The Importance of the European Union
for Americans

The European Union (EU) has a membership of 27 states, including all the major states of Europe west of Russia.

The European Union...

is the world's largest economy as measured by gross domestic product

is the world's largest external trader

has a market size of 450 million people

has a currency - the euro - that is rapidly establishing itself as the world's second most important currency

Europe, and within Europe the EU, is the United State's most important political ally. This means that it is crucially important to understand Europe's attempts to develop common positions on foreign and defense questions, all the more so when U.S. politicians and spokesmen call on Europe to make a fuller contribution to international security.

European and American students participating in the Model European Union