Europe at Glance
Foundation of Peace and Prosperity
European integration is the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity for Germany and the other EU member states.
Success Story
The idea of European unification dates back many years, but the modern European Union began to take shape with the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, with Germany as a founding member. Over time, the scope of cooperation expanded, leading to seven enlargements and the current accession negotiations with potential new members.
Freedoms
The EU has established the world’s largest single market, based on the four freedoms outlined in the 1958 Treaty of Rome: free movement of goods, persons, services, and capital between member states. In 2022, the EU's global purchasing power-adjusted GDP is estimated to be approximately 14.85%.
Key Treaties
1952: European Coal and Steel Community 1958: Treaty of Rome 1993: European Single Market 1993: Treaty of Maastricht 1999: Treaty of Amsterdam 2003: Treaty of Nice 2009: Treaty of Lisbon Political System
The EU's political structure includes several key components:
European Commission: The executive body Court of Justice of the European Union: The judiciary European Council and Council of Ministers: Representing the member states European Parliament : Directly elected by EU citizens every five years since 1979 Countries using the euro also collaborate within the Eurogroup. Major EU institutions are primarily based in Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, and Frankfurt am Main. The EU flag, featuring twelve yellow stars in a blue field, symbolizes the union.