When, how and why was the European Union, or EU, founded? How do states and peoples work together within the EU? How has the EU developed in the 50 years of its history? How did Europe develop an internal market and achieve economic and monetary union?

We present to you the 27 Member States and the candidate countries of the European Union and explain the most important terms in European politics.

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• History of the European Union
• Institutions and bodies
• Decision-making in the EU
• Member States
• Enlargement process
• European Constitutional Treaty
• Glossary