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:
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.
Listen to the Anthem played by the Orchestra:
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 ParliamentThe people of the European Parliament are elected by all people in Europe to stand for their rights.
- the Council of the European UnionPeople 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.
Source: https://european-union.europa.eu/easy-read_en
OCD | 31.1.2020, V 25
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