1. What is it? A group of countries whose governments work together.

2. When was it established? Who were the original members? It

was established in 2009. The original members are Belgium 1957, France
1957, Netherlands 1957, Germany 1957, Italy 1957, Luxembourg 1957.
3. Who is in it currently? Belgium 1957, France 1957, Netherlands
1957, Germany 1957, Italy 1957, Luxembourg 1957, Denmark 1973, Ireland
1973, UK 1973, Greece 1981, Portugal 1986, Spain 1986, Austria 1995,
Finland 1995, Sweden 1995, Hungary 2004, Poland 2004, Czech Republic
2004, Slovak Republic 2004, Slovenia 2004, Estonia 2004, Latvia 2004,
Lithuania 2004, Malta 2004, Cyprus 2004, Bulgaria 2007, and Romania 2007.
4. Which European nations are NOT members? Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey.
5. What does it do? It tries to make it easier for Europeans to buy and
sell things to each other. This is done by changing the rules that control
trade.
6. How is it run? By The European Council, The European Parliament,
The European Commission, and The presidency.
7. Who and why are some in the UK Pro-Europeans? Britain
because Pro-Europe people think Britain will benefit from being part of a
larger group of countries. They often argue that Britain is in danger of being
left behind by the rest of the EU if it doesn't join the Euro.
8. Who and why are some in the UK Eurosceptics? One of the British
political parties within the parliament don't want the UK to be in the Union at
all. They are called the UK Independence Party or UKIP. The UK Independence
Party currently have 10 members of the European Parliament. They use their
positions to campaign for British withdrawal from the EU. UKIP believe that
closer economic and political union will be bad for Britain. They want to
replace Britain's membership of the European Union with agreements on free
trade and cooperation.
9. What is the Euro? The currency in Europe used by 16 member states
of the EU.
10.
How has the EU grown since its birth? The EU grew faster in
the early days of it, slowed down in the middle, and has been growing slowly
since.
11. Top five aims of the EU? First, is to promote economic and social
progress. Help people earn enough money and get treated fairly. Second is to
speak for the European Union on the international scene. By working as a
group the EU hopes that Europe will be listened to more by other countries.
Third is to introduce European citizenship. Anyone from a member state is a
citizen of the EU and gets four special rights. Fourth is to develop Europe as

an area of freedom, security and justice. Help Europeans to live in safety,

without the threat of war. Fifth is to maintain and build on established EU law.
Make laws that protect peoples rights in the member countries.