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European Union

Definition

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. It has developed an internal single market through a standardized system of laws that apply to all member states.

Analogy

Think of the EU like a big school club where each country is a student. They all agree to follow the same rules, share resources, and work together on projects. Just like how being part of a club can give students more opportunities and benefits, being part of the EU gives countries access to things like free trade and freedom of movement.

Related terms

European Commission: This is the executive branch of the EU, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding treaties and managing day-to-day operations. It's like the club president who oversees everything.

Eurozone: This refers to the group of EU countries which have adopted Euro as their currency. It's similar to those members in your school club who wear special badges or uniforms indicating they belong to this specific group.

Brexit: This term refers to Britain exiting from the European Union. Imagine if one student decided they didn't want to be part of your school club anymore - that's Brexit!



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.