The European Union is super state of the 21th century.
In 1957 Belgium, France, Western Germany, Italy, Luxemburg and Netherland have laid the foundations of the European Union.
Today’s EU has founded no the 1th of November 1993.
Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg, Germany, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania form together the most significant market on the planet.
The European Union is has population of around 496 500 000 people in 27 countries.
It occupies an area of 4 325 675 sq.km.
International researches show that the biggest part of the best for living cities in the world, are situated mainly on the territory of the EU.
For example, number one in this category for 2009 is Vienna, Austria.
The capital of the European Union is Brussels, Belgium.
The European Union has bigger cultural and ethnic diversity even than United States.
EU is world example for globalization and integration.
The official currency is Euro.
It is maybe on of the most stable currencies on the planet.
The EU has 23 official languages, but the English is mass.
The European Commission uses three work languages – English, French and German.
States as Denmark, Luxemburg and so on has higher annual income per capital of the population than the United States.
In 2009 Croatia, as well as Macedonia and Turkey conduct negotiations with the European Union about the eventual future membership.
There are many different opinion about the further expansion of the European Union in the east and especially in the south.
Many African countries from the northern part of the continent want to be members of EU, bu this arouse a lot of discussions and contradictions.
The most popular theory is that the European Union has to continue the expansion, until integrate all European countries that want to get members of the Union.
Most contradictions arouse Turkey.
This country from far back declare desire to be a member of the European Community, but the EU is strongly split.
Turkey has territories on the European continent, but on the other hand it is much more Asian country.
From geographical point of view, Malta is part of the African continent, but yet it is member of the European Union.
The same holds true in respect of Cyprus that is part of Asia (to be precise Asia Minor).
Malta and Cyprus are geographical part of Africa and Asia, but from cultural point of view are undoubtedly European countries.
No one knows what has prepared the future about the European super country and what countries will get members to this dreamed community.
The effect of the integration.
It is a fact that in the last few years decrease the number of people who plan to go out of the borders of the European Union since the community gives to the people great opportunities for development and progress.
On the other hand, people from all over the world strive for European citizenship.
Most favored of the idea for common European citizenship are the young Europeans, who similar to the young people from all parts of the world are globalists and in most cases they wish to leave their home country and want to realize themselves somewhere else.
The common European citizenship meet the requirements of the young Europeans and in such a way, much more of them stay on in Europe.
There are serious dissension among the older people about the free movement of people, merchandise and labour, but in the end, contemporary Europe just answer to the challenge of the 21st century.
The European Union occupies the biggest part of Europe.
It is the seventh biggest country in the world.
European Union has an wide outlet to water sheets – Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Baltic Sea and North Sea.
EU has very indented coast line, that is very suitable for developing of ports and resorts.
There are close meshed net of rivers.
The biggest river in the European Union is Danube.
The river springs are in the mountain of Schwarzwald in the south-west part of Germany and flow into the Black Sea through large delta on the territory of Romania.
Other significant rivers on the territory of EU are Rhine, Loire, Seine, Elbe, Rhone, Oder, Wisla, Ebro, tajo and so on.
The biggest lake on the territory of EU is Vanern.
It is situated in the southern part of Sweden in more than 200km. from the capital Stockholm.
Other large lakes on the territory of EU are Balaton in Hungary, Lago Maggiore, Lago di Garda, Lago di Como in Italy and so on.
The main part of the European Union has flat relief.
This fact strongly aid the transport and agriculture.
The mountainous relief can be found only in the southern Mediterranean parts of the European Union.
The Alps are the highest mountain range in EU.
The highest peak in the community is Mont Blanc – 4808m. It is situated on the border between France and Italy.
As a whole, the biggest part of the EU is occupied by planes and lowlands.
The most extensive plane on the Union lay across the central part of the continent from the north-west Atlantic coast of France through the territory of Belgium, the Netherlands, north part of Germany, Poland and reach to the Baltic Sea republics Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
On its territory, the European Union has many islands.
The biggest are the British Islands.
In the Mediterranean Sea can be found few big islands that are world famous tourist destination.
Sardinia, Sicily, Cyprus, Crete, Corsica, Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Rhodes, Malta are some of the most famous.
The European Union is paradise for the lovers of the culture and beauty.
Except the magnificent nature, the EU is home to some of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Rome, Prague, Paris, Lisbon, Vienna, London, Venice, Naples, Berlin, Barcelona and many, many other will captivate every visitor with their ancient fascination and unique atmosphere.
The European Union is one real out door museum.
Wherever you look, every building, every street is a history.
The streets of the cities in the EU, combine in one very refined way the medieval and modern architecture.
The European Union has more than 50 cities with population of more than 1 000 000 people.
These are mainly the capitals of the EU members, but not only.
In the European Union can be found some of the best for living cities in the world – Vienna, Munich, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Lisbon and so on.
Except the harmonious architecture, the EU cities are usually very well planted and shrubs.
More and more citizens of the European Union prefer to move with bicycle.
Every city in the community try to secure the necessary infrastructure.
The European Union is center to the world fashion.
London, Paris and Milan dictate the new fashion trends.
The Mediterranean cuisine and lifestyle pass from city to city, from country to country and become a part from the daily round to more and more Europeans.
In the last few years more and more countries, not only from EU, but from all over the world uncover the advantages of the Mediterranean cuisine.
The climate of the European Union.
The EU has exceptionally varied climate.
From the northern – most to the southern – most parts of the Union, it get into the borders of three climate zones.
The northern – most part of the continent is situated on the territory of Finland.
This aria is named Lapland.
It is famous with its cold subarctic climate, short and cool summer, heavy snowfalls, as well as the fact that this is the birth place of Santa Claus.
The arctic circle pass through the territory of Lapland.
The winter temperatures can drop below (-50) °C and the summer are around 15 °C in July.
Here can be seen the phenomenon called polar day and polar night.
In the summer period of six months the sun does not set and in the winter it does not rice above the horizon.
Even if harsh, the local nature is incredible beautiful.
Splendid pine forests, countless crystal clean lakes, whose surface is calm as mirror.
In the south of the polar circle, the EU get into the temperate climate zone.
Of course, between the different parts of the temperate climate zones the differences are great.
While on the Scandinavian Peninsula the temperate climate is cool with short summers with temperatures around 20 °C, harsh winters with significant snowfalls and temperatures of around 20 °C, in the southern parts of the temperate climate zone the conditions are very different.
For example, the summers in Austria are hot with daily temperatures of more than 30 °C.
The spring and autumn are mild with temperatures between 10 and 20 °C, and the winters are cold, but of course, much more acceptable from the temperatures in Scandinavia.
In January the daily temperatures in Vienna rarely fall below zero.
Obviously, can be seen very significant differences in one and the same climate zone.
In the southern – most parts of the European Union, on the Mediterranean coast, in the latitudes in south of the 40th parallel the territories get into the subtropical climate zone.
Here as difference of the temperate climate zone the seasons are not four but two – summer dry and winter wet season.
The summer is much more longer than the winter.
The summers are hot and sunny, and the winters are mild and refreshing.
It is considered that the Mediterranean climate is the healthiest.
The southern – most parts of the European Union in Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Sicily, Malta, Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus and so on, can lasts 8 – 9 months and the winter temperatures are around 15 – 16 °C, but often can reach 20 – 25 °C.