EU countries - the way to unity

The countries of the European Union have united as a result of the integration processes in Europe, which began after the end of the Second World War. Such a structure was supposed to help restore Europe and promote the peaceful coexistence of the peoples living in it. This concept was first voiced by Winston Churchill in 1946. After that it took almost 50 more years for the idea to become a reality, and in 1992 the establishment of the European Union was officially approved.

Today, the EU countries have common institutions that have a part of their sovereign powers. This allows, without violating the principles of democracy, to take decisions at the European level on certain issues affecting the mutual interests of all participating States. The EU countries have a common currency and a common market, allowing the free movement of people, services, capital and goods. The entire territory of the states that are members of the Union is called the Schengen zone. Thus, the Schengen states provide their citizens, as well as citizens of several states applying for membership in the EU, the opportunity to move freely in this territory without the need to issue additional visas.

Since all EU countries are equal participants in the organization, the official and working languages of the European Union are the languages of all the countries included in it. Since several states have the same language, in all, the Union has adopted 21 official languages.

The decision to create a single currency was made in 1992. And in 2002, the EU countries finally began to use single monetary units, which replaced the national currency of each participating state.

The European Union has its own official symbols: flag and anthem. The flag is an image of twelve golden stars placed in a circle on a blue background. The figure 12 has nothing to do with the number of participating countries, but it represents absolute perfection. The circle is a symbol of the unification of states. The blue background reflects the idea of a peaceful sky above the head of all European peoples.

As for the hymn, it was based on music from the Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven, which he wrote in 1823, namely, "The Ode to Joy." This composition reflects the idea of the unification and fraternization of peoples, which was wholly and completely supported by the great composer. Thus, today in the universal language of music without words the European anthem conveys to the listener the ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity that are fundamental for the whole of Europe.

EU Member States

The founding institutions of the European Union were the following states: Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Later, other countries joined the organization: Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Sweden, Finland. In 2004, a number of states entered the EU: the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Malta, Slovenia, Slovakia and Hungary. In 2007, the ranks of the participating countries were replenished also by Bulgaria and Romania. In 2012, the first among the countries of the former Yugoslavia in the EU entered Croatia. Also today, several states have the status of a candidate for membership in this organization.