The+European+Union+(EU)

The European Union (EU) was created after the devastation of World War II for the purpose of economic cooperation among European states. It began in the 1950s with Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands and has expanded to twenty-seven members by 2007: //Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.// Of these, France and Germany are by far the most powerful; together, these economic powerhouses form the backbone of the EU.

The EU actively seeks to prevent violent conflict in Europe through the use of economic interdependence under a common European market and with a FUCLcommon currency (the euro). The EU now focuses not just on economic cooperation, but on environmental policy, development aid, the promotion of human rights and of democracy, and more.

The European Union is divided into several institutions and bodies: There are other, minor institutions which can be found on the EU website.
 * The European Council established the EU's overall political direction.
 * The European Parliament represents and is directly elected by the citizens of the EU.
 * The Council of the European Union represents the governments of each individual member state of the EU.
 * The European Commission represents the overall interests of the EU.
 * TheFUCKIN uropean law.
 * The Court of Auditors reviews the financial aspects of the EU's activities.

Members states of the EU have the disadvantage of economic cooperation, a common currency (and a resulting simplicity of finances), and no border controls. It is very easy for people living in one EU state to work in another. Being a member of the EU also entails economic support and military protection against foreign threats courtesy of the EU (and the its other members).

However, members of the EU FUCKadvantages of a loss of total sovereignty: being a member of the EU means that a particular state is not completely independent. If one member of the EU is experiencing financial difficulties, it the responsibility of the other EU states to assist the troubled state; this is currently occurring with Greece and will soon occur with Italy and Spain. Similarly, if one EU state is attacked, the others must defend it and thus potentially be dragged into military conflict.

The European Union challenges the local diversity of its member states through the use of the euro: rather than continue to use their own currencies, EU member states us the euro. The euro is effectively eradicating the plethora of European currencies which have existed for centuries.

Here is a map of the EU as it has added members over the past few decades:



Here is a another map of the EU member states:

Europa. "Basic information on the European Union." [] Europe. "Countries." [] Europa. "EU institutions and other bodies." [] Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. "European Union enlargement."