Question
What is the EU?
Answer
The European Union (EU) is a unique political and economic union of European countries, primarily aimed at fostering economic cooperation and political integration across the continent.
Key Characteristics of the European Union
Political and Economic Union: The EU consists of 27 member states, forming a large single market with standardized laws to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. It also maintains common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries, and regional development (Billah, 2019; Gilca, 2023).
Institutional Framework: The EU’s main institutions include the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Commission, the European Court of Justice, the European Central Bank, and the Court of Auditors. These institutions play distinct roles in promoting the EU’s interests (Mihačić, 2020).
Historical Development: Originating from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community, the EU was initially formed to prevent wars in Europe by sharing control over critical resources. Over time, it evolved into a broader economic and political entity (Gilca, 2023).
Unique Structure: The EU is not a state, empire, or federation but a confederation with consociational characteristics, making it a singular entity in international relations (O’Leary, 2020; Dir, 2024).
Market Power: The EU is a significant global market power, influencing international affairs through economic and social policies. It uses both persuasive and coercive means to exert its influence (Damro, 2012).
International Role: As a socio-political and economic entity, the EU aims to create a unified European community based on social solidarity, impacting international relations and politics (Tonovski, Risteski and Sijic, 2019).
Conclusion
The European Union is a distinctive entity that combines elements of both a political and economic union. It plays a crucial role in international relations, characterized by its unique institutional framework and historical evolution from economic cooperation to a broader political integration.
References
Damro, C., 2012. Market power Europe. Journal of European Public Policy, 19, pp. 682 – 699. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2011.646779
Billah, M., 2019. European Union & its Contribution to the Development of Society and Nation. International Journal for Empirical Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.35935/edr/31.6942
O’Leary, B., 2020. The Nature of the European Union. Research in Political Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0895-993520200000027003
Tonovski, G., Risteski, T., & Sijic, V., 2019. EUROPEAN UNION IN THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. Knowledge International Journal. https://doi.org/10.35120/KIJ2901061T
Gilca, C., 2023. Перспективы евроинтеграции Республики Молдова и конституционная составляющая. Economic growth in the conditions of globalization, Vol. II. https://doi.org/10.36004/nier.cecg.iv.2023.17.25
Mihačić, J., 2020. Institucije Europske unije. **.
Dir, I., 2024. Legal essence of the European Union. Uzhhorod National University Herald. Series: Law. https://doi.org/10.24144/2307-3322.2023.80.2.49
Cappelen, Aadne, et al. “The impact of EU regional support on growth and convergence in the European Union.” JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 41.4 (2003): 621-644.
Emmanouilidis, Janis A., and Corina Stratulat. “Implementing Lisbon: narrowing the EU’s democratic deficit.” EPC Policy Brief, Brussels: European Policy Centre (2010).
