Portal:European Union

Introduction Portal subpages Main page Institutions Competences Structural evolution Member states   Welcome to the European Union Portal! The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of 4,233,255 km2 (1,634,469 sq mi) and an estimated total population of over 448 million. The EU has often been described as a sui generis political entity (without precedent or comparison) combining the characteristics of both a federation and a confederation. Containing 5.8% of the world population in 2020, EU member states generated a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of around US$16.6 trillion in 2022, constituting approximately one sixth of global nominal GDP. Additionally, all EU states except Bulgaria have a very high Human Development Index according to the United Nations Development Programme. Its cornerstone, the Customs Union, paved the way to establishing an internal single market based on standardised legal framework and legislation that applies in all member states in those matters, and only those matters, where the states have agreed to act as one. 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. Passport controls have been abolished for travel within the Schengen Area. The eurozone is a group composed of the 20 EU member states that have fully implemented the economic and monetary union and use the euro currency. Through the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the union has developed a role in external relations and defence. It maintains permanent diplomatic missions throughout the world and represents itself at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the G7 and the G20. Due to its global influence, the European Union has been described by some scholars as an emerging superpower. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The United Kingdom became the only member state to leave the EU, in 2020; ten countries are aspiring or negotiating to join it. (Full article...) Selected article The Treaty of Lisbon or Lisbon Treaty (initially known as the Reform Treaty) is an international agreement which amends the two treaties which form the constitutional basis of the European Union (EU). The Lisbon Treaty was signed by the EU member states on 13 December 2007, and entered into force on 1 December 2009. It amends the Maastricht Treaty (also known as the Treaty on European Union) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC; also known as the Treaty of Rome). In this process, the Rome Treaty was renamed to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Prominent changes included the move from unanimity to qualified majority voting in several policy areas in the Council of Ministers, a change in calculating such a majority to a new double majority, a more powerful European Parliament forming a bicameral legislature alongside the Council of ministers under the ordinary legislative procedure, a consolidated legal personality for the EU and the creation of a long-term President of the European Council and a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The Treaty also made the Union's bill of rights, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding. Selected picture Academy of Athens Photograph credit: Thomas Wolf The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy and the highest research establishment in the country. Established on 18 March 1926, it operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. This picture shows the main building of the Academy, a neoclassical building between Panepistimiou Street and Akadimias Street in the centre of Athens and one of the city's major landmarks. The building was designed as part of an architectural "trilogy" in 1859 by Danish architect Theophil Hansen, along with the University and the National Library. The Greek neoclassical sculptor Leonidas Drosis sculpted the principal multi-figure pediment sculpture, on the theme of the birth of Athena, based on a design by painter Carl Rahl. Two columns on either side of the portico feature statues of Athena on the left and Apollo on the right, also designed by Drosis. Did you know? ...that France possesses the largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the world? ...that Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City all mint their own euro coins, with their own national symbols on the back? ...that Turkey's two most famous weightlifters, Naim Suleymanoglu and Halil Mutlu are only two of four weightlifters in the world to have won 3 gold medals in 3 olympics? Selected city Berlin is the capital city and one of 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper in the European Union. Located in northeastern Germany, it is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Area, comprising 5 million people from over 190 nations. Geographically embedded in the European Plains, Berlin is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. Around one third of the city's territory is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes. First documented in the 13th century, Berlin was successively the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918), the German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933) and the Third Reich (1933–1945). During the 1920s, Berlin was the third largest municipality in the world. After World War II, the city was divided; East Berlin became the capital of East Germany while West Berlin became a de facto West German exclave, surrounded by the Berlin Wall (1961–1989). Following German reunification in 1990, the city regained its status as the capital of all Germany hosting 147 foreign embassies. Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media, and science. Its economy is primarily based on the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, media corporations, congress and convention venues. Berlin serves as a continental hub for air and rail transport, and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the EU. Significant industries include IT, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, optoelectronics, traffic engineering, and renewable energy. The metropolis is home to renowned universities, research institutes, sporting events, orchestras, museums and personalities. The urban and historical legacy has made it a popular setting for international film productions. The city is recognized for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts, public transportation networks and a high quality of living. Berlin has evolved into a global focal point for young individuals and artists attracted by a liberal lifestyle and modern zeitgeist. General images The following are images from various European Union-related articles on Wikipedia. The flag of Europe, emblem of both the Council of Europe and the European Union. (from Symbols of the European Union) Logo of the Court of Justice of the European Union (from Symbols of the European Union) The Frankish Empire at its greatest extent, ca. 814 AD (from History of the European Union) The fertility rate in the EU was 1.6 in 2014 (Kindergarten in France). (from Demographics of the European Union) Logo of the European Court of Auditors (from Symbols of the European Union) The Schuman Parade in Warsaw has been organised by the Schuman Foundation since 1999 (2008 photograph). (from Symbols of the European Union) Newest state in yellow (from History of the European Union) Logo of the European Parliament (from Symbols of the European Union) Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy in the European Union in 2019 (from Demographics of the European Union) Coins and banknotes of the Euro, the single-currency introduced from 1999 (from History of the European Union) The Euro symbol shown as a sculpture outside the European Central Bank (from Symbols of the European Union) Logo of the European Council and the Council of the European Union (from Symbols of the European Union) The population density of the EU is 117 people per km2. (from Demographics of the European Union) A cartogram depicting the population distribution between old EU-27 member states in 2008 (including the UK and excluding Croatia). 58% of all citizens of the EU live in the four largest member states: Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. (from Demographics of the European Union) Elaboration by gender (from Demographics of the European Union) Aristide Briand (from History of the European Union) Logo of the European Commission (from Symbols of the European Union) Population pyramid of the EU 27 in 2023 (from Demographics of the European Union) A piece from the original manuscript. (from Symbols of the European Union) Flag of the Western Union (from History of the European Union) Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Commission (since 1 December 2019) (from History of the European Union) Logo of the European Central Bank (from Symbols of the European Union) After two devastating world wars, the political climate favoured an international unity that could preserve peace in Europe effectively (Hamburg, after a massive Allied bombing in 1943 in the picture). (from History of the European Union) Meeting in the Hall of Knights in The Hague, during the Congress of Europe (9 May 1948) (from History of the European Union) Political groups of the European Parliament in the Louise Weiss building after the election 2014:   Group of the European People's Party (EPP)   Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)   Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)   European Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA)   European United Left–Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)   European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)   Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD)   Non-Inscrits (NI) (from Politics of the European Union) Signatories of the 2007 declaration in dark blue. (from Symbols of the European Union) Konrad Adenauer, Walter Hallstein and Antonio Segni, signing the European customs union and Euratom in Rome in 1957 (from History of the European Union) 1922 European flag of the Paneuropean Union (from History of the European Union) José Manuel Barroso President of the European Commission (2004-2014) (from History of the European Union) Organigram of the political system. The seven organs of the Union are in blue, national / intergovernmental elements in orange. (from Politics of the European Union) Winston Churchill (right, during the Atlantic Conference), consistent advocate of continential European integration, later along with his sun-in-law Duncan Sandys (from History of the European Union) The ordinary legislative procedure of the European Union (from Politics of the European Union) Europa regina in Sebastian Münster's "Cosmographia", 1570 (from History of the European Union) Boris Johnson Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2022 (from History of the European Union) Hearing of Josep Borrell, High Representative Vice President (from Politics of the European Union) The European Coal and Steel Community's flag. (from Symbols of the European Union) Topics Featured content Featured articles  Members by political system  European Parliament  European Commission Featured lists  List of European Union member states by political system  Sakharov Prize Featured content  European Union Portal Good articles  5 euro note  10 euro note  20 euro note  50 euro note  100 euro note  200 euro note  500 euro note  2012 Croatian European Union membership referendum  Council of the European Union  Euro  Flag of Europe  European Coal and Steel Community  1992 European Community Monitor Mission helicopter downing  European Council  European debt crisis  Nick Griffin  Independence from Europe  Institutions of the European Union  Institutional seats of the European Union  National Coalition Party  Vladimír Remek  Euclid Tsakalotos Categories Category puzzle Select [►] to view subcategories European Union European Union-related lists European Border and Coast Guard Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Buildings and structures of the European Union Demographics of the European Union Economy of the European Union Education in the European Union European Union and the environment European Union passports Geography of the European Union Government procurement in the European Union Health and the European Union History of the European Union Human rights in the European Union European Union law European Union affairs by member state Military of the European Union Organizations based in EU Organizations related to the European Union European Union people Politics of the European Union Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism European Union and science and technology European Union society Works about the European Union European Union stubs Related portals AT BE BG CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI FR HR HU IE IT LT LU LV MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK Associated Wikimedia The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject: Commons Free media repository Wikibooks Free textbooks and manuals Wikidata Free knowledge base Wikinews Free-content news Wikiquote Collection of quotations Wikisource Free-content library Wikispecies Directory of species Wikiversity Free learning tools Wikivoyage Free travel guide Wiktionary Dictionary and thesaurus Discover Wikipedia using portals List of all portals The arts portal Biography portal Current events portal Geography portal History portal Mathematics portal Science portal Society portal Technology portal Random portal WikiProject Portals