The EU/European Union describes a economical and political union of 28 States. With an estimated population of around 510 million the European Union policies aim to allow the free movement of people, goods and services. Within the internal market it aims to maintain common policies on agriculture, trade and more.
Members
The EU and European citizenship were established in 1933. With the inner original 6 being Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany. Although no member state has ever left, in 2016 the UK announced its intention to leave and has begun negotiating their departure for 2019.
More foreign aid is provided by the EU than any other economic union. Due to its Global influence and reach the Union has been described as an emerging superpower.
As Europe charts its economic future amid global uncertainties, the European Commission’s new Startup and Scaleup Strategy signals a pivotal shift in how innovation is conceived—not only as a commercial activity, but as a core strategic asset underpinning EU sovereignty, resilience, and growth.
The Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) has officially launched an open call for local organisers for the third edition of the EUDIS Hackathon, set to take place from 17 to 19 October 2025.
With the European Union five years away from its Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, a new assessment has been released, revealing that although steps have been taken to protect ecosystems, progress needs to be accelerated to meet long-term goals.
With hopes of improving collaboration with Europe in artificial intelligence (AI), the UK government has announced a new initiative to unlock cutting-edge innovation, support job creation, and accelerate research in vital sectors such as healthcare and clean energy.
The European Union's blue economy has struggled since its setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic but is now thriving, according to the newly released 2025 Blue Economy Report.
The European Commission has adopted a new regulation requiring oil and gas producers to contribute to developing large-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) storage infrastructure across the European Union.
On 21 May 2025, the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt took further steps in their partnership by extending the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) agreement.
The UK and the European Union have agreed on a major new trade and cooperation deal, marking a significant shift in the post-Brexit relationship and paving the way for closer economic and security ties.
The European Commission has announced a significant funding boost for research and innovation through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) in 2025.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development and Technology have announced a new initiative to boost innovation across the European Union.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) Board calls on EU Member States and regions to better align their innovation funding efforts with the EIC's programmes to support the growth of deep tech start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Renewing their commitment to tackle climate change, EUMETSAT and the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) have reaffirmed their long-standing cooperation to better the European Union’s climate strategies.
The European Commission has awarded the prestigious EU Mission Label to 39 additional cities as part of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities.
The European Commission has announced an investment of €910 million under the 2024 edition of the European Defence Fund (EDF), aimed at strengthening the continent's defence capabilities through innovation, cooperation, and advanced technology development.
The European Commission has introduced a consultation process to shape the direction of digital research, development, and deployment in the EU past 2027.
