european union

The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 European states. Its origins can be traced back to the formation of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1958, which included only 6 member states. The European Union as we know it today was created in 1993, when the Maastricht Treaty came into force. This treaty led to the creation of the official currency of the eurozone, namely the euro.

The Union has grown in size to 27 member states through the accession of new members. In order to join the European Union, states must meet the Copenhagen criteria, which were drafted in 1993 at the Copenhagen European Council. These criteria require that states preserve a democratic governance and respect human rights, have a functional market economy, as well as embrace their obligations toward the European Union.

You'll find bloggers talking about the European Union at sites like euobserver.com.

by RawMichelle Are you a writer, passionate about this or any other topic? Join Blogcritics!

Original Technorati articles tagged “european union”

• in Business
  Iran Oil Ban In Europe May Come Sooner
  Pending legislation in Iran calls for an immediate embargo on all all imports and exports of European goods, including oil.
  by stephengfm / on Jan 29, 2012
• in Business
  Downgrade Watch: S&P to EFSF
  Europe's plan for solvency flags under the credit agency scrutiny
  by stephengfm / on Dec 6, 2011
• in Politics
  Iran: Sanctions Equal Oil at $250 a Barrel
  West plays a global game of chicken with Iran
  by stephengfm / on Dec 6, 2011

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “european union”

 

• UK will block eurozone use of EU institutions, vows Iain Duncan Smith

  
  top99news - breaking news from the world top newspapers — Authority: 163
  http://www.guardian.co.uk UK will block eurozone use of EU institutions, vows Iain Duncan Smith Former Tory leader backs David Cameron to stick to veto over EU powers amid claims PM has rowed back on pledgeThe work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has insisted Britain would block eurozone ...
  5 hours ago

• UK will block eurozone use of EU institutions, vows Iain Duncan Smith

  
  The Guardian - guardian.co.uk — Authority: 962
  Former Tory leader backs David Cameron to stick to veto over EU powers amid claims PM has rowed back on pledge The work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has said Britain would block eurozone countries from using institutions paid for by EU nations. Pressed on the possible use of the European commission and ...
  5 hours ago

• Iran may ban import of all European goods

  
  Thaindian News — Authority: 534
  Tehran, Jan 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Iran may ban imports of all products from Europe as an answer to the European Union (EU) which has voted against oil imports from Tehran.Nasser Sudani, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on energy, said a bill worked out by parliament stipulated an immediate cease of oil ...
  7 hours ago

• Iran oil chief: sanctions to hit EU buyback

  
  Dubai Business | Kippreport — Authority: 505
  European companies owed oil by Iran could lose out if Tehran imposes a ban on crude exports to the European Union next week, the head of Iran’s state oil company said on Saturday. Iran’s parliament is due to debate a bill on Sunday that would cut off oil supplies to the EU in a matter of days, in revenge for a ...
  8 hours ago

• Brent rises above $111 on demand growth hopes, Iran threat

  
  Dubai Business | Kippreport — Authority: 505
  Brent crude rose above $111 on Friday on hopes of steady demand growth as the latest data out of the United States swelled a list of positive indicators pointing to economic expansion gaining momentum in the world’s top oil consumer. The indicators come just as the US Federal Reserve promised to keep interest rates ...
  1 day ago

• Sony Ericsson buyout approved by European Union

  
  All Gadget Review — Authority: 127
  This week the list of EU mergers and takeovers of companies includes no less than Japan’s approval for Sony to gain sole control of the company that the phone called Sony Ericsson. This aggregation has so far been co-owned by both Sony and Ericsson, and was accustomed on January 26, which can alone be endemic [...]
  1 day ago

• Greek economic independence: what independence?

  
  Tim Worstall — Authority: 547
  It was also being reported last night that the German government wants Greece to hand over control of tax and spending decisions to a ‘budget commissioner’ appointed by the rest of the eurozone, before the country gets its second bail-out. The budget commissioner would have to power to veto decisions made by the ...
  1 day ago

• A Bit of Satire on the European Debt

  
  Black Bear Blog — Authority: 116
  
  2 days ago

• The Stream, January 27: Water Pollution Strikes Chinese River

  
  Circle of Blue | WaterNews — Authority: 415
  Levels of cadmium, a carcinogen, measured 20 percent higher than the official limit in China’s Longjiang River, Xinhua reported. The pollution, which may have been caused by mining, spurred a rush to buy bottled water amid fears of drinking water contamination. Weather Extremes Floods killed 6 people in Fiji ...
  2 days ago

• How European are you? Take our interactive quiz

  
  The Guardian - guardian.co.uk — Authority: 962
  Try our questions and find out how far you are in tune with the continental project Jonathan Richards Mariana Santos Robin Beitra Guardian Interactive team
  2 days ago

• Iraq makes sanctions against Iran ineffective | Nima Khorrami Assl

  
  top99news - breaking news from the world top newspapers — Authority: 163
  http://www.guardian.co.uk Iraq makes sanctions against Iran ineffective | Nima Khorrami Assl The long border with Iraq undermines US and EU efforts to stop Iran’s nuclear programme with trade sanctionsThe US and EU have announced new sanctions in the hope of persuading Iran to abandon its alleged ...
  2 days ago

• Iraq makes sanctions against Iran ineffective | Nima Khorrami Assl

  
  The Guardian - guardian.co.uk — Authority: 962
  The long border with Iraq undermines US and EU efforts to stop Irans nuclear programme with trade sanctions The US and EU have announced new sanctions in the hope of persuading Iran to abandon its alleged nuclear weapons programme, though how effective these will be is questionable. China, India, Russia, Turkey, ...
  2 days ago

• Unemployment in Spain hits 15 year high at 22.9%

  
  AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth — Authority: 655
  And yes, it will get worse in Spain . Spain’s unemployment rate rose to 22.9 percent, the highest in 15 years, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to change labor rules and deliver on his election pledge to create jobs in a shrinking economy.The unemployment rate rose in the fourth quarter from 21.5 ...
  2 days ago

• Politicians told to stop ‘exaggerated’ criticism of human rights court

  
  top99news - breaking news from the world top newspapers — Authority: 163
  http://www.guardian.co.uk Politicians told to stop ‘exaggerated’ criticism of human rights court European court of human rights president Sir Nicolas Bratza says any criticism should be based on evidence not emotionThe president of the European court of human rights has warned political leaders ...
  2 days ago

• Politicians told to stop exaggerated criticism of human rights court

  
  The Guardian - guardian.co.uk — Authority: 962
  European court of human rights president Sir Nicolas Bratza says any criticism should be based on evidence not emotion The president of the European court of human rights has warned political leaders against using "emotion and exaggeration" to criticise the courts workings. Sir Nicolas Bratza made his comments as he ...
  2 days ago

• HAS UK MVNO alpha Mobile Gone Bust?

  
  Prepaid MVNO — Authority: 122
  We have been informed that alpha Mobile may have closed down just after seven months due to very poor take up.
  2 days ago

• Facebook Generates Jobs in Spain

  
  Spanish news — Authority: 107
  The world’s largest social network is more than entertainment for its users. According to a report by Deloitte, Facebook generates 232,000 jobs in the European Union. The same study, which measures the employment and economic impact of Mark Zuckerberg’s company, said that this accounts for 15,300 million euros of ...
  2 days ago

• "Stimulus vs. Austerity: An Unsettled Debate" by Steven Hill

  
  Social Europe Journal — Authority: 118
  Many nations try both: “Aust-imulus?” Few subjects have so bitterly divided our insecure times than the double-edged saber of stimulus vs. austerity. Consensus over which course will lift the current...
  2 days ago

• Debt crisis hardens Eurosceptics antipathy in Poland

  
  The Guardian - guardian.co.uk — Authority: 962
  Opposition leader Jarosław Kaczynski campaigned for EU membership, but has been outraged by calls for federalism In Poland, Euroscepticism is the preserve of the conservative Law and Justice party, and its leader Jarosław Kaczynski. Until last year, he could have been described as a mild sceptic, but the debt ...
  3 days ago

• EU budget: what does the European Union spend and where does the money come from?

  
  The Guardian - guardian.co.uk — Authority: 962
  How does the EU spend its budget - and who contributes the most? • Get the data • Download the graphic as a PDF Where does the European Union get its money from‚ and how does it spend it? With an annual budget of over €122bn, the EU is an economic power in its own right, more significant than many ...
  3 days ago

Comments about european union