The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The EU was founded in the aftermath of World War II by six neighboring countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, with the goal of uniting European countries economically and politically to secure lasting peace and prosperity. Today, the EU has a total area of 4,233,255 km² and an estimated total population of over 448 million. The EU is often described as a sui generis political entity, combining the characteristics of both a federation and a confederation.
The EU has several key features, including:
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Member States: The EU is made up of 27 member states, which have delegated part of their sovereignty to common institutions to democratically make decisions on matters of common interest.
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Institutions: The EU consists of seven major institutions and dozens of smaller bodies that make law, coordinate foreign affairs and trade, and manage a common budget. The main institutions of the EU include the European Council, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank, and the European Court of Auditors.
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Policies: The EU maintains common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries, regional development, and more. Passport controls have been abolished for travel within the Schengen Area, and 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.
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Values: All countries that are part of the European Union work together to make sure that there is peace in Europe, people have good lives, things are fair for all people, and nobody is left out.
The EU has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012, in recognition of its work for peace, democracy, and human rights in Europe and around the world.
