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What are the functions of the EU (European Union)?

The European Union (EU) was decades in the making, but it came into being in its modern form with the Maastricht Treaty in 1993. There are currently 28 members of the EU, 19 of which are in the so-called Eurozone, which uses the common currency called the Euro.


The primary function of the EU is economic: to create a large, single European market that gives the member countries the competitive advantages that go with size. This also helps break down barriers to free trade that can impede individual economies. The EU also provides for free movement between member countries, so that citizens and workers can easily relocate to meet employment and labor needs.


The EU also works on some of the pressing matters in modern life, such as climate change and providing aid to developing countries.

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