ABSTRACT
Welcome to Europe! From the United Kingdom to Russia to Turkey, this region of about 50 countries is notable mostly for its diversity. Twenty-eight European countries have joined the European Union, pursuing greater coordination through institutions including the European Commission (which operates as a cabinet government), European Parliament, and a central bank. Nineteen European Union countries have formed a monetary union, using the euro as a common currency. Although the region is home to many advanced economies, in recent years, the Eurozone has been roiled by harrowing government debt crises in Greece and Italy and a devastating financial crisis in Spain, leaving all three countries with high unemployment rates and struggling economies.
