Easy to read – about the EU
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European Union
Easy to read version

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The European Union

The European Union is a group of 27 countries in Europe.

These countries came together

to make things better, easier and safer for people.

They agreed to work together and help each other.

In the beginning, only 6 countries in Europe started working together:

Belgium

France

Germany

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Soon, more and more countries in Europe joined them

and the European Union was made.

In June 2016 the United Kingdom decided

to stop being part of the European Union.

So from 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom

is no longer part of the European Union.

The goals and values of the European Union

All countries that are part of the European Union work together

to make sure that:

there is peace in Europe

people have good lives

things are fair for all people and nobody is left out

the languages and cultures of all people

are respected

there is a strong European economy

and countries use the same coin

to do business together.

The countries of the European Union

share some important values.

For example, they work to make sure that all people are equal

and their rights are respected.

Peace in Europe

Free move

The European Union made it easier for people

to move freely from one country to another.

They can live, study or work

in any country of the European Union they want.

For example, a person from France can choose

to move to Italy and work there.

Or a student from Belgium can go study in a university in Greece.

Things, services and money can also move freely

from one country of the European Union to another.

The European Union in the world

The European Union plays an important role in the world in many ways.

For example:

It sells many things and services to other countries.

Also, it buys things from other countries.

This way it helps the world economy keep going.

It helps millions of people

who live in poorer countries outside the European Union.

It tries to make the world a safer place

where people are treated fairly and laws are respected.

Becoming part of the European Union

To become part of the European Union,

a country must:

Some countries are now working to become part of the European Union.

These countries are:

Albania

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Georgia

Moldova

Montenegro

North Macedonia

Serbia

Türkiye

Ukraine

To become part of the European Union,

these countries must work

to make all laws and values of the European Union

happen in them.

The Schengen Area

The European Union made the ‘Schengen Area’.

The Schengen Area is an area without borders.

In this area, people can travel from country to country freely and easily.

They do not have to go through checks and controls

when they pass from one country to another.

Thanks to the Schengen Area, it is now easier for people

to travel for work or tourism.

The Schengen Area was made in 1985.

Today 25 out of the 27 countries of the European Union

are part of the Schengen Area.

These countries are:

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Also, 4 countries outside the European Union

are part of the Schengen Area:

Iceland

Liechtenstein

Norway

Switzerland

That means that people can travel freely and easily

from one of these countries to another.

This way it is easier for people to visit any of these countries

for tourism or for work.

Languages of the European Union

In every country of the European Union

people speak their own language.

The European Union protects the right of people

to communicate in their own language.

That is why the European Union

makes all important information and documents

in all the languages that people speak in its countries:

Bulgarian

Croatian

Czech

Danish

Dutch

English

Estonian

Finnish

French

German

Greek

Hungarian

Irish

Italian

Latvian

Lithuanian

Maltese

Polish

Portuguese

Romanian

Slovak

Slovenian

Spanish

Swedish

This way all people in the European Union

can get important information in their own language

and understand it.

The coin of the European Union

Most countries that are part of the European Union use the same coin.

Today, 20 out of 27 European Union countries use the euro.

These countries are:

Austria

Belgium

Croatia

Cyprus

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Portugal

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

The European flag

This is the flag of the European Union:

The flag of the European Union is blue

and has a circle of gold stars on it.

It is a symbol that shows that the countries of the European Union

are united and stand by each other.

The European anthem

Every country has a melody

that better shows its values and culture as a country.

This melody is called ‘anthem’.

The European Union has its own anthem too.

In 1985, people who make decisions

in the European Union

chose a melody of a very important composer

to be the anthem of the European Union.

This composer is called Ludwig van Beethoven.

The melody shows how important it is

that all people are free, live in peace

and stand by each other.

The European Union believes in these values

and that is why it has chosen this melody

to be its anthem.

If you want to listen to the anthem of the European Union, click here.

United in diversity

The European Union uses the phrase ‘united in diversity’

to show what its values are.

Being united in diversity means that:

people in the European Union

may have different cultures or languages

but they stand by each other

and work together in peace.

there is nothing wrong

about having different languages or cultures.

On the contrary.

People with different cultures

can learn more things from each other and work well together.

How the European Union works

The European Union has 3 main bodies:

the European Commission

The people of the European Commission

suggest laws for the European Union.

the European Parliament

The people of the European Parliament

are elected by all people in Europe

to stand for their rights.

the Council of the European Union

People who make decisions

in every country of the European Union

come together and make

the Council of the European Union.

These 3 bodies are very important for the European Union.

They work closely together to make things better in Europe:

The European Commission suggests laws.

The European Parliament

and the Council of the European Union

discuss these laws and decide if they want these laws

to happen in Europe.

If they decide that a law must happen in Europe,

all countries of the European Union

must work to make this law happen in them.

Other bodies that are important for the European Union are:

The Court of Justice of the European Union

that makes sure that all laws happen correctly

in the European Union.

the Court of Auditors

that checks if the money of the European Union

is spent in the right way.

There are also other bodies of the European Union

that are doing important work.

For example, there are bodies that:

check if the European Union works in the right

way and respects the rights of all people.

publish useful information

about the European Union.

choose the people who have the skills

to work for the European Union.

stand for the rights of all people in Europe

like people with disabilities, workers and others.

All these bodies work together to make sure that the European Union works

in the right way for the good of its people.

More information

Click here to find more information

about the European Union in your own language.

If you have questions about the European Union,

you can fill this online form here.