ABSTRACT
The EU of today is a global power to be reckoned with, while at the same time it has become an important influence on most aspects of everyday life of its citizens. The EU is a unique organisation of nation-states. Its membership has grown considerably over the years, from initially six members in the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which was established in 1951, to currently 27 member states (see Figure 1.1). In 2009, it covered a territory of 4.32 million square kilometres and had altogether almost 500 million inhabitants. The EU produces approximately 30 per cent of the world gross domestic product (GDP), and in terms of population and economic power has now overtaken the USA.
