European UnionThe importance of the EU: A closer look at the key achievements

What is the European Union?
In 1951, the Treaty of Paris established the ECSC, which was signed by six European countries: Luxembourg, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. The ECSC was so successful that the six founding countries decided to enlarge their cooperation, thus signing two further treaties in March 1957 which established the European Economic Community (ECC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) respectively.  In 1992, the Treaty of Maastricht was signed, which established the creation of the European Union.

What are the key achievements of the European Union?
The achievements of the European Union since 1957 have been remarkable, both for its various member states and nations worldwide: The EU has been able to provide freedom for its citizens to live, work and study anywhere in the EU. The EU is also the world’s largest market. In other words, it is a global player in that it is the world’s largest single market area. And the European Union has played a major role in aid and development assistance for millions of people worldwide.