European Union
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"EU" redirects here. For other uses, see EU (disambiguation).
| ||||
| Motto: "United in diversity"[1][2][3] | ||||
| Anthem: "Ode to Joy" (orchestral)[2] | ||||
.svg) | ||||
| Capital | Brussels (de facto)[4] 50°51′N 4°21′E | |||
| Largest cities | London and Paris | |||
| Official languages | ||||
| Demonym | European[5] | |||
| Type | Politico-economicunion | |||
| Member states | ||||
| Leaders | ||||
| • | President of the European Commission | Jean-Claude Juncker | ||
| • | President of the European Council | Donald Tusk | ||
| • | President of the European Parliament | Martin Schulz | ||
| Legislature | Council of the EU European Parliament | |||
| Formation[6] | ||||
| • | Treaty of Rome | 1 January 1958 | ||
| • | Treaty of Maastricht | 1 November 1993 | ||
| Area | ||||
| • | Total | 4,324,782 km2 (7tha) 1,669,808 sq mi | ||
| • | Water (%) | 3.08 | ||
| Population | ||||
| • | 2015 estimate | 508,191,116[7] (3rda) | ||
| • | Density | 115.8/km2 300.9/sq mi | ||
| GDP (PPP) | 2015 estimate | |||
| • | Total | $19.205 trillion[8](2nda) | ||
| • | Per capita | $37,852[8] (18tha) | ||
| GDP (nominal) | 2015 estimate | |||
| • | Total | $16.220 trillion[8](2nda) | ||
| • | Per capita | $31,918[8] (25tha) | ||
| Gini (2010) | 30.4[9] medium | |||
| HDI (2011) |  0.876[10]very high · 13th / 25tha | |||
| Currency | ||||
| Time zone | WET (UTC)[a] CET (UTC+1) EET (UTC+2) | |||
| • | Summer (DST) | WEST (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2) EEST (UTC+3) | ||
| Internet TLD | .eu[b] | |||
| Website europa | ||||
| a. | If considered as a single entity. | |||
The European Union (EU) is an economic-political union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe.[11][12] It covers an area of 4,324,782 km2, with an estimated population of over 508 million. It operates through a hybrid system of supranational and intergovernmental decision-making.[13][14] Its institutions are: the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank, and the European Court of Auditors.
The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states. Within the Schengen Area, passport controls have been abolished.[15] EU policies aim to ensure thefree movement of people, goods, services, and capital,[16] enact legislation in justice and home affairs, and maintain common policies on trade,[17] agriculture,[18] fisheries, and regional development.[19] The monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002. It is currently composed of 19 member states that use the euro as their legal tender.
The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC), formed by the Inner Six countries in 1951 and 1958, respectively. In the intervening years, the community and its successors have grown in size by the accession of new member states and in power by the addition of policy areas to its remit. The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union under its current name in 1993 and introduced European citizenship.[20] The latest major amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU, the Treaty of Lisbon, came into force in 2009.
Covering 7.3% of the world population,[21] the EU in 2014 generated a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of 18.495 trillion US dollars, constituting approximately 24% of global nominal GDP and 17% when measured in terms of purchasing power parity.[22] Additionally, 26 out of 28 EU countries have a very high Human Development Index, according to the UNDP. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.[23] Through theCommon Foreign and Security Policy, the EU has developed a role in external relations and defence. The union maintains permanent diplomatic missions throughout the world and represents itself at the United Nations, the WTO, the G8, and the G-20. Because of its global influence, the European Union has been described as a current or as a potential superpower.[24]
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