Many people often use the terms "Europe" y "European Union" interchangeably, but each represents a completely different entity. This detailed article will explain the difference between the two, so that you can use them correctly when referring to each of these concepts.
Europe Europe is one of the continents that make up our planet. Its boundaries have always been debated, but it is commonly considered to be delimited to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Sea, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east by Asia, right at the Ural Mountains and the Ural River, extending to the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus, the Black Sea and the Bosphorus. With a widely diverse population and more than 750 million inhabitants, Europe is composed of 45 States ranging from Albania to the Vatican.
Some countries, such as Turkey and Georgia, are often considered part of Europe due to their history and geographical location, although they are also partially located in Asia. However, the definition of European countries can vary depending on the historical and cultural context taken into account.
What is the European Union?
La European Union (EU) The European Union is a political and economic organisation that brings together several European countries, whose main objective is to promote economic, political and social cooperation between its members. Currently, 27 countries are part of the EU, following the departure of the United Kingdom in 2020. The European Union was initially conceived to avoid new conflicts after the Second World War, with the idea that greater economic interdependence between countries would reduce the chances of war.
This supranational organisation has not only created a common internal market, where goods, services, people and capital circulate freely, but has also developed common policies in areas such as agriculture, trade and the environment. In addition, the EU has a single currency, the Euro, which is used by 19 of the 27 member states, known as the Eurozone.
Which countries make up the European Union?
Currently, the European Union is made up of the following countries:
- German
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Estonia
- Finland
- French
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Czech Republic
- Romania
- Sweden
In addition to these, the United Kingdom was on the list of member countries until it decided to withdraw, a process that culminated in 2020 and is known as the Brexit.
What benefits does the European Union offer its citizens?
EU citizens benefit from many facilities that the organisation has implemented, including the possibility of working, studying or residing in any member country without the need for a visa. In addition, European citizens enjoy the same rights regarding access to health services, education and social benefits in any member state. These advantages have been possible thanks to the integration process that the EU has promoted since its creation.
What are the differences between Europe and the European Union?
The most important difference is that while Europe is a continent made up of several nations (both within and outside the EU), the European Union is a political and economic association of some of those countries. Although both the EU and the European continent are physically on the same land, not all countries in Europe are part of the European Union.
Another key difference is the use of EuroAlthough the euro is the official currency of many EU countries, not all members use it. Countries such as Poland and Hungary still retain their national currency. In addition, several countries belong to the Schengen area, which allows them to eliminate border controls between them in order to promote the free movement of people, but not all EU countries are part of this area.
European Economic Area and Schengen Area
Although they seem to be similar terms, both the European Economic Area (EEA) such as Schengen area They have different characteristics and purposes. The EEA includes the EU member countries plus a few other non-EU European countries, such as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and allows these countries to participate in the EU internal market. The Schengen Area, on the other hand, is an agreement between several European countries to allow the free movement of people between them, without internal border controls. Switzerland, for example, does not belong to the EU or the EEA, but it does belong to the Schengen Area.
Institutions of the European Union
The European Union has several key institutions that make decisions and govern the functioning of the organisation. Among them, the most important are:
- The European Parliament: Directly elected by European citizens, it is responsible for approving EU legislation and the budget together with the Council of the European Union.
- The European Commission: It represents the interests of the EU as a whole and implements the policies adopted by Parliament and the Council. It is also responsible for proposing new legislation.
- The Council of the European Union: It represents the governments of the member states and coordinates policy between them.
- The European Central Bank: It is responsible for the monetary policy of the Eurozone, supervising the Euro and managing financial stability in the region.