European Union or the European Union (English : European Union ) , also known as the Commonwealth Europe , the EU stands for , is a political and economic alliance includes 28 member states [ 9 ] under the European Europe . The European Union was established by the Treaty of Maastricht on November 1, 1993 based on the European Community ( EC ) . [ 10 ] With over 500 million people , [ 11 ] the European Union accounted for 30 % ( 18 , 4 trillion U.S. dollars in 2008) nominal GDP and about 22 % ( U.S. $ 15.2 trillion in 2008) GDP purchasing power parity of the world . [ 12 ]
The European Union has developed a single market through the legal system applicable standards for all Member States to ensure the free circulation of people, goods , services and capital . [ 13 ] EU maintains common policies on trade , [ 14 ] agriculture , fisheries [ 15 ] and local development . [ 16 ] 16 member states have adopted a common currency , the euro , creating areas Euro . The European Union has developed a certain role in foreign policy , representatives of the World Trade Organisation , G8 , G - 20 major economies and the United Nations . The European Union has approved the abolition of passport control in the Schengen Agreement between 22 member states and 4 countries not members of the European Union . [ 17 ] ) , [ 18 ]
As an international organization , the European Union operates through a system of supranational political and intergovernmental mixture . [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] The most important political institutions of the European Union Europe, including the European Commission , the European Parliament Council of the European Union , European Council Court of justice, the European Union and the European Central Bank .
The European Union is derived from the European Coal and Steel Community [ 22 ] from six original member states in 1951 . From then until now, the European Union has grown over the quantity and quality through strengthening the authority of the European Union .
members
The members (purple ) and candidates (red ) of the European Union 2004-2007 ( ISO 3166 )
History of the European Union began after the First World War 2 . Could be said that the desire to prevent recurrence of devastating war has boosted the European integration . French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman who raised the idea and suggested for the first time in a famous speech May 9, 1950 . Well this day is the day that is now considered to be the birthday of European Union and is annually celebrated as " Europe Day " .
Initially , the European Union consists of six member states : Belgium , Germany , Italy , Luxembourg , France , Netherlands . 1973 , increased to include nine member states . 1981 , increased to 10 . 1986 , increased to 12 . 1995 , increased to 15 . 2004 , increased to 25 . Increased to 27 in 2007 . 07.01.2013 From the EU has 28 members .
Here is a list of 28 member states of the European Union joined the ranks in years .
1951 : Belgium , Germany , Italy , Luxembourg , France , Netherlands
1973 : Denmark , Ireland , UK
1981 : Greece
1986 : Spain , Portugal
1995: Austria , Finland , Sweden
On 01/05/2004 : Czech Republic , Hungary , Poland , Slovakia , Slovenia , Lithuania , Latvia , Estonia , Malta , Cyprus
1/1/2007 : Romania , Bulgaria
07/01/2013 : Croatia
Currently, the European Union has an area of 4,422,773 km ² with a population of 492.9 million people (2006 ) [ 32 ] ; with a total GDP of 11.6 trillion euros ( approximately U.S. $ 15.7 trillion ) in 2007 . Almost all European countries are members of the European Union .
As of late 2010 , there are 4 countries are evaluated as candidates officially admitted to the European Union members are: Iceland , Macedonia , [ nb 1 ] [ 33 ] Montenegro and Turkey . Albania , Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are potential candidates . [ 34 ] Kosovo is also listed among the potential candidates to join the European Union as the European Commission and virtually all states other EU members have recognized Kosovo as an independent country , separate from Serbia . [ 35 ]
In Western European countries are not members of the European Union but has a certain agreement of economic cooperation and the law of the European Union are: Iceland ( candidates to join the European Union ) , Liechtenstein and Norway , members of the single market through the European Economic area , and Switzerland , similar to the case of Norway but through bilateral agreements between these countries and the European Union . [ 36 ] [ 37 ] in addition, the euro and other areas of cooperation are also applicable to small member states such as Andorra , Monaco , San Marino and Vatican . [ 38 ]