The European Union is a unique economic and political union between 28 EU countries that together cover much of the continent.
The Economic Community (EEC), created in 1958 was created in the aftermath of the Second World War. The first steps were to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries that trade with one another become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict.
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.
The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union in 1993 and introduced European citizenship (Within the Schengen Area, passport controls have been abolished.).
The Union reached its current size of 28 member countries with the accession of Croatia on 1 July 2013.
Recent Developments
BREXIT
“Brexit” refers to the possibility of Britain withdrawing from the European Union (EU). It follows the referendum of 23rd June 2016 when 51.9 per cent of those who voted supported withdrawal.
For the UK to leave the EU it had to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which gives the two sides two years to agree the terms of the split. Theresa May triggered this process on 29 March, 2017, meaning the UK is scheduled to leave at 11p.m. UK time on Friday, 29 March 2019.
Recently, a European court has ruled that the UK can decide to stop the process. Alternatively it can be extended if all 28 EU members agree, but at the moment all sides are focusing on that date as being the key one, and Theresa May has put it into British law.
