• The European Union (EU) is an international organization formed in 1993 with the signing of the Maastricht Treaty by 28 countries.
• The EU currently has 27 members, following the UK’s exit on 31st January 2020.
• The last country to join the EU was Croatia in 2013.
• Established on November 1, 1993, with headquarters in Brussels and Luxembourg.
• The EU is a supranational political and economic union primarily composed of European countries.
• The EU spans a total area of 4,233,255 km² and has an estimated population of over 449 million.
• Often described as a sui generis political entity, combining aspects of both a federation and a confederation.
• The EU represents 5.5% of the world population in 2023, with a nominal GDP of around €17.935 trillion in 2024, making up about one-sixth of global nominal GDP.
• The Customs Union is a cornerstone of the EU, establishing an internal single market with a standardized legal framework for matters where states act as one.
• EU policies focus on ensuring the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital within the internal market, along with legislation in justice and home affairs.
• The EU also maintains common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries, and regional development.
• Passport controls have been abolished within the Schengen Area for travel.
• The eurozone consists of 20 EU member states that have adopted the euro as their currency, forming an economic and monetary union.
• Through the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the EU plays a role in external relations and defence, with permanent diplomatic missions worldwide and representation at international bodies like the UN, World Trade Organization, G7, and G20.
• Due to its global influence, the EU is seen by some as an emerging superpower.
• The EU’s establishment and citizenship were formalized with the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 and its legal status as an international juridical person was solidified with the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009.
• The EU’s origins trace back to the Inner Six states (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany) in 1948, with earlier institutions like the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community, and the European Atomic Energy Community.
• Over time, the EU expanded through the accession of 22 states from 1973 to 2013, gaining power and influence through the acquisition of new policy areas.

What is European Union?

• The European Union is a 1993 international organization made up of European countries.
•  It came into effect after 28 countries signed the Maastricht Treaty.
• The Treaty of Maastricht is also known as the Treaty of the European Union (TEU). The city of Maastricht is located in the Netherlands.
•  It was amended three times. The amendments are:
  • The Amsterdam Treaty (1997)
  • The Nice Treaty (2001)
  • The Lisbon Treaty (2007)
• There are 24 official languages of the European Union.
• The Euro is the official currency of 19 of these countries. 9 EU members do not use the euro: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
• The EU arose from a desire to create a unified European political entity to put an end to decades of conflict between European countries, which peaked in World War II and annihilated most of the continent.
• The EU has created an internal single market by establishing a uniform set of regulations that apply to all member states in situations where they have agreed to function as one.

Member Countries of the EU

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

Objectives of EU

• Promote peace, harmony, and well-being of all people of the EU.
• Provide liberty, safety, and justice without internal borders
• A highly competitive market economy with full employment and social advancement, as well as environmental conservation, are all necessary for long-term development.
• Combating discrimination and socioeconomic exclusion
• Encourage scientific and technical advancement.
• Improve EU countries’ economic, social, and territorial coherence and solidarity
• Respect the country’s diverse cultural and linguistic heritage.
• Create an economic and monetary union with the euro as its currency.