The European Union (EU) is the result of a process of co-operation and integration which began in 1951 between six countries, which were Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

After nearly fifty years, with the introductions of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom, 1973, Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986 and then Austria, Finland and Sweden joined in 1995. The EU today has fifteen Member States (Countries belonging to it) and is preparing for its fifth enlargement, this time towards Eastern and Southern Europe.

The European Union's mission is to organise relations between the countries who belong to it and between the people who live there in a way that makes sense and brings everybody together.

• To promote economic and social progress: The single market was established in 1993 and the single currency was launched in 1999.
• To assert the identity of the European Union on the international scene: Through giving European humanitarian aid to non-EU countries, having a common foreign and security policy, taking action in international crises and holding common positions within international organisations.
• To introduce European citizenship: Not replacing national citizenship but complementing it and conferring a number of civil and politic rights on European citizens.
• To develop an area of freedom, security and justice: Operating an internal market and having the freedom of movement of persons between the member countries in terms of work and travel.
• To maintain and build on established EU law: There legislation adopted by the European institutions, together with the founding treaties.