ABSTRACT
The attention given to the European Union might persuade a non-European that a new federal entity, similar to the United States, has emerged. The countries of Europe, and even the regions within those countries, have very strong individual characters. They are divided by language, culture, and centuries of mutual distrust. Wars have been common and have resulted in the frequent redrawing of boundaries. Outside the UK and Ireland English is not the first language, though many nationalities speak it as a second or third language. Legal frameworks are based on totally different principles. The mix of public and private companies varies quite widely. In the UK there is a major stock market and it is common to find large, publicly quoted companies. Private companies are more prevalent in Continental Europe than they are in the UK.
