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The European Union
The European Union is a group of 27 countries in Europe.
These countries came together
to make things better, easier and safer for people.
They agreed to work together and help each other.
How the European Union started
The idea to make the European Union came
after two big wars happened in Europe.
Countries in Europe saw that
it is better to work together
than fighting against each other.
In the beginning, only 6 countries in Europe started working together:
Belgium
France
Germany
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Soon, more and more countries in Europe joined them
and the European Union was made.
Today, 27 countries are part of the European Union.
These countries are:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
In June 2016 the United Kingdom decided
to stop being part of the European Union.
So from 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom
is no longer part of the European Union.
The goals and values of the European Union
All countries that are part of the European Union work together
to make sure that:
there is peace in Europe
people have good lives
things are fair for all people and nobody is left out
the languages and cultures of all people
are respected
there is a strong European economy
and countries use the same coin
to do business together.
The countries of the European Union
share some important values.
For example, they work to make sure that all people are equal
and their rights are respected.
Peace in Europe
After the European Union was created,
there were no more wars between the countries
that are part of the European Union.
Thanks to the European Union,
all countries in Europe work together in peace.
In 2012, the European Union won a big award
which is called ‘the Nobel Peace Prize’.
This award was given to the European Union
for its good work keeping peace in Europe.
Free move
The European Union made it easier for people
to move freely from one country to another.
They can live, study or work
in any country of the European Union they want.
For example, a person from France can choose
to move to Italy and work there.
Or a student from Belgium can go study in a university in Greece.
Things, services and money can also move freely
from one country of the European Union to another.
The European Union in the world
The European Union plays an important role in the world in many ways.
For example:
It sells many things and services to other countries.
Also, it buys things from other countries.
This way it helps the world economy keep going.
It helps millions of people
who live in poorer countries outside the European Union.
It tries to make the world a safer place
where people are treated fairly and laws are respected.
Becoming part of the European Union
To become part of the European Union,
a country must:
agree with all the laws and values
of the European Union.
work to make sure these laws and values
are respected.
This may take a very long time to happen.
Some countries are now working to become part of the European Union.
These countries are:
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Georgia
Moldova
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia
Türkiye
Ukraine
To become part of the European Union,
these countries must work
to make all laws and values of the European Union
happen in them.
The Schengen Area
The European Union made the ‘Schengen Area’.
The Schengen Area is an area without borders.
In this area, people can travel from country to country freely and easily.
They do not have to go through checks and controls
when they pass from one country to another.
Thanks to the Schengen Area, it is now easier for people
to travel for work or tourism.
The Schengen Area was made in 1985.
Today 25 out of the 27 countries of the European Union
are part of the Schengen Area.
These countries are:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Also, 4 countries outside the European Union
are part of the Schengen Area:
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
Switzerland
That means that people can travel freely and easily
from one of these countries to another.
This way it is easier for people to visit any of these countries
for tourism or for work.
Languages of the European Union
In every country of the European Union
people speak their own language.
The European Union protects the right of people
to communicate in their own language.
That is why the European Union
makes all important information and documents
in all the languages that people speak in its countries:
Bulgarian
Croatian
Czech
Danish
Dutch
English
Estonian
Finnish
French
German
Greek
Hungarian
Irish
Italian
Latvian
Lithuanian
Maltese
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Slovak
Slovenian
Spanish
Swedish
This way all people in the European Union
can get important information in their own language
and understand it.
The coin of the European Union
Most countries that are part of the European Union use the same coin.
This coin is called ‘Euro’.
Using the same coin helps countries
in the European Union to do business together.
For example, people from Spain
can buy things they want from Belgium
easily and without extra costs.
Using the same coin
makes it easier for people to travel,
buy things online from other countries
and have more options.
Today, 20 out of 27 European Union countries use the euro.
These countries are:
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Cyprus
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
The European flag
This is the flag of the European Union:
The flag of the European Union is blue
and has a circle of gold stars on it.
It is a symbol that shows that the countries of the European Union
are united and stand by each other.
The European anthem
Every country has a melody
that better shows its values and culture as a country.
This melody is called ‘anthem’.
The European Union has its own anthem too.
In 1985, people who make decisions
in the European Union
chose a melody of a very important composer
to be the anthem of the European Union.
This composer is called Ludwig van Beethoven.
The melody shows how important it is
that all people are free, live in peace
and stand by each other.
The European Union believes in these values
and that is why it has chosen this melody
to be its anthem.
If you want to listen to the anthem of the European Union, click here.
United in diversity
The European Union uses the phrase ‘united in diversity’
to show what its values are.
Being united in diversity means that:
people in the European Union
may have different cultures or languages
but they stand by each other
and work together in peace.
there is nothing wrong
about having different languages or cultures.
On the contrary.
People with different cultures
can learn more things from each other and work well together.
How the European Union works
The European Union has 3 main bodies:
the European Commission
The people of the European Commission
suggest laws for the European Union.
the European Parliament
The people of the European Parliament
are elected by all people in Europe
to stand for their rights.
the Council of the European Union
People who make decisions
in every country of the European Union
come together and make
the Council of the European Union.
These 3 bodies are very important for the European Union.
They work closely together to make things better in Europe:
The European Commission suggests laws.
The European Parliament
and the Council of the European Union
discuss these laws and decide if they want these laws
to happen in Europe.
If they decide that a law must happen in Europe,
all countries of the European Union
must work to make this law happen in them.
Other bodies that are important for the European Union are:
The Court of Justice of the European Union
that makes sure that all laws happen correctly
in the European Union.
the Court of Auditors
that checks if the money of the European Union
is spent in the right way.
There are also other bodies of the European Union
that are doing important work.
For example, there are bodies that:
check if the European Union works in the right
way and respects the rights of all people.
publish useful information
about the European Union.
choose the people who have the skills
to work for the European Union.
stand for the rights of all people in Europe
like people with disabilities, workers and others.
All these bodies work together to make sure that the European Union works
in the right way for the good of its people.
More information
Click here to find more information
about the European Union in your own language.
If you have questions about the European Union,
you can fill this online form here.
