived from the "constitutional traditions common to the member states". The Court of Justice has long recognised fundamental rights and has, on occasion, invalidated EU legislation based on its failure to adhere to those fundamental rights.

Signing the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is a condition for EU membership. Previously, the EU itself could not accede to the convention as it is neither a state nor had the competence to accede. The Lisbon Treaty and Protocol 14 to the ECHR have changed this: the former binds the EU to accede to the convention while the latter formally permits it.

The EU is independent from the Council of Europe, although they share purpose and ideas, especially on the rule of law, human rights and democracy. Furthermore, the European Convention on Human Rights and European Social Charter, as well as the source of law for the Charter of Fundamental Rights are created by the Council of Europe. The EU has also promoted human rights issues in the wider world. The EU opposes the death penalty and has proposed its worldwide abolition. Abolition of the death penalty is a condition for EU membership. On 19 October 2020, the European Union revealed new plans to create a legal structure to act against human rights violations worldwide. The new plan was expected to provide the European Union with greater flexibility to target and sanction those responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses around the world.

Examples of identity, travel and health documents used in the EU

• EU national identity card
  (German version pictured)
• Schengen visa
  (German version)
• A passport, displaying the name of the member state, the national coat of arms and the words "European Union" given in their official language(s)
  (Irish version pictured)
• European Health Insurance Card
  (Slovenian version pictured)

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the European Union See also: European Union citizenship

The population of the EU in 2021 was about 447 million people, corresponding to 5.8 per cent of the world population. The population density across the EU was 106 inhabitants per square kilometre, which is more than the world average. It is highest in areas in central and western Europe, sometimes referred to as the "blue banana", while Sweden and Finland in the north are much more sparsely populated.

The total population of the EU has been slightly decreasing for several years, contracting by 0.04 per cent in 2021. This is due to a low birth rate of about 1.5 children per woman, less than the world average of 2.3. In total, 4.1 million babies were born in the EU in 2021. Immigration to Europe partially compensates for the natural population decrease.

5.3 per cent of the people residing in the EU are not EU citizens. There were 31 non-EU citizenships that each accounted for at least 1 per cent of non-EU citizens living in the EU, of which the largest were Moroccan, Turkish, Syrian and Chinese. Around 1.9 million people immigrated to one of the EU member states from a non-EU country during 2020, and a total of 956,000 people emigrated from a member state to go to a non-EU country during the same year.

Urbanisation

See also: List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits and List of urban areas in the European Union

More than two thirds (68.2%) of EU inhabitants lived in urban areas in 2020, which is slightly less than the world average. Cities are largely spread out across the EU with a large grouping in and around the Benelux. The EU contains about 40 urban areas with populations of over 1 million. With a population of over 13 million, Paris is the largest metropolitan area and the only megacity in the EU. Paris is followed by Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, the Ruhr, Milan, and Rome, all with a metropolitan population of over 4 million.

The EU also has numerous polycentric urbanised regions like Rhine-Ruhr (Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf et al.), Randstad (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht et al.), Frankfurt Rhine-Main (Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Mainz et al.), the Flemish Diamond (Antwerp, Brussels, Leuven, Ghent et al.) and Upper Silesian-Moravian area (Katowice, Ostrava et al.).

Largest population centres of the European Union metropolitan regions, Eurostat 2023
Rank	City name	State	Pop.	Rank	City name	State	Pop.
1	Paris	France	12,388,388	11	Brussels	Belgium	3,395,581
2	Madrid	Spain	6,871,903	12	Warsaw	Poland	3,269,510
3	Barcelona	Spain	5,797,356	13	Marseille	France	3,183,476
4	Berlin	Germany	5,481,613	14	Budapest	Hungary	3,031,887
5	Ruhr	Germany	5,147,820	15	Munich	Germany	2,980,338
6	Milan	Italy	4,329,748	16	Naples	Italy	2,981,735
7	Rome	Italy	4,227,059	17	Vienna	Austria	2,971,753
8	Athens	Greece	3,626,216	18	Lisbon	Portugal	2,899,670
9	Hamburg	Germany	3,423,121	19	Stuttgart	Germany	2,816,924
10	Amsterdam	Netherlands	3,397,323	20	Prague	Czech Republic	2,796,717

Languages

Main article: Languages of the European Union See also: Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union

Official languages by percentage of speakers, 2012

Language	Native speakers	Total
German	18%	32%
French	13%	26%
Italian	12%	16%
Spanish	8%	15%
Polish	8%	9%
Romanian	5%	5%
Dutch	4%	5%
Greek	3%	4%
Hungarian	3%	3%
Portuguese	2%	3%
Czech	2%	3%
Swedish	2%	3%
Bulgarian	2%	2%
English	1%	51%
Slovak	1%	2%
Danish	1%	1%
Finnish	1%	1%
Lithuanian	1%	1%
Croatian	1%	1%
Slovene	<1%	<1%
Estonian	<1%	<1%
Irish	<1%	<1%
Latvian	<1%	<1%
Maltese	<1%	<1%

The EU has 24 official languages: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Irish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, and Swedish. Important documents, such as legislation, are translated into every official language and the European Parliament provides translation for documents and plenary sessions. Most EU institutions use only a handful of working languages: the European Commission conducts its internal business in three procedural languages: English, French, and German; the Court of Justice uses French as the working language, and the European Central Bank conducts its business primarily in English. Even though language policy is the responsibility of member states, EU institutions promote multilingualism among its citizens.

The most widely spoken language in the EU is English; the language is spoken by 44 per cent of the population (2016 data) and studied by 95 per cent of school students, although following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom less than 1 per cent of the population speak it natively. German and French are spoken by 36 per cent and 30 per cent of the population. More than half (56 per cent) of EU citizens are able to engage in a conversation in a language other than their mother tongue.

Luxembourgish (in Luxembourg) and Turkish (in Cyprus) are the only two national languages that are not official languages of the EU. Catalan, Galician and Basque are not recognised official languages of the EU but have official status in Spain. Therefore, official translations of the treaties are made into them and citizens have the right to correspond with the institutions in these languages. There are about 150 regional and minority languages in the EU, spoken by up to 50 million people. The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages ratified by most EU states provides general guidelines that states can follow to protect their linguistic heritage. The European Day of Languages is held annually on 26 September and is aimed at encouraging language learning across Europe.

Religion

Main article: Religion in the European Union

Religious affiliation in the EU (2015)

Affiliation	Per cent of EU population
Christian	71.6	71.6
Catholic	45.3	45.3
Protestant	11.1	11.1
Eastern Orthodox	9.6	9.6
Other Christian	5.6	5.6
Muslim	1.8	1.8
Other faiths	2.6	2.6
Irreligious	24.0	24
Non-believer/Agnostic	13.6	13.6
Atheist	10.4	10.4

The EU has no formal connection to any religion. Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union recognises the "status under national law of churches and religious associations" as well as that of "philosophical and non-confessional organisations". The preamble to the Treaty on European Union mentions the "cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe". Discussion over the draft texts of the European Constitution and later the Treaty of Lisbon included proposals to mention Christianity or a god, or both, in the preamble of the text, but the idea faced opposition and was dropped.

Christians in the EU include Catholics of both Roman and Eastern Rite, numerous Protestant denominations with Lutherans, Anglicans, and Reformed forming the majority of Protestant affiliations, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. In 2009, the EU had an estimated Muslim population of 13 million, and an estimated Jewish population of over a million. The other world religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism are also represented in the EU population.

Eurostat's Eurobarometer opinion polls showed in 2005 that 52 per cent of EU citizens believed in a god, 27 per cent in "some sort of spirit or life force", and 18 per cent had no form of belief. Many countries have experienced falling church attendance and membership in recent years. The countries where the fewest people reported a religious belief were Estonia (16 per cent) and the Czech Republic (19 per cent). The most religious countries were Malta (95 per cent, predominantly Catholic) as well as Cyprus and Romania (both predominantly Orthodox) each with about 90 per cent of citizens professing a belief in God. Across the EU, belief was higher among women, older people, those with religious upbringing, those who left school at 15 or 16, and those "positioning themselves on the right of the political scale".

Education and research

Main articles: Educational policies and initiatives of the European Union and Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development See also: European Institute of Innovation and Technology

Basic education is an area where the EU's role is limited to supporting national governments. In higher education, the policy was developed in the 1980s in programmes supporting exchanges and mobility. The most visible of these has been the Erasmus Programme, a university exchange programme which began in 1987. In its first 20 years, it supported international exchange opportunities for well over 1.5 million university and college students and became a symbol of European student life.

There are similar programmes for school pupils and teachers, for trainees in vocational education and training, and for adult learners in the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013. These programmes are designed to encourage a wider knowledge of other countries and to spread good practices in the education and training fields across the EU. Through its support of the Bologna Process, the EU is supporting comparable standards and compatible degrees across Europe.

Scientific development is facilitated through the EU's Framework Programmes, the first of which started in 1984. The aims of EU policy in this area are to co-ordinate and stimulate research. The independent European Research Council allocates EU funds to European or national research projects. EU research and technological framework programmes deal in a number of areas, for example energy where the aim is to develop a diverse mix of renewable energy to help the environment and to reduce dependence on imported fuels.

Health

Main article: Healthcare in Europe See also: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, European Chemicals Agency, European Medicines Agency, and European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

Article 35 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union affirms that "A high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities". The European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Consumers seeks to align national laws on the protection of people's health, on the consumers' rights, on the safety of food and other products.

All EU and many other European countries offer their citizens a free European Health Insurance Card which, on a reciprocal basis, provides insurance for emergency medical treatment insurance when visiting other participating European countries. A directive on cross-border healthcare aims at promoting co-operation on health care between member states and facilitating access to safe and high-quality cross-border healthcare for European patients.

The life expectancy in the EU was 80.1 year at birth in 2021, among the highest in the world and around nine years higher than the world average. In general, life expectancy is lower in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe. In 2018, the EU region with the highest life expectancy was Madrid, Spain at 85.2 years, followed by the Spanish regions of La Rioja and Castilla y León both at 84.3 years, Trentino in Italy at 84.3 years and Île-de-France in France at 84.2 years.

Culture

Main article: Cultural policies of the European Union

Cultural co-operation between member states has been an interest of the European Union since its inclusion as a community competency in the Maastricht Treaty. Actions taken in the cultural area by the EU include the Culture 2000 seven-year programme, the European Cultural Month event, and orchestras such as the European Union Youth Orchestra. The European Capital of Culture programme selects one or more cities in every year to assist the cultural development of that city.

Sport

Main article: Sport policies of the European Union

Sport is mainly the responsibility of the member states or other international organisations, rather than of the EU. There are some EU policies that have affected sport, such as the free movement of workers, which was at the core of the Bosman ruling that prohibited national football leagues from imposing quotas on foreign players with EU member state citizenship.

The Treaty of Lisbon requires any application of economic rules to take into account the specific nature of sport and its structures based on voluntary activity. This followed lobbying by governing organisations such as the International Olympic Committee and FIFA, due to objections over the application of free market principles to sport, which led to an increasing gap between rich and poor clubs. The EU does fund a programme for Israeli, Jordanian, Irish, and British football coaches, as part of the Football 4 Peace project.

Symbols

Further information: European Heritage Label

The flag of Europe consists of a circle of 12 golden stars on a blue background. Originally designed in 1955 for the Council of Europe, the flag was adopted by the European Communities, the predecessors of the present European Union, in 1986. The Council of Europe gave the flag a symbolic description in the following terms, though the official symbolic description adopted by the EU omits the reference to the "Western world":

Against the blue sky of the Western world, the stars symbolise the peoples of Europe in a form of a circle, the sign of union. The number of stars is invariably twelve, the figure twelve being the symbol of perfection and entirety.

— Council of Europe. Paris, 7–9 December 1955.

United in Diversity was adopted as the motto of the union in 2000, having been selected from proposals submitted by school pupils. Since 1985, the flag day of the union has been Europe Day, on 9 May (the date of the 1950 Schuman declaration). The anthem of the EU is an instrumental version of the prelude to the Ode to Joy, the 4th movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's ninth symphony. The anthem was adopted by European Community leaders in 1985 and has since been played on official occasions. Besides naming the continent, the Greek mythological figure of Europa has frequently been employed as a personification of Europe. Known from the myth in which Zeus seduces her in the guise of a white bull, Europa has also been referred to in relation to the present union. Statues of Europa and the bull decorate several of the EU's institutions and a portrait of her is seen on the 2013 series of euro banknotes. The bull is, for its part, depicted on all residence permit cards.

Charles the Great, also known as Charlemagne (Latin: Carolus Magnus) and later recognised as Pater Europae ("Father of Europe"), has a symbolic relevance to Europe. The commission has named one of its central buildings in Brussels after Charlemagne and the city of Aachen has since 1949 awarded the Charlemagne Prize to champions of European unification. Since 2008, the organisers of this prize, in conjunction with the European Parliament, have awarded the Charlemagne Youth Prize in recognition of similar efforts led by young people.

Media

Main articles: Media freedom in the European Union and European Broadcasting Union

Media freedom is a fundamental right that applies to all member states of the European Union and its citizens, as defined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as well as the European Convention on Human Rights. Within the EU enlargement process, guaranteeing media freedom is named a "key indicator of a country's readiness to become part of the EU".

The majority of media in the European Union are national-orientated, although some EU-wide media focusing on European affairs have emerged since the early 1990s, such as Euronews, Eurosport, EUobserver, EURACTIV or Politico Europe. Arte is a public Franco-German TV network that promotes programming in the areas of culture and the arts. 80 per cent of its programming are provided in equal proportion by the two member companies, while the remainder is being provided by the European Economic Interest Grouping ARTE GEIE and the channel's European partners.

The MEDIA Programme of the European Union has supported the European popular film and audiovisual industries since 1991. It provides support for the development, promotion and distribution of European works within Europe and beyond.

Influence

The European Union has had a significant positive economic effect on most member states. According to a 2019 study of the member states who joined from 1973 to 2004, "without European integration, per capita incomes would have been, on average, approximately 10% lower in the first ten years after joining the EU". Greece was the exception reported by the study, which analysed up to 2008, "to avoid confounding effects from the global financial crisis". A 2021 study in the Journal of Political Economy found that the 2004 enlargement had aggregate beneficial economic effects on all groups in both the old and new member states. The largest winners were the new member states, in particular unskilled labour in the new member states.

The European Union is frequently cited as having made a major contribution to peace in Europe, in particular by pacifying border disputes, and to the spread of democracy, especially by encouraging democratic reforms in aspiring Eastern European member states after the collapse of the USSR. Scholar Thomas Risse wrote in 2009, "there is a consensus in the literature on Eastern Europe that the EU membership perspective had a huge anchoring effects for the new democracies." However, R. Daniel Kelemen argues that the EU has proved beneficial to leaders who are overseeing democratic backsliding, as the EU is reluctant to intervene in domestic politics, gives authoritarian governments funds which they can use to strengthen their regimes, and because freedom of movement within the EU allows dissenting citizens to leave their backsliding countries. At the same time, the union might provide through Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union an external constraint that prevents electoral autocracies, currently Hungary, from progressing into closed autocracies.

See also

• Outline of the European Union
• Special territories of members of the European Economic Area
• List of country groupings
• List of multilateral free-trade agreements
• Euroscepticism
• Pan-European nationalism
• Brexit withdrawal agreement
• EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
• African Union

Notes

1. With the exception of the Canary Islands and Madeira, the outermost regions observe different time zones not shown: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin (UTC−4); French Guiana (UTC−3); Azores (UTC−1 / UTC); Mayotte (UTC+3); and La Réunion (UTC+4); which, other than the Azores, do not observe DST.
2. .eu, .ευ, and .ею are representative of the whole of the EU; member states also have their own TLDs.
3. This figure is from February 2020, and takes account of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. The population of the UK is roughly 0.9% of the world's population.
4. These legislative instruments are dealt with in more detail below.
5. According to the principle of supremacy as established by the ECJ in Case 6/64, Falminio Costa v. ENEL ECR 585. See Craig and de Búrca, ch. 7. See also: Factortame litigation: Factortame Ltd. v. Secretary of State for Transport (No. 2) 1 AC 603, Solange II (Re Wuensche Handelsgesellschaft, BVerfG decision of 22 October 1986 3 CMLR 225,265) and Frontini v. Ministero delle Finanze 2 CMLR 372; Raoul George Nicolo 1 CMLR 173.
6. ^ "Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union". Official Journal of the European Union. EUR-Lex. 30 March 2010. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
7. According to the principle of Direct Effect first invoked in the Court of Justice's decision in Van Gend en Loos v Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen, Eur-Lex (European Court of Justice 1963). See: Craig and de Búrca, ch. 5.
8. "?". EUR-Lex. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
9. To do otherwise would require the drafting of legislation which would have to cope with the frequently divergent legal systems and administrative systems of all of the now 28 member states. See Craig and de Búrca, p. 115.
10. On 3 October 1990, the constituent states of the former German Democratic Republic acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany, automatically becoming part of the EU.
11. This figure includes the extra-European territories of member states that are part of the EU, and excludes the European territories of member states which are not part of the Union. For more information, see Special member state territories and the European Union.
12. Article 3(1)(g) of the Treaty of Rome
13. See Article 2 (7) of the Amsterdam Treaty on eur-lex.europa.eu. Archived 17 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
14. Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (OJ L 180, 19 July 2000, pp. 22–26); Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (OJ L 303, 2 December 2000, pp. 16–22).
15. And is effectively treated as one of the Copenhagen criteria. Assembly.coe.int. This is a political and not a legal requirement for membership. Archived 26 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
16. "Full list - Treaty Office - publi.coe.int". Treaty Office. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
17. "?". EUR-Lex. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
18. Reference article dated February 2020, taking survey data from 2012
19. Native language
20. EU citizens able to hold a conversation in this language

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Works cited

• Craig, Paul; De Burca, Grainne (2011). EU Law: Text, Cases and Materials (5th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-957699-9.
• Demey, Thierry (2007). Brussels, capital of Europe. S. Strange (trans.). Brussels: Badeaux. ISBN 978-2-9600414-6-0.
• Jordan, A.J.; Adelle, Camilla, eds. (2012). Environmental Policy in the European Union: Contexts, Actors and Policy Dynamics (3rd ed.). Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-84971-469-3.
• McCormick, John (2007). The European superpower. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-4039-9845-3. OCLC 71266552.
• Piris, Jean-Claude (2010). The Lisbon Treaty: A Legal and Political Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-19792-2.
• Simons, George F., ed. (2002). EuroDiversity. Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-87719-381-4.
• Wilkinson, Paul (2007). International Relations: A Very Short Introduction (1st ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-280157-9.

Further reading

• Anderson, M.; Bort, E. (2001). Frontiers of the European Union. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-50797-5.
• Barnard, Catherine (2010). The Substantive Law of the EU: The four freedoms (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-956224-4.
• Bomberg, Elizabeth; Peterson, John; Corbett, Richard, eds. (2012). The European Union: How Does it Work? (New European Union) (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-957080-5.
• Berend, Ivan T. (2017). The Contemporary Crisis of the European Union: Prospects for the Future. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-24419-1.
• Bretherton, Charlotte; Vogler, John (2005). The European Union as a Global Actor. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-45882-0.
• Cini, Michelle; Borragán, Nieves Pérez-Solórzano (2019). European Union Politics. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-880653-0.
• Corbett, Richard; Jacobs, Francis; Shackleton, Michael (2011). The European Parliament (8th ed.). London: John Harper Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9564508-5-2.
• Federiga, Bindi, ed. (2010). The Foreign Policy of the European Union: Assessing Europe's Role in the World (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 978-0-8157-2252-6.
• Gareis, Sven; Hauser, Gunther; Kernic, Franz, eds. (2013). The European Union – A Global Actor?. Leverkusen, Germany: Barbara Budrich Publishers. ISBN 978-3-8474-0040-0.
• Grinin, L.; Korotayev, A.; Tausch, A. (2016). Economic Cycles, Crises, and the Global Periphery. Heidelberg, New York, Dordrecht, London: Springer International Publishing. ISBN 978-3-319-17780-9.
• Jones, Erik; Anand, Menon; Weatherill, Stephen (2012). The Oxford Handbook of the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-954628-2.
• Kaiser, Wolfram (2009). Christian Democracy and the Origins of European Union. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-511-49705-6.
• Kaiser, Wolfram; Varsori, A. (2010). European Union History: Themes and Debates. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-28150-9.
• Le Gales, Patrick; King, Desmond (2017). Reconfiguring European States in Crisis. Corby: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-879337-3.
• Mather, J. (2006). Legitimating the European Union: Aspirations, Inputs and Performance. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-62562-4.
• McAuley, James (15 August 2019). "A More Perfect Union?". New York Review of Books. ISSN 0028-7504.
• McCormick, John (2014). Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction. Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-137-36234-6.
• McCormick, John (2013). The European Union: Politics and Policies (5th ed.). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. ISBN 978-0-8133-4202-3.
• McLaren, L. (2005). Identity, Interests and Attitudes to European Integration. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-50424-0.
• Murray, Fiona (2012). The European Union and Member State Territories: A New Legal Framework Under the EU Treaties. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-90-6704-825-5.
• Nugent, Neill (2006). The Government and Politics of the European Union. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-3870-3.
• O'Brennan, John (2006). The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-23440-0.
• Pagden, Anthony; Hamilton, Lee H. (2002). The Idea of Europe: From Antiquity to the European Union. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-79552-4.
• Pinder, John; Usherwood, Simon (2013). The European Union: A Very Short Introduction (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-968169-3.
• Mount, Ferdinand (6 June 2019). "Why we go to war". London Review of Books. Vol. 41, no. 11. ISSN 0260-9592. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
• Rifkin, Jeremy (2005). The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream. City of Westminster, London: TarcherPerigee. ISBN 978-1-58542-435-1.
• Rosamond, Ben (2000). Theories of European Integration. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-23120-0.
• Scheuer, Angelika (2005). How Europeans See Europe: Structure and Dynamics of European Legitimacy Beliefs. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 978-90-5629-408-3.
• Smith, Charles (2007). International Trade and Globalisation (3rd ed.). Stocksfield: Anforme Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905504-10-7.
• Smith, Hazel Knowles (2002). European Union Foreign Policy: What it is and What it Does. Pluto Press. ISBN 978-0-7453-1870-7.
• Smith, Karen E. (2008). European Union Foreign Policy in a Changing World. Wiley. ISBN 978-0-7456-4018-1.
• Staab, Andreas (2011). The European Union Explained: Institutions, Actors, Global Impact. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-22303-6. Excerpt and text search.
• Steiner, Josephine; Woods, Lorna; Twigg-Flesner, Christian (2006). EU Law (9th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927959-3.
• Tausch, Arno (2012). Globalization, the Human Condition, and Sustainable Development in the Twenty-first Century: Cross-national Perspectives and European Implications. With Almas Heshmati and a Foreword by Ulrich Brand (1st ed.). Anthem Press, London. ISBN 978-0-85728-410-5.
• Tausch, Arno; Neriyah, Jacques (2023), Destabilizing forces and resilience in the current world crisis : comparisons of global opinion data and a Middle East analysis, Nova Science Publishers, ISBN 9798891131224
• Urwin, Derek W. (2014). The Community of Europe: A History of European Integration Since 1945. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-89252-6.
• Weigall, David; Stirk, Peter M.R. (1992). The Origins and development of the European Community. Leicester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7185-1428-0.
• Yesilada, Birol A.; Wood, David M. (2009). The Emerging European Union (5th ed.). Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-205-72380-5.

External links

• Official website
• European Union at the Encyclopædia Britannica
• Historical Archives of the European Union
• European Union. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
• The European Union: Questions and Answers. Congressional Research Service.
• Works by European Union at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about European Union at the Internet Archive
• European Union on Nobelprize.org

Articles related to the European Union

v t e European Union articles History Timeline Ideas of European unity before 1948 Founders 1948–1957 1958–1972 1973–1993 1993–2004 Since 2004 Predecessors Defence policy Western Union (1948–1954) Western European Union (1954–2011) European Communities (1967–2009) International Authority for the Ruhr (1949–1951) European Coal and Steel Community (1951–2002) European Economic Community (1958–1993) European Community (1993–2009) European Atomic Energy Community (est. 1958) Central bank European Monetary Cooperation Fund (1973–1994) European Monetary Institute (1994–1998) Financial stability European Financial Stability Facility (2010–2012) European Financial Stability Mechanism (2010–2012) Enlargements 1954 1973 1981 1986 1990 1995 2004 2007 2013 Withdrawals 1962 1984 1985 2012 2020 Geography Geography Demographics External border Environmental issues Extreme points Geographic centre Larger urban zones Member states Protected areas Regions (first-level NUTS) Special territories Statistics Bodies Institutions Legislature European Parliament President Vice-Presidents Secretariat Committees Elections Constituencies Political groups European political parties European political foundations Council of the European Union Presidency General Secretariat Eurogroup Executive European Council President Euro summit European Commission President Vice-Presidents Commissioners Directorates-General Judiciary Court of Justice of the European Union Court of Justice General Court Central bank European Central Bank President System of Central Banks Eurosystem Supreme audit institution European Court of Auditors Secretary-General Other international-law EU bodies European Atomic Energy Community EIB Group European Investment Bank European Investment Fund EIB Institute European University Institute European Stability Mechanism Unified Patent Court Independent offices European Ombudsman European Data Protection Supervisor Agencies Agencies of the European Union Advisory bodies European Committee of the Regions European Economic and Social Committee Military bodies Political and Security Committee European Union Military Committee European Union Military Staff Law Acquis Charter of Fundamental Rights Competition law Copyright law Directive Citizens' Rights Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification Official Journal Legislative procedure Citizens' Initiative Regulation LGBT rights Enhanced cooperation Treaties opt-outs Withdrawal Economy Budget Currencies Community preference Government procurement Eurozone Euro International status and usage Transport TRACECA Minimum wage Average wage Unemployment rate Health expense per person Politics Concepts European integration Eurosphere Intergovernmentalism Multi-speed Europe Neofunctionalism Optimum currency area Supranational union Euroscepticism Euromyths Federalisation Pro-Europeanism Democratic legitimacy Differentiated integration Privileged partnership Potential superpower status Policies Area of freedom, security and justice Migration and asylum policy Schengen Area European Judicial Network (criminal matters) European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters Citizenship passports identity card (list) Driving licence Vehicle registration plates Common Foreign and Security Policy Common Security and Defence Policy Permanent Structured Cooperation Enlargement Policy Neighbourhood Policy Global Strategy Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) Eurozone European banking union European Banking Supervision Single Resolution Mechanism Capital Markets Union European System of Financial Supervision Single market Agricultural policy Cultural policies Customs Union Educational policies Energy policy Environmental policy European Green Deal Fisheries policy Healthcare Health Insurance Card Labour mobility Regional development European Structural and Investment Funds Space policy Sport policies VAT Area Foreign relations Neighbourhood Policy European Economic Area EEA Joint Committee Energy Community European Political Community European Common Aviation Area European Higher Education Area EU/ESA Framework Agreement EU/ESA Space Council European Peace Facility Economic Partnership Agreements European Union Association Agreement Stabilisation and Association Process Eastern Partnership Euronest Parliamentary Assembly EU Gateway Programme EU Strategy for the South Caucasus Northern Dimension Union for the Mediterranean Global Strategy Free trade agreements Enlargement Current agenda Statistics Culture Douzelage House of European History 2012 Nobel Peace Prize Laissez-passer Languages Media freedom Public holidays Religion Telephone numbers Symbols Lists Books on the subject Directives Largest cities by population within city limits National parties by affiliation Presidents of the institutions Terrorist incidents Urban areas Outline Category Portal v t e Member states of the European Union Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden See also: Potential enlargement and Former members v t e Foreign relations of the European Union Bilateral relations See also: Economic relationships with third countries Africa Algeria Cape Verde Egypt Libya Morocco South Africa Sudan Tunisia Americas Argentina trade Brazil Canada Colombia Cuba Greenland Mexico Peru United States Uruguay Asia Bahrain Bangladesh China India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Lebanon Malaysia Nepal North Korea Pakistan Palestine† Philippines South Korea Syria Taiwan Vietnam Yemen Europe Albania Andorra Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Faroe Islands Georgia Accession negotiations Iceland Kosovo† Liechtenstein Moldova Accession negotiations Monaco Montenegro North Macedonia Northern Cyprus† Norway Russia San Marino Serbia Sovereign Military Order of Malta Switzerland Turkey Accession negotiations Ukraine Accession negotiations United Kingdom Vatican City Oceania Australia Micronesia New Zealand Papua New Guinea Former Yugoslavia General Overseas territories of member states European microstates Largest trading partners Association Agreements Free trade agreements European Union Sanctions †= Disputed state, may not be recognised as an independent state by some or all European Union members. Multilateral relations and initiatives Organisations Arab League ASEAN Council of Europe ECHR G7 ICC IOC Mercosur NATO UN Initiatives African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Asia–Europe Meeting CARIFORUM Customs Union Eastern Partnership Energy Community Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly European Common Aviation Area European Economic Area Euro-Mediterranean free trade area Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Euronest Economic Partnership Agreements EU CBRN Risk Mitigation CoE Initiative Neighbourhood Policy Northern Dimension Mediterranean Union Stabilisation and Association Process Administration and policies Foreign and Security Policy Global Strategy Neighbourhood Policy Enlargement Security and Defence Policy Administration Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development External Action Service Foreign Affairs Council High Representative Josep Borrell Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Foreign Policy Instruments Service Diplomatic missions of the EU (ambassadors) / to the EU Special Representatives Funding Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance Global Europe v t e Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union Leadership High Representative Director General of the Military Staff/Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability Director of the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability Chairman of the Military Committee European Council Foreign Affairs Council Structure External Action Service Command structure on the civilian/military strategic and operational levels (Military Planning and Conduct Capability within the Military Staff, Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, Joint Support Coordination Cell) Intelligence and Situation Centre (Club de Berne) Crisis Management and Planning Directorate Security & Defence College Agencies Defence Agency Institute for Security Studies Satellite Centre Council preparatory bodies Committee of Permanent Representatives Political and Security Committee Politico-Military Group Military Committee Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management European Commission bodies Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space Funding Defence Fund Policies Security Strategy Everything but Arms Annual Review Equipment Galileo navigation system Secure Software-defined Radio (PESCO) Decorations Service medal Medal for Extraordinary Meritorious Service Monitor mission medal Related Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Headline Goal 2010 Military Erasmus Military Mobility (PESCO) Intelligence School (PESCO) Kortenberg building NATO relations (Berlin Plus agreement, Joint Declaration) v t e Regional organizations Bodies African Union Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization Arab League Arctic Council Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Asia Cooperation Dialogue Asia Council Asia-Europe Foundation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Assembly of European Regions Association of Caribbean States AUKUS Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples' Trade Treaty British–Irish Council Bucharest Nine Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Central American Integration System Central European Free Trade Agreement Central European Initiative Collective Security Treaty Organization Commonwealth of Independent States Commonwealth of Nations Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations Community of Democratic Choice Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Council of the Baltic Sea States Council of Europe Craiova Group East African Community Economic Community of West African States Economic Cooperation Organization Eurasian Economic Union European Political Community European Union Forum for the Progress and Integration of South America GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development Gulf Cooperation Council Indian Ocean Rim Association Liptako–Gourma Authority Latin American Integration Association Latin American Parliament Lublin Triangle Melanesian Spearhead Group Mercosur Nordic Council North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Open Balkan Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Organization of American States Organization of Ibero-American States Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Pacific Alliance Pacific Islands Forum Paneuropean Union Polynesian Leaders Group Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Shanghai Cooperation Organisation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone Southern African Development Community TAKM Three Seas Initiative Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat Organization of Turkic States Union of South American Nations Visegrád Group West Nordic Council Western Balkans Quad Topics Regional integration Regional organizations by population Regionalism (international relations) v t e Laureates of the Nobel Peace Prize 1901–1925 1901: Henry Dunant / Frédéric Passy 1902: Élie Ducommun / Charles Gobat 1903: Randal Cremer 1904: Institut de Droit International 1905: Bertha von Suttner 1906: Theodore Roosevelt 1907: Ernesto Moneta / Louis Renault 1908: Klas Arnoldson / Fredrik Bajer 1909: A. M. F. Beernaert / Paul Estournelles de Constant 1910: International Peace Bureau 1911: Tobias Asser / Alfred Fried 1912: Elihu Root 1913: Henri La Fontaine 1914 1915 1916 1917: International Committee of the Red Cross 1918 1919: Woodrow Wilson 1920: Léon Bourgeois 1921: Hjalmar Branting / Christian Lange 1922: Fridtjof Nansen 1923 1924 1925: Austen Chamberlain / Charles Dawes 1926–1950 1926: Aristide Briand / Gustav Stresemann 1927: Ferdinand Buisson / Ludwig Quidde 1928 1929: Frank B. Kellogg 1930: Nathan Söderblom 1931: Jane Addams / Nicholas Butler 1932 1933: Norman Angell 1934: Arthur Henderson 1935: Carl von Ossietzky 1936: Carlos Saavedra Lamas 1937: Robert Cecil 1938: Nansen International Office for Refugees 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944: International Committee of the Red Cross 1945: Cordell Hull 1946: Emily Balch / John Mott 1947: Friends Service Council / American Friends Service Committee 1948 1949: John Boyd Orr 1950: Ralph Bunche 1951–1975 1951: Léon Jouhaux 1952: Albert Schweitzer 1953: George C. Marshall 1954: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 1955 1956 1957: Lester B. Pearson 1958: Georges Pire 1959: Philip Noel-Baker 1960: Albert Luthuli 1961: Dag Hammarskjöld 1962: Linus Pauling 1963: International Committee of the Red Cross / League of Red Cross Societies 1964: Martin Luther King Jr. 1965: UNICEF 1966 1967 1968: René Cassin 1969: International Labour Organization 1970: Norman Borlaug 1971: Willy Brandt 1972 1973: Lê Đức Thọ (declined award) / Henry Kissinger 1974: Seán MacBride / Eisaku Satō 1975: Andrei Sakharov 1976–2000 1976: Betty Williams / Mairead Corrigan 1977: Amnesty International 1978: Anwar Sadat / Menachem Begin 1979: Mother Teresa 1980: Adolfo Pérez Esquivel 1981: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 1982: Alva Myrdal / Alfonso García Robles 1983: Lech Wałęsa 1984: Desmond Tutu 1985: International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War 1986: Elie Wiesel 1987: Óscar Arias 1988: UN Peacekeeping Forces 1989: Tenzin Gyatso (14th Dalai Lama) 1990: Mikhail Gorbachev 1991: Aung San Suu Kyi 1992: Rigoberta Menchú 1993: Nelson Mandela / F. W. de Klerk 1994: Shimon Peres / Yitzhak Rabin / Yasser Arafat 1995: Pugwash Conferences / Joseph Rotblat 1996: Carlos Belo / José Ramos-Horta 1997: International Campaign to Ban Landmines / Jody Williams 1998: John Hume / David Trimble 1999: Médecins Sans Frontières 2000: Kim Dae-jung 2001–present 2001: United Nations / Kofi Annan 2002: Jimmy Carter 2003: Shirin Ebadi 2004: Wangari Maathai 2005: International Atomic Energy Agency / Mohamed ElBaradei 2006: Grameen Bank / Muhammad Yunus 2007: Al Gore / Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2008: Martti Ahtisaari 2009: Barack Obama 2010: Liu Xiaobo 2011: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf / Leymah Gbowee / Tawakkol Karman 2012: European Union 2013: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 2014: Kailash Satyarthi / Malala Yousafzai 2015: Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet 2016: Juan Manuel Santos 2017: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons 2018: Denis Mukwege / Nadia Murad 2019: Abiy Ahmed 2020: World Food Programme 2021: Maria Ressa / Dmitry Muratov 2022: Ales Bialiatski / Memorial / Center for Civil Liberties 2023: Narges Mohammadi 2024: Nihon Hidankyo v t e Laureates of the Prince or Princess of Asturias Award for Concord Prince of Asturias Award for Concord 1986: Vicariate of Solidarity 1987: Villa El Salvador 1988: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and World Wide Fund for Nature 1989: Stephen Hawking 1990: Sephardic Communities 1991: Médecins Sans Frontières and Medicus Mundi 1992: American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) 1993: Association for Peace in the Basque Country 1994: National Movement of Street Children, Messengers of Peace and Save the Children 1995: H.M. Hussein I, king of Jordan 1996: Adolfo Suárez 1997: Mstislav Rostropovich and Yehudi Menuhin 1998: Nicolás Castellanos, Vicente Ferrer, Joaquín Sanz Gadea and Muhammad Yunus 1999: Caritas Spain 2000: Royal Spanish Academy and Association of Academies of the Spanish Language 2001: World Network of Biosphere Reserves 2002: Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said 2003: J. K. Rowling 2004: The Way of St. James 2005: Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul 2006: UNICEF 2007: Yad Vashem 2008: Íngrid Betancourt 2009: The City of Berlin 2010: Manos Unidas 2011: Fukushima 50 2012: Spanish Federation of Food Banks 2013: Spanish Organization for the Blind (ONCE) 2014: Caddy Adzuba Princess of Asturias Award for Concord 2015: Hospitaller Order of St John of God 2016: SOS Children's Villages 2017: European Union 2018: Sylvia A. Earle 2019: The City of Gdańsk 2020: Spanish health workers on the front line against COVID-19 2021: José Andrés and the World Central Kitchen 2022: Shigeru Ban 2023: Mary's Meals 2024: Magnum Photos v t e Europe articles History Chronology Bibliography of European history Prehistory Classical antiquity Late antiquity Middle Ages Early modernity World War I World War II Pax Europaea Crisis situations and unrest since 2000 COVID-19 pandemic and Deltacron hybrid variant (2020–22) Russian invasion of Ukraine By topic Military Sovereignty predecessor states Geography Areas and populations Countries by area European microstates Largest metropolitan areas Cities Climate Climate change Extreme points Geology Islands Lakes Mountains Regions Rivers Sovereign states and dependent territories by population Villages Politics Eurosphere International organisations Integration Law Post-Soviet Europe Transatlantic relations Intergovernmental Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Europe (CoE) Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) European Political Community (EPC) GUAM Organization Open Balkan North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) statistics Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation European Union Economy relations free trade agreements Education European Economic Area (EEA) European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Eastern Partnership Euronest Parliamentary Assembly European Union Customs Union (EUCU) Eurozone Foreign relations Members enlargement Politics Schengen Area Visa policy Statistics Economy History Financial (and social) rankings Free trade areas Energy Telecommunications Transport Intergovernmental Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) Eurasian Customs Union (EACU) Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Sovereign states by Average wage Budget revenues per capita GDP (nominal) per capita GDP (PPP) per capita GNI (nominal) per capita GNI (PPP) per capita HDI Internet users (%) Minimum wage Press Freedom Index Unemployment rate (%) Health expense per capita Military spending (%) Urban population (%) Electricity use per capita Society Ages of consent Etiquette Social (and financial) rankings Languages endangered Tattooing Universities Bologna Process Erasmus Culture Art painting sculpture Architecture Capital of Culture Cinema film festivals Classical music Cuisine Dance Literature Philosophy Religion Christianity Islam Judaism Sport Symbols (Armorial, Flags) Demographics Ageing Childhood population (%) Ethnic groups genetic history Immigration Life expectancy by region Retirement Outline Index Category Portal Maps v t e Western world and culture Foundations Cradle of civilization Old World Greco-Roman world Greece Hellenistic Kingdoms Rome Roman Empire Western Eastern Roman legacy Romanization Romano-Germanic culture Gallo-Roman Christendom History European Bronze Age Classical antiquity 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