Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE EUROPEAN UNION
In the late 1950s, France became one of the six founding
members of the European Economic Community (along with
Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands).
Since then another 21 countries have joined—most recently
some countries from the sphere of the former Soviet Union—
bringing to 27 the total number of members of what is now
known as the European Union (EU). These communities
have pooled their economic resources to create a forceful
single market throughout which services, goods and capital
can move freely. The headquarters of the EU is in Brussels,
Belgium (http://www.europa.eu).
There are no longer any trade barriers among member
countries, and their citizens may live in any EU country
they wish. The goal is to balance the national interests of
each country with those of the overall community, allowing
diversity while creating a community-wide identity. Thus,
in addition to economic benefits, a unity is developing
among countries that had heretofore been impossible.
(This also means that war between member states is no
longer likely.)
At the official level, governments are working towards
this intricate balance. In general, the populace of France
understands and accepts the benefits of the union;
nonetheless people are increasingly concerned about the
diminution of their national identity and about the number
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