Project File Content
Project File Content
The European Union (EU) is a union of 27 member countries (states) located in Europe. The total
population of the EU is 447 million. Its main purpose was to establish a single standardised system in
Europe. The European Union made a single common currency called the Euro, and most of the
member countries use this as their main currency. The EU contains 5.8 per cent of the population of
the world as of 2020. The nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of the European Union is USD 17
trillion. These countries come on top of the human development index list, and have a high GDP per
capita too. The Noble Peace Prize was awarded to the EU in 2012. The European Union is a member
of the world organisations like G7, G20, UN and NATO. The EU is considered an emerging global
superpower alongside Russia, China, India, and Brazil.
Since 1900’s, Europe has been considered a global superpower. It had a major role in shaping the
world we live in right now. Some empires ruled the world for a significant amount of time. This
includes The French Empire, The British Empire, The Dutch Empire, and The German Empire. Some
notable empires of Europe include The Roman Empire, Charlemagne’s France, The Byzantine Empire,
and The Holy Roman Empire, among others. Europe, in the 20th century, was in a power struggle.
The British and the French Empires ruled at least 50 per cent of the earth’s landmass. The German
Empire was getting stronger after the unification. The Russian Empire was eyeing the Eastern
European borders.
Technology has come a long way. World War I started in 1917 and lasted up to 4 years. After two
decades, World War II took place. This war was the costliest in terms of both life and money. Western
Europe was in a recovery stage after the war. Eastern Europe was under the occupation of Soviet
Russia. After the fall of the Soviet Union, war broke out on the eastern front. Yugoslavia disintegrated
and was split into parts. Many treaties like the Treaty of Rome, the Maastricht Treaty, and the Lisbon
Treaty were signed. These treaties ensured peace and oneness amongst the European countries.
Hence, this oneness led to the foundation of the European Union.
Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, West Germany, France, and Luxembourg were the founding nations
of the European Union. The member countries must follow the Copenhagen criteria. It should accept
most of the laws and systems decided in the treaties. The United Kingdom were the first country to
leave the European Union in 2020. Greenland is an autonomous province of Denmark that left the
EU in 1985. The candidates for becoming member countries are Albania, Iceland, North Macedonia,
Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey. Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered potential candidates.
Monaco, Vatican City and San Marino are non-EU states that use the Euro.
The European Union had a crucial impact on the member countries. The EU was responsible for the
post-war economic recovery of many countries. The overall GDP of the European countries has
increased since they joined the EU, and they avoided many major financial crises. The financial
situation in Greece is excluded here. Democratic governments were formed in eastern Europe after
the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The European Union has strengthened their muscles as a
geopolitical superpower. It has the third-largest GDP in the world, behind the United States of
America and China. The EU has provided hostility to people in ongoing war countries. Most of the
migrants are from the middle east. Some member countries like Germany, France and Italy are in the
top ten economies globally.
Conclusion
The European Union is a political and economic coalition of European countries. There is a total of 27
members in the EU. Its main aim is to promote peace, security, and justice in the EU borders. The
total population of the EU is 447 million. Its main purpose was to establish a single standardised
system in Europe. The nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the European Union is USD 17
trillion. The Noble Peace Prize was awarded to the EU in 2012. The European Union is a member of
the world organisations like G7, G20, UN and NATO. Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, West Germany,
France, and Luxembourg were the founding nations of the European Union.