European Union Research  

Internet resources on the European Union.

Originally created in the early 1950's as the six member European Coal and Steel Community, the European Union has evolved into a twenty-seven member state democratic institution which plays a critical role in the daily life of almost five hundred million Europeans. The main goals of the European Union are:

• To provide peace, prosperity and stability for its peoples;
• To overcome the divisions on the continent;
• To ensure that its people can live in safety;
• To promote balanced economic and social development;
• To meet the challenges of globalisation and preserve the diversity of the peoples of Europe;
• To uphold the values that Europeans share, such as sustainable development and a sound environment, respect for human rights and the social market economy.