Jim, this is what Wikipedia has to say:
The
European Union (
EU) is an
economic and
political union of 27
member states which are located primarily in
Europe.<SUP id=cite_ref-Oxford_Dictionary_of_English_8-0 class=reference>
[7]</SUP> The EU traces its origins from the
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the
European Economic Community (EEC), formed by
six countries in 1958. In the intervening years the EU has 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.<SUP id=cite_ref-EU1993_9-0 class=reference>
[8]</SUP> The last amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU, the
Treaty of Lisbon, came into force in 2009.
The EU operates through a hybrid system of
supranational independent institutions and
intergovernmentally made decisions negotiated by the member states.<SUP id=cite_ref-Britannica_10-0 class=reference>
[9]</SUP><SUP id=cite_ref-CIA_11-0 class=reference>
[10]</SUP><SUP id=cite_ref-12 class=reference>
[11]</SUP> Important
institutions of the EU include the
European Commission, the
Council of the European Union, the
European Council, the
Court of Justice of the European Union, and the
European Central Bank. The
European Parliament is elected every five years by
EU citizens.
The EU has developed a
single market through a standardised system of laws which apply in all member states including the abolition of passport controls within the
Schengen area.<SUP id=cite_ref-Internal_borders_13-0 class=reference>
[12]</SUP> It ensures the
free movement of people, goods, services, and capital,<SUP id=cite_ref-Europa_Internal_Market_14-0 class=reference>
[13]</SUP> enacts legislation in justice and
home affairs, and maintains common policies on trade,<SUP id=cite_ref-15 class=reference>
[14]</SUP>
agriculture,<SUP id=cite_ref-16 class=reference>
[15]</SUP>
fisheries and
regional development.<SUP id=cite_ref-17 class=reference>
[16]</SUP> A monetary union, the
eurozone, was established in 1999 and is currently composed of 17 member states. Through the
Common Foreign and Security Policy the EU has developed a limited role in
external relations and
defence. Permanent
diplomatic missions have been established around the world and the EU is represented at the
United Nations, the
WTO, the
G8 and the
G-20.
It basically de-nationalized individual European countries. Take from the rich & give to the poor deal, which makes the rich poor! Everyone looses in the long run. Anyone else care to comment on how it is going for you guy's in Europe?
"The
European Parliament is elected every five years by
EU citizens". Yeah right! Should read politicians! The only benefactors have been Spain, Portugal and Eastern Europe to the detrement of all else. IMO, of course.
