The purpose of the European Union is for its member countries to work together to gain advantages that would be difficult to achieve individually, such as increased economic power and influence on the global stage. While the EU coordinates policies on issues like trade, education, and agriculture, each country maintains independent control over its own laws, military, and government. Key benefits of EU membership include free trade, an common currency (the euro) that facilitates commerce, and freedom of movement and rights to live and work across member nations. The EU currently has 27 member countries, though some European nations have opted to remain outside the bloc.

3. --The US is much larger than separate European countries --When the EU countries combine, they have more people and a larger economy; they can compete in a global economy EU United States Land Area (approx.) 1,500,000 3,700,000 Population (approx.) 500,000,000 305,000,000 Gross Domestic Product $14 Trillion $13.5 Trillion GDP Per Capita $28,213 $43,444

9. European Union Members Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom