European Union (EU)

An economic and political community of 27 member states, located primarily in Europe. The EU was established in 1993 by the Treaty of Maastricht, adding new areas of policy to the existing European Community. The following countries are member states:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

With almost 500 million citizens, the EU generates an estimated 30% share of the world's nominal gross domestic product.