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*The European Union is a family of democratic European countries, committed to working together for peace and prosperity. It is not a state intended to replace existing states, nor is it just an organisation for international cooperation. The European Union is, in fact, unique. Its member states have set up common institutions to which they delegate some of their sovereignty so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level. The historical roots of the European Union lie in the Second World War. The idea was born because Europeans were determined to prevent such killing and destruction ever happening again. In the early years, the cooperation was between six countries and mainly about trade and the economy. Now the European Union embraces 27 countries and 490 million people, and it deals with a wide range of issues of direct importance for our everyday life. Europe is a continent with many different traditions and languages, but also with shared values such as democracy, freedom and social justice. The European Union defends these values. It fosters cooperation among the peoples of Europe, promoting unity while preserving diversity and ensuring that decisions are taken as close as possible to the citizens. In the increasingly interdependent world of the 21st century, it is more necessary than ever for every European citizen to work together with people from other countries in a spirit of curiosity, openness and solidarity. We can travel across most of the European Union without carrying a passport and without being stopped for checks at the borders. We can shop in another country where goods are cheaper without paying any additional taxes so long as what you buy is for our own use. The single currency, the euro, allows shoppers to compare prices directly in the countries that use it. As a result, manufacturers and retailers have taken steps to cut high prices. Travel for shopping, leisure or business from one euro country to another is cheaper because no money needs to be changed and no commission paid. Competition introduced by the European Union’s frontier-free single market has driven quality up and prices down. Phone calls, internet access and air travel have all become cheaper. Households can increasingly choose the best bargain among a range of suppliers of electricity and gas. Citizens of the European Union can live, work, study and retire in another country if they so wish. These rights are gradually being extended to citizens from the countries that have joined the European Union since 2004. People in Europe are very environmentally conscious. Consequently, the European Union is spearheading world efforts to preserve the environment and promote sustainable development. It has taken the lead in implementing the Kyoto protocol to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming and climate change. As part of its effort, the European Union introduced in 2005 an innovative emission trading scheme, which allows manufacturing companies to buy and sell a limited number of pollution permits. As pollution knows no borders, European Union member states have taken joint action in many areas to protect the environment. Not surprising then that Europe’s rivers and beaches are cleaner, vehicles pollute less, and there are strict rules for waste disposal. For example, dangerous waste from Europe can no longer be dumped in poor countries as was previously the case. The European Union wants transport, industry, agriculture, energy and tourism to be organised in such a way that they can be developed without destroying our natural resources — in short, sustainable development that will allow our economies to grow and provide for our population into the future. Nearly two million young people have already taken advantage of European Union’s programmes to pursue their studies and personal development in another European country. As a result, the European Union schemes for educational exchange and trans-border partnerships such as Erasmus, Leonardo and Socrates are well-known names. The European Union does not decide what you learn in school, but it does work to ensure that your educational and professional qualifications are properly recognised in other countries of the European Union. The euro is probably the European Union’s most tangible achievement. It is the single currency, shared by 13 countries, representing nearly two thirds of the population of the European Union. This number will rise as the new member countries adopt the euro, once their economies are ready. All euro notes and coins can be used in all countries where the euro is accepted. Each note is the same, while the coins have a common design on one side and a national emblem of one member state on the other side. Leaders of the European Union have pledged to make the European Union the world’s most dynamic knowledge-based society with a competitive economy and a skilled workforce. That is why the European Union is working to ensure that people have high-speed internet access at school, at home and in the workplace. It is urging business and governments to make greater use of the internet so as to give better service. Another priority is to train workers in information technology skills and to keep people learning all their lives. One third of the European Union’s budget is used to stimulate the economy and to create jobs in disadvantaged regions and to provide training for unemployed or underqualified people. The European Union’s frontier-free single market and the creation of the single currency, the euro, have already generated billions of euro of wealth and created several million new jobs. In addition, the European Union is investing today in the jobs of tomorrow by funding high-tech research and development. Our society is fairer and more efficient when we do not discriminate against fellow human beings because of their nationality, gender, handicap, race or other factors. That is why European Union law bans discrimination. As long ago as the 1950s, the first European Union treaties contained a clear-cut rule that men and women must have equal pay for equal work. This has given the European Union a pioneering role in the fight for women’s rights, which are now an integral part of all policies of the European Union.