The European Union is a unique economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It has a common market, single currency (euro), and acts as a unified voice in international affairs. Its motto is "United in Diversity" and it aims to promote peace, values, and the well-being of Europeans.

1. THE EUROPEAN UNION = A unique economic and political partnership between 27 democratic European countries.

2. The European flag The European anthem “Ode to Joy” from “The Ninth Symphony” by Ludwig van Beethoven (Poem: Friedrich von Schiller) The Symbols of the EU Motto Europe Day 9th May United in diversity

3. MOTTO : (EN) United in diversity (RO) Unită în diversitate (BG) Обединен в многообразието (DA) Forenet i mangfoldighed (ET) Ühinenudmitmekesisuses (ES) Unida en la diversidad (GA) Aontaithesanéagsúlacht (LV) Vienotadažādībā (HU) Egység a sokféleségben (PL) Zjednoczona w różnorodności (SK) Zjednotení v rozmanitosti (FI) Moninaisuudessaanyhtenäinen (CS) Jednotná v rozmanitosti (DE) In Vielfaltgeeint (EL) Eνωμένη στην πολυμορφία (FR) Unie dans la diversité (IT) Unita nelladiversità (LT) Suvienijusiįvairovę (NL) In verscheidenheidverenigd (PT) Unida na diversidade (SL) Združena v raznolikosti (SV) Förenade i mångfalden

4. 19. NETHERLANDS 1. AUSTRIA 10. GERMANY 2. BELGIUM 11. GREECE 20. POLAND 3. BULGARIA 12. HUNGARY 21. PORTUGAL 4. CYPRUS 13. IRELAND 22. ROMANIA 14. ITALY 5. CZECH REPUBLIC 23. SLOVAKIA MemberStates (27) 24. SLOVENIA 6. DENMARK 15. LATVIA 25. SPAIN 7. ESTONIA 16. LITHUANIA 26. SWEDEN 8. FINLAND 17. LUXEMBOURG 18. MALTA 27. UNITED KINGDOM 9. FRANCE

5. Austria Year of EU entry: 1995 Political system: Federal republic Capital city: Vienna Total area: 83 870 km² Population: 8.3 million Currency: euro Official EU language: German The Belvedere Palace, Vienna Hohensalzburg Fort, Salzburg Hofburg Palace, Vienna http://www.austria.gv.at http://www.austria.info

6. Belgium Year of EU entry: Founding member Political system: Constitutional monarchy Capital city: Brussels Total area: 30 528 km² Population: 10.7 million Currency: euro Official EU languages: German, French, Dutch Belgian beerandmussels http://www.belgium.be http://www.opt.be http://www.visitflanders.com Atomium, Brussels City Hall, Brussels

7. Bulgaria Year of EU entry: 2007 Political system: Republic Capital city: Sofia Total area: 111 910 km² Population: 7.6 million Currency:lev Official EU language:Bulgarian Rila monastery St Sofia Statue, Sofia http://www.government.bg http://www.bulgariatravel.org Queen Mary’s Palace, Balchik

8. Cyprus Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Nicosia Total area: 9 250 km² Population: 0.8 million Currency: euro Official EU languages:Greek, English The 4th centuryStavrovounimonastery The Temple of Aphrodites, Paphos The Presidential Palace, Nicosia http://www.cyprus.gov.cy http://www.visitcyprus.com

9. Czech Republic Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Prague Total area: 78 866 km² Population: 10.3 million Currency: Czech koruna Official EU language:Czech Municipal House, Prague The Church of Our Lady of Týn, Prague Bridges over the Vltava, Prague http://portal.gov.cz http://www.czechtourism.com

10. Denmark Year of EU entry: 1973 Political system: Constitutional monarchy Capital city: Copenhagen Total area: 43 094 km² Population: 5.4 million Currency: Danish krone Official EU language: Danish Denmark Castle Copenhagen New Port Copenhagen’sLittleMermaid http://www.denmark.dk http://www.visitdenmark.com

11. Estonia Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Tallinn Total area: 45 000 km² Population: 1.4 million Currency: Estonian kroon Official EU language:Estonian Winter in Tallinn Ice in Estonia Tallinn https://www.eesti.ee http://www.visitestonia.com

12. Finland Year of EU entry: 1995 Political system: Republic Capital city: Helsinki Total area: 338 000 km² Population: 5.3 million Currency: euro Official EU languages: Finnish, Swedish The Lutheran Cathedral, Helsinki One of Finland’s many thousandlakes http://finland.fi http://www.visitfinland.com Santa Claus’ Village, Rovaniemi

13. France Year of EU entry: Founding member Political system: Republic Capital city: Paris Total area: 550 000 km² Population: 63.7 million Currency: euro Official EU language: French The Harbour, Nice Sacré Coeur, Paris http://www.service-public.fr http://www.franceguide.com The Eiffel Tower, Paris

14. Germany Year of EU entry: Founding member Political system: Federal republic Capital city: Berlin Total area: 356 854 km² Population: 82.5 million Currency: euro Official EU language: German Marienplatz, Munich Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Dom Cathedral, Cologne http://www.bundesregierung.de http://www.germany-tourism.de

15. Greece Year of EU entry: 1981 Political system: Republic Capital city: Athens Total area: 131 957 km² Population: 11.2 million Currency: euro Official EU language: Greek The Acropolis, Athens Santorini Island http://www.mfa.gr http://www.gnto.gr Mikonos Island

16. Hungary Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Budapest Total area: 93 000 km² Population: 10.1 million Currency: forint Official EU language: Hungarian Freedom Bridge, Budapest Lake Balaton http://www.magyarorszag.hu http://www.hungary.com Parliament Building, Budapest

17. Ireland Year of EU entry: 1973 Political system: Republic Capital city: Dublin Total area: 70 000 km² Population: 4 million Currency: euro Official EU languages: English, Irish LeinsterHouse, Dublin Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare http://www.gov.ie http://www.tourismireland.com Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary

18. Italy Year of EU entry: Founding member Political system: Republic Capital city: Rome Total area: 301 263 km² Population: 57.3 million Currency: euro Official EU language:Italian The Colosseum, Rome The Milan Cathedral http://www.italia.gov.it http://www.enit.it Doges' Palace, Venice

19. Latvia Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Riga Total area: 65 000 km² Population: 2.3 million Currency:lats Official EU language :Latvian University of Latvia, Riga St. Nicholas's Cathedral, Karosta Riga – old town http://www.am.gov.lv http://www.latviatourism.lv

20. Lithuania Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Vilnius Total area: 65 000 km² Population: 3.4 million Currency:litas Official EU language: Lithuanian Amber jewellery from Lithuania Vilnius Cathedral IslandCastle, Trakai http://www.lrv.lt http://www.travel.lt

21. Luxembourg Year of EU entry: Founding member Political system: Constitutional monarchy Capital city: Luxembourg Total area: 2 586 km² Population: 0.5 million Currency: euro Official EU language: French, German Fort Thüngen Le Marché-aux-Herbes Luxembourg http://www.gouvernement.lu http://www.ont.lu

22. Malta Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Valletta Total area: 316 km² Population: 0.4 million Currency: euro Official EU languages:Maltese, English St. Paul'sCathedral, Mdina GgantijaTemples Valletta http://www.gov.mt http://www.visitmalta.com

23. Netherlands Year of EU entry: Founding member Political system: Constitutional monarchy Capital city: Amsterdam Total area: 41 526 km² Population: 16.4 million Currency: euro Official EU language:Dutch 18th century windmills Dutch clogsfromKeukenhof Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam http://www.postbus51.nl http://us.holland.com

24. Poland Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Warsaw Total area: 312 679 km² Population: 38.1 million Currency: Zloty Official EU language:Polish Royal Castle Square, Warsaw St. Mary'sBasilica, Cracow http://www.poland.gov.pl http://www.poland.travel Neptune'sFountain, Gdansk

25. Portugal Year of EU entry: 1986 Political system: Republic Capital city: Lisbon Total area: 92 072 km² Population: 10.4 million Currency: euro Official EU language:Portuguese Belem Tower, Lisbon The Roman Temple of Diana, Évora The Castle of Guimarães, Guimarães http://www.portugal.gov.pt http://www.visitportugal.com

26. Romania Year of EU entry: 2007 Political system: Republic Capital city: Bucharest Total area: 237 500 km² Population: 21.5 million Currency: Romanian leu Official EU language:Romanian Romanian Athenaeum Bucharest Bran Castle Royal Court, Târgoviște http://www.gov.ro/main/index/l/2 http://www.romaniatourism.com

27. Slovakia Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Bratislava Total area: 48 845 km² Population: 5.4 million Currency: euro Official EU language:Slovak Apollo’s Bridge, Bratislava Spirit Hotel, Bratislava http://www.government.gov.sk http://www.slovakia.travel Slavia House, Kosice

28. Slovenia Year of EU entry: 2004 Political system: Republic Capital city: Ljubljana Total area: 20 273 km² Population: 2 million Currency: euro Official EU language:Slovenian The Triple Bridge, Ljubljana Maribor http://www.slovenia.si http://www.slovenia.info The village of Bled

29. Spain Year of EU entry: 1986 Political system: Constitutional monarchy Capital city: Madrid Total area: 504 782 km² Population: 45.3 million Currency: euro Official EU language:Spanish Santa Eulalia Cathedral, Barcelona Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid Queen Sofia Palace of Arts, Valencia http://www.la-moncloa.es http://www.spain.info

30. Sweden Year of EU entry: 1995 Political system: Constitutional monarchy Capital city: Stockholm Total area: 449 964 km² Population: 9.2 million Currency:krona Official EU language:Swedish TurningTorso, Malmö Riddarholmen, Stockholm http://www.sweden.se http://www.visitsweden.com Church in Kiruna

31. United Kingdom Year of EU entry: 1973 Political system: Constitutional monarchy Capital city: London Total area: 244 820 km² Population: 60.4 million Currency: pound sterling Official EU language:English St. David's Cathedral , Pembrokeshire, Wales. The Houses of Parliament, London, England Donaghadee Harbour, NorthernIreland Pacific Quay, Glasgow, Scotland http://www.direct.gov.uk http://www.visitbritain.co.uk

32. EUROPEAN UNION