The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. It has an area of 4,475,757 km2(1,728,099 sq mi), and an estimated population of over 510 million. The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital within the internal market,enact legislation in justice and home affairs, and maintain common policies on trade,agriculture,fisheries, and regional development. Within the Schengen Area, passport controls have been abolished. A monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002, and is composed of 19 EU member states which use the euro currency.
The EU operates through a hybrid system of supranational and intergovernmental decision-making. The seven principal decision-making bodies—known as the institutions of the European Union—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 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. 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 in 1993 and introduced European citizenship. 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, the EU in 2016 generated a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of 16.477 trillion US dollars, constituting approximately 22.2% of global nominal GDP and 16.9% when measured in terms of purchasing power parity.Additionally, 26 out of 28 EU countries have a very high Human Development Index, according to the United Nations Development Programme. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Through the Common 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 World Trade Organization, the G7, and the G20. Because of its global influence, the European Union has been described as an emerging superpower.
Austria
EU member country since: 1 January 1995
Capital: Vienna
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 1 December 2007
Belgium
EU member country since: 1 January 1958
Capital: Brussels
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Bulgaria
EU member country since: 1 January 2007
Capital: Sofia
Currency: Bulgarian lev BGN
Schengen: not a member of the Schengen area
Croatia
EU member country since: 1 July 2013
Capital: Zagreb
Currency: Croatian Kuna HRK
Schengen: not a member of the Schengen area
Cyprus
EU member country since: 1 May 2004
Capital: Nicosia
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2008
Schengen: not a member of the Schengen area
Czech Republic
EU member country since: 1 May 2004
Capital: Prague
Currency: Czech koruna (CZK)
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Denmark
EU member country since: 1 January 1973
Capital: Copenhagen
Currency: Danish krone DKK
Schengen: Schengen area member since 25 March 2001
Estonia
EU member country since: 1 May 2004
Capital: Tallinn
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2011
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Finland
EU member country: since 1 January 1995
Capital: Helsinki
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 25 March 2001
France
EU member country since: 1 January 1958
Capital: Paris
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Germany
EU member country since: 1 January 1958
Capital: Berlin
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Greece
EU member country since: 1 January 1981
Capital: Athens
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2001
Schengen: Schengen area member since 1 January 2000
Hungary
EU member country since: 1 May 2004
Capital: Budapest
Currency: Hungarian Forint HUF
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Ireland
EU member country since 1 January 1973
Capital: Dublin
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: not a member of the Schengen area
Italy
EU member country since: 1 January 1958
Capital: Rome
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 October 1997
Latvia
EU member country since: 1 May 2004
Capital: Riga
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2014
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Lithuania
EU member country since: 1 May 2004
Capital: Vilnius
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2015
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Luxembourg
EU member country since: 1 January 1958
Capital: Luxembourg
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Malta
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Capital: Valletta
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2008
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Netherlands
EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Capital: Amsterdam
Currency: Euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Poland
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Capital: Warsaw
Currency: Polish Złoty PLN
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Portugal
EU member country: since 1 January 1986
Capital: Lisbon
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Romania
EU member country: since 1 January 2007
Capital: Bucharest
Currency: Romanian Leu RON
Schengen: not a member of the Schengen area
Slovakia
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Capital: Bratislava
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2009
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Slovenia
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Capital: Ljubljana
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2007
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Spain
EU member country: since 1 January 1986
Capital: Madrid
Currency: euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Sweden
EU member country: since 1 January 1995
Capital: Stockholm
Currency: Swedish krona SEK
Schengen: Schengen area member since 25 March 2001
United Kingdom
EU member country: since 1 January 1973
Capital: London
Currency: pound sterling GBP
Schengen: not a member of the Schengen area
0 comments:
Post a Comment