The European Union is a union of fifteen independent states bases on the European Communities that was founded in 1993 in order to enhance political, economic and social co-operation.

             The 15 participating countries are the following:.

             - Austria - Germany - Holland.

             - Belgium - Greece - Portugal.

             - Denmark - Ireland - Spain.

             - Finland - Italy - Sweden.

             - France - Luxembourg - United Kingdom.

             All these countries, although different in opinion, traditions, are united by a common ideal: to make Europe a better place to live by keeping peace and freedom.

             The aim of the European Union is to promote economic and social progress, which is balanced and sustainable, bring the European identity on the international scene and introduce the European citizenship for the nationals of the member states.

             The ultimate goal is 'an ever close union among the people of Europe, in which decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen.' .

             The European Union has its own flag, anthem and it celebrates the Europe Day on the 9th of May.

             Each Community had, and still has, its own legal base, a Treaty. The Treaties provide a set of policy objectives or goals, institutions to execute them, a decision-making process, and definition of the legal forms to bring those decisions to reality. Over the years, the Treaties have been substantially amended, affecting the Union's competence, institutional structure, and decision-making processes. .

             Some future objectives of the Union are:.

             - to implement the Treaty of Amsterdam, which revises the basic treaties on which the EU is founded. It contains new rights for citizen, freedom of movement, employment, strengthening of institution.

             - to enlarge the EU, to include countries from central and eastern Europe as well. This was specified in 'Agenda 2000', a detailed strategy for 'strengthening growth, competitiveness and employment, for modernizing key policies and for extending the Union's borders through enlargement as far eastwards as the Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova' (President Santer Jacques in the Agenda 2000).