European Union Background and Issues

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership that represents a unique form of co-operation among its 27 sovereign member states. The Union is the latest stage of a process of integration begun after World War II to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity in Europe. The United States have strongly supported the EU and its progenitors as a means to foster democratic states and robust trading partners. The United States and the EU share a large, mutually beneficial trade and investment relationship. The global financial crisis and recession has challenged both sides to forge a common response. The United States and EU have a number of lingering trade disputes, but have led the push to liberalise world trade, and have sought to reduce non-tariff and regulatory barriers in the transatlantic workplace. This book provides an overview of these issues.