The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership involving 28 European countries (Austria (1995)/ Belgium (1958)/ Bulgaria (2007)/ Croatia (2013)/ Cyprus (2004)/ Czech Republic (2004)/ Denmark (1973)/ Estonia (2004)/ Finland (1995)/ France (1958)/ Germany (1958)/ Greece (1981)/ Hungary (2004)/ Ireland (1973)/ Italy (1958)/ Latvia (2004)/ Lithuania (2004)/ Luxembourg (1958)/ Malta (2004)/ Netherlands (1958)/ Poland (2004)/ Portugal (1986)/ Romania (2007)/ Slovakia (2004)/ Slovenia (2004)/ Spain (1986)/ Sweden (1995)/ United Kingdom (1973). It began after World War Two to foster economic co-operation, with the idea that countries which trade together are more likely to avoid going to war with each other. It has since grown to become a “single market” allowing goods and people to move around, basically as if the member states were one country. It has its own currency, the euro, which is used by 19 of the member countries (Austria/ Belgium/ Cyprus/ Estonia/ Finland/ France/ Germany/ Greece/ Ireland/ Italy/ Latvia/ Lithuania/ Luxembourg/ Malta/ Netherlands/ Portugal/ Spain/ Slovenia/ Slovakia), its own parliament and it now sets rules in a wide range of areas – including on the environment, transport, consumer rights and even things like mobile phone charges.
