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European unity

Circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background
Motto: "In Varietate Concordia" (Latin)
"United in Diversity"
Anthem: "Ode to Joy" (orchestral)
Projection of Europe with the European Union in green
The European Union in the European continent
The European Union and its outermost regions
The European Union and its outermost regions
Capital Brussels (de facto)
50°51′N 4°21′E / 50.850°N 4.350°E / 50.850; 4.350
Largest cities London and Paris
Official languages
Semi-official languages
Religion
Demonym European
Type Political and economic union
Member states
Leaders
Jean-Claude Juncker
Donald Tusk
Antonio Tajani
Legislature Council of the EU
European Parliament
Formation
1 January 1958
1 November 1993
1 July 2013
Area
• Total
4,475,757 km2 (1,728,099 sq mi)
• Water (%)
3.08
Population
• 2016 estimate
510,056,011
• Density
116.4/km2 (301.5/sq mi)
GDP (PPP) 2016 estimate
• Total
$19,973 trillion (2nd)
• Per capita
$39,212
GDP (nominal) 2016 estimate
• Total
$16,518 trillion (2nd)
• Per capita
$32,384
Gini (2015) Negative increase 31
medium
HDI (2014) Increase 0.865
very high
Currency
Time zone WET (UTC)
CET (UTC+1)
EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)
WEST (UTC+1)
CEST (UTC+2)
EEST (UTC+3)
Date format dd/mm/yyyy
Internet TLD .eu
Website
europa.eu
  1. ^ London and Paris are the largest cities in the European Union by urban population.
  2. ^ Not including outermost regions.
  3. ^ Currently undergoing exit procedures.
  4. ^ All 24 official languages of the EU are accepted as working languages, but in practice only two – English and French – are in wide general use and of these English is the more commonly used.
Bulgarian: Европейски съюз
Croatian: Europska unija
Czech: Evropská unie
Danish: Den Europæiske Union
Dutch: Europese Unie
English: European Union
Estonian: Euroopa Liit
Finnish: Euroopan unioni
French: Union européenne
German: Europäische Union
Greek: Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση
Hungarian: Európai Unió
Irish: An tAontas Eorpach
Italian: Unione europea
Latvian: Eiropas Savienība
Lithuanian: Europos Sąjunga
Maltese: Unjoni Ewropea
Polish: Unia Europejska
Portuguese: União Europeia
Romanian: Uniunea Europeană
Slovak: Európska únia
Slovene: Evropska unija
Spanish: Unión Europea
Swedish: Europeiska unionen

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.


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