European Union facts for kids

"EU" redirects here. For other uses, see EU (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids European Union Европейски съюз (Bulgarian) Europska unija (Croatian) Evropská unie (Czech) Den Europæiske Union (Danish) Europese Unie (Dutch) Euroopa Liit (Estonian) Euroopan unioni (Finnish) Union européenne (French) Europäische Union (German) Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση (Greek) Európai Unió (Hungarian) An tAontas Eorpach (Irish) Unione europea (Italian) Eiropas Savienība (Latvian) Europos Sąjunga (Lithuanian) Unjoni Ewropea (Maltese) Unia Europejska (Polish) União Europeia (Portuguese) Uniunea Europeană (Romanian) Európska únia (Slovak) Evropska unija (Slovene) Unión Europea (Spanish) Europeiska unionen (Swedish)
Flag
Motto: "In Varietate Concordia" (Latin) "United in Diversity"
Anthem: "European Anthem"
Show globe Show special territories Location of the European Union (dark green) on the European continent (dark grey)
Capital	Brussels (de facto)
Institutional seats	Brussels Commission European Council Council of the EU Parliament (secondary) Frankfurt Central Bank Luxembourg Court of Auditors Court of Justice Council of the EU (April, June and October sessions) Secretariat of the Parliament Commission (various departments and services) Strasbourg Parliament
Largest metro	Paris
Official languages	24 languages
Official scripts	Latin Greek Cyrillic
Religion (2021)	66.2% Christianity 45.3% Catholic 10% Eastern Orthodox 8.3% Protestant 2.6% other Christian 25.4% no religion 1.4% Islam 5.6% other
Demonym(s)	European
Type	Supranational union
Membership	27 members Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden
Government	Mixed supranational and intergovernmental directorial parliamentary confederation

• President of the European Council	António Costa
• President of the European Commission	Ursula von der Leyen
• Presidency of the Council of the European Union	Ireland

Legislature	European Parliament • Council of the European Union
Formation

• Treaty of Paris	23 July 1952
• Treaty of Rome	1 January 1958
• Single European Act	1 July 1987
• Treaty of Maastricht	1 November 1993
• Treaty of Lisbon	1 December 2009

Area
• Total	4,225,104 km² (1,631,322 sq mi) (incl. outermost regions)
• Water (%)	2.93
Population
• 2026 estimate	451,990,314
• 2021 census	443,883,877
• Density	106.7/km² (276.4/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2026 estimate
• Total	$30.678 trillion
• Per capita	$67,957
GDP (nominal)	2026 estimate
• Total	$23.035 trillion
• Per capita	$51,027
Gini (2024)	▼ 29.3 low
Currency	Euro (€) (EUR) Others Czech koruna (CZK) Danish krone (DKK) Hungarian forint (HUF) Polish złoty (PLN) Romanian leu (RON) Swedish krona (SEK)
Time zone	UTC to UTC+2 (WET, CET, EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 to UTC+3 (WEST, CEST, EEST)
	(see also Summer time in Europe)
Internet TLD	.eu, .ευ, .ею

The European Union (often called the EU) is a unique partnership of 27 European countries. These nations work together to make life better, safer, and easier for their citizens.

Instead of acting as completely separate nations, member countries share certain rules and goals. They create common laws on trade, the environment, and travel.

Over 450 million people live in the European Union. Its members cover a large part of the European continent.

Within the EU, people, products, services, and money can move freely between countries. This system is known as the single market.

Many EU countries also share a single currency, which is called the euro. In 2012, the European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize for keeping peace and spreading democracy across Europe.

Understanding How the European Union Works and Governs
History of the European Union: Building Peace in Europe
EU Member States and Enlargement
- Who Are the 27 Member Countries?
- Rules for Joining: The Copenhagen Criteria
Key Institutions and How Laws Are Made
Geography, Climate, and Protecting the Environment
The European Economy and Trade
- The Single Market and the Eurozone
- Global Trade and Consumer Rights
Travel, Transport, and Daily Life
People, Culture, and Education
Images for kids
See Also

Understanding How the European Union Works and Governs

What Is the European Union and Why Does It Exist?

The European Union is not a single country, but it is also more than just a club of friends. It is a special type of union where independent countries agree to make decisions together.

In some areas, countries pass their own laws. In other areas, such as protecting the environment and trading with the world, they make shared laws.

This idea is called "pooling sovereignty" (sharing power to become stronger together). The main goal is to promote peace, support the economy, and protect basic rights for everyone.

The Four Basic Freedoms of the Single Market

The foundation of everyday life in the EU rests on what are known as the "four freedoms":

Free movement of goods: Products made in one EU country can be sold in any other EU country without extra taxes.
Free movement of services: People and businesses can offer services across borders easily.
Free movement of people: Citizens can live, study, work, or retire in any member country.
Free movement of capital: Money and investments can move across borders without special barriers.

The Main Capitals and Headquarters

The EU does not have just one single capital city, though Brussels in Belgium is the main administrative hub.

Other key institutions are located in different European cities:

The European Parliament meets in both Strasbourg (France) and Brussels.
The Court of Justice and the European Court of Auditors are located in Luxembourg City (Luxembourg).
The European Central Bank is located in Frankfurt, Germany.

History of the European Union: Building Peace in Europe

Early Ideas and Post-War Cooperation (1945–1950)

For many centuries, European countries fought frequent wars against each other. After the terrible destruction of World War II, leaders wanted to ensure that lasting peace would remain.

Thinkers and leaders decided that tying economies closely together would make future conflicts impossible. If countries depended on each other for trade and resources, fighting would no longer make sense.

On 9 May 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented an important plan known as the Schuman Declaration. He proposed placing coal and steel production under a shared authority. Today, 9 May is celebrated as Europe Day.

The Coal and Steel Community and the Treaty of Rome (1951–1958)

The Treaty of Paris, which set up the first shared community.

In 1951, six founding countries signed the Treaty of Paris to create the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). These founding members were:

Signing the Treaty of Rome in 1957.

Because the project succeeded, these six countries took another major step. In 1957, they signed the Treaty of Rome, creating the European Economic Community (EEC).

The EEC removed trade barriers and created a customs union. It made doing business across European borders much easier.

Enlarging the Union and Key Treaties (1973–2004)

International leaders meeting in 1975 during important peace talks.

Over the next decades, more countries joined the growing community:

1973: Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined.
1981: Greece joined.
1986: Spain and Portugal joined.
1995: Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined.

The Maastricht Treaty established the modern European Union.

In 1992, leaders signed the Maastricht Treaty, which took effect in 1993. This created the modern name European Union and planned a shared currency.

In 2004, the EU had its largest expansion in history. Ten new countries joined at once, welcoming nations from Central and Eastern Europe alongside Cyprus and Malta.

Modern Reforms, the Lisbon Treaty, and Recent Changes

Signing the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007.

In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania joined, followed by Croatia in 2013. To make decision-making smoother with so many members, leaders signed the Treaty of Lisbon, which took effect in 2009.

The Treaty of Lisbon gave the EU a clear legal structure and created a full-time President of the European Council.

In 2016, voters in the United Kingdom chose to leave the EU in an event known as Brexit. Following official negotiations, the UK formally left the union in early 2020.

The ancient Roman Agora in Athens lit up for the Next Generation EU program.

To help countries recover from major economic disruptions, the EU established a massive investment package called Next Generation EU. The EU also works to help neighbouring countries prepare for future membership.

EU Member States and Enlargement

Who Are the 27 Member Countries?

Map showing the member states of the European Union (clickable)

Today, 27 sovereign nations make up the European Union:

Country	Capital	Joined in	Population
Austria	Vienna	1995	9,100,000
Belgium	Brussels	1957	11,800,000
Bulgaria	Sofia	2007	6,400,000
Croatia	Zagreb	2013	3,800,000
Cyprus	Nicosia	2004	980,000
Czech Republic	Prague	2004	10,900,000
Denmark	Copenhagen	1973	6,000,000
Estonia	Tallinn	2004	1,370,000
Finland	Helsinki	1995	5,600,000
France	Paris	1957	68,600,000
Germany	Berlin	1957	83,500,000
Greece	Athens	1981	10,400,000
Hungary	Budapest	2004	9,500,000
Ireland	Dublin	1973	5,400,000
Italy	Rome	1957	58,900,000
Latvia	Riga	2004	1,850,000
Lithuania	Vilnius	2004	2,890,000
Luxembourg	Luxembourg	1957	680,000
Malta	Valletta	2004	570,000
Netherlands	Amsterdam	1957	18,000,000
Poland	Warsaw	2004	36,500,000
Portugal	Lisbon	1986	10,700,000
Romania	Bucharest	2007	19,000,000
Slovakia	Bratislava	2004	5,400,000
Slovenia	Ljubljana	2004	2,100,000
Spain	Madrid	1986	49,000,000
Sweden	Stockholm	1995	10,500,000

Rules for Joining: The Copenhagen Criteria

To join the EU, a country must prove that it meets strict requirements known as the Copenhagen criteria.

These rules require:

A stable democracy with free elections, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.
A strong market economy that can compete with European companies.
The ability to take on all rules and laws of the EU.

Candidate countries include nations such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Key Institutions and How Laws Are Made

How the political institutions of the EU connect with each other.

The European Commission: Proposing New Ideas

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

The European Commission is the executive team of the EU. It manages the daily work of the union.

The Commission has 27 commissioners (one from each member country). However, commissioners swear an oath to work for the whole EU, not just their home nation.

Only the Commission has the power to propose new laws. It also makes sure all member states follow the agreed treaties properly.

The European Parliament: Representing the Citizens

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament.

The European Parliament represents the citizens of Europe. Its 705 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are directly elected by voters every five years.

Instead of sitting by home country, MEPs sit in political groups based on shared beliefs. The Parliament debates, amends, and votes on laws proposed by the Commission.

The Council of the European Union: Representing Governments

The Council of the European Union (often called the Council of Ministers) represents the national governments.

Ministers from each member state meet to debate specific topics. For instance, if the topic is agriculture, all 27 farming ministers meet.

To become law, most proposals must be approved by both the European Parliament and the Council.

The European Council: Setting the Big Direction

António Costa, President of the European Council.

The European Council brings together the prime ministers and presidents of all 27 member states.

It does not pass everyday laws. Instead, it meets at least four times a year to decide the EU's overall political direction and handle major international issues.

The Court of Justice and the Rule of Law

Koen Lenaerts, President of the European Court of Justice.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), based in Luxembourg, makes sure EU law is applied equally everywhere.

If a national government breaks an EU rule, the Court can order it to fix the problem. EU law takes priority over national law if conflicts arise.

The European Central Bank and the Euro Currency

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank.

The European Central Bank (ECB), based in Frankfurt, manages the euro currency. Its main goal is to keep prices stable and ensure banks operate safely.

The ECB alone can authorize the printing of euro banknotes.

Geography, Climate, and Protecting the Environment

Landforms, Seas, and Highest Peaks

Topographic map of Europe showing the European Union.

The EU covers over 4.2 million square kilometres across Europe. Its landscape includes great mountain ranges, wide fertile plains, and extensive coastlines.

Highest Peak: Mont Blanc in the Alps at 4,810.45 metres (15,782 ft) above sea level.
Lowest Points: Lammefjorden in Denmark and Zuidplaspolder in the Netherlands, at 7 metres (23 ft) below sea level.
Coastline: The EU has over 53,000 kilometres (32,933 mi) of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea.

Climate Zones Across Europe

Climate map of Europe.

Because the EU is large, it experiences several climate zones:

Marine / Oceanic climate: In the west (such as France and Ireland), winters are mild and summers are cool with regular rain.
Continental climate: In Central and Eastern Europe, summers can be warm while winters are cold with snow.
Mediterranean climate: In the south (such as Spain, Italy, and Greece), summers are hot and dry, while winters are mild.

Fighting Climate Change and the European Green Deal

Temperature change patterns in European cities.

Protecting nature and reducing pollution are top priorities for the EU.

Under the European Green Deal, the EU has set ambitious goals:

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Becoming completely climate-neutral by 2050.
Increasing the use of clean energy sources like wind, solar, and water power.
Protecting forests, rivers, and wildlife habitats through shared conservation laws.

The European Economy and Trade

The Single Market and the Eurozone

Economic strength across European regions.

The EU is one of the largest economic powers in the world. Its combined gross domestic product (GDP) accounts for about one-sixth of global economic output.

Euro banknotes used across the eurozone.

Twenty-one EU member countries use the euro (€) as their official currency. Sharing a currency makes travelling and buying goods between countries simple, because people do not have to exchange money.

Global Trade and Consumer Rights

Map of EU trade agreements with partner countries worldwide.

The EU negotiates trade deals on behalf of all member states. This gives small and large members strong collective bargaining power.

The EU is also famous for strong consumer protection rules:

Products sold in the EU must meet strict safety standards.
Electronics often share universal charging standards (such as USB-C).
Airline passengers receive compensation if flights are cancelled or severely delayed.
Personal data online is protected by strong privacy rules.

Travel, Transport, and Daily Life

The Schengen Area: Border-Free Travel

The Schengen Area allows passport-free travel between members.

One of the best-known parts of European cooperation is the Schengen Area.

In this area, countries have removed passport checks at shared borders. A person can drive or take a train from Germany into France or Italy without stopping at a border post.

Most EU countries, along with non-EU partners like Norway and Switzerland, belong to the Schengen Area.

Fast Trains, Modern Roads, and Clean Energy

The Trans-European Transport Network links major cities by road and rail.

The EU funds large infrastructure projects through the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

This network connects highways, high-speed rail lines, and airports. For example, high-speed rail lines let passengers travel quickly between Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is the largest seaport in Europe.

Seaports like the Port of Rotterdam handle millions of containers each year, bringing food, technology, and goods to homes across the continent.

Free Phone Roaming and Space Exploration

Galileo navigation control centre in Germany.

When EU citizens travel within the union, mobile phone companies cannot charge extra roaming fees for calls, texts, or data.

In space, the EU runs the Galileo satellite navigation network, providing accurate GPS signals for phones, cars, and rescue teams. It also runs Copernicus, which monitors Earth's climate and natural disasters from orbit.

People, Culture, and Education

Population and Major Cities

The Paris area is the largest urban centre in the EU.

Over 450 million people live in the European Union. Most Europeans live in cities and towns.

Major metropolitan areas include:

Paris (France) – Over 12 million people.
Madrid (Spain) – Around 6.8 million people.
Barcelona (Spain) – Around 5.8 million people.
Berlin (Germany) – Around 5.4 million people.
Ruhr area (Germany) – Over 5.1 million people.
Milan and Rome (Italy) – Over 4 million people each.

Languages of the European Union

The EU celebrates linguistic diversity and has 24 official languages. Important EU documents are translated into all of them.

The most widely spoken first languages are German, French, and Italian. However, English is the most popular second language, studied by around 95% of secondary school students.

Education: The Erasmus+ Programme

Erasmus, the Renaissance scholar whose name inspires the student exchange program.

One of the EU's most popular youth programmes is Erasmus+.

This programme gives university students, vocational apprentices, and teachers funding to spend a semester or year studying in another European country. It helps millions of young people experience new cultures and learn foreign languages.

European Symbols: Flag, Anthem, and Motto

The Flag: A circle of 12 golden stars on a blue background. The circle represents unity and solidarity among European peoples.
The Anthem: The melody from Ludwig van Beethoven's Ode to Joy. It is played without words on formal occasions.
The Motto: "United in Diversity" (Latin: In Varietate Concordia). It highlights that Europeans unite for peace while cherishing their different cultures.
Europe Day: Celebrated every year on 9 May.