What is the European Union?

What is the EU and what is its purpose?

The EU is an international organisation that was set up and developed in the post-second world war period. Founded at a time when most European States were counting the costs of two wars which had ravaged the European continent, its ideals were simple: to establish a stable economic and political partnership between democratic European countries. Its main purposes are:

• Fostering democracy and political union in place of war.
• Economic union and the removal of trade barriers.
• Intergovernmental co-operation in foreign and security policy.
• Co-operation in justice and home affairs.

You can find further information on the purpose of the EU at:

• Europa: Why the European Union?
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Guide to the EU.