Today, the European Union, the strongest political union, celebrates its birthday. Find out more about how an economic community turned into such a powerful and influential union

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More than half a century ago, on November 1, 1957, the Rome Convention was signed, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), the first step toward the formation of the modern European Union (EU). Then, on November 1, 1993, the Treaty on European Union came into force, bringing together old and new European integration initiatives. Today, the EU is a powerful union of 27 European countries aimed at cooperation and ensuring peace and stability on the continent.

The European Union has made significant progress over the years. It has established a common market, the euro as a single currency in some countries, and even created a Joint Research Area, promoting scientific research and innovation. The EU has also been developing a common foreign policy and promoting peace through diplomatic efforts.

The European Union is currently made up of 27 member countries, following Britain's withdrawal in 2020. The bloc brings together countries with diverse cultures, economies and political systems, and it has its own characteristics and interesting facts:

- The EU is the world's largest economic bloc, with a combined GDP of more than 15 trillion dollars.

- The EU has about 24 official languages, and the translators working in the Brussels institutions do a huge amount of work every day, ensuring understanding between different nationalities.

- The EU is committed to upholding the principles of democracy, human rights and freedom, as well as actively combating climate change and promoting sustainable development.

Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU

Ukraine has been haunted by the idea of European integration for many years. All presidents of independent Ukraine, with the exception of the fugitive Yanukovych, promised their people that the country would become a member of the EU.

Ukraine officially applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022; a day earlier, a number of European heads of state had expressed support for integration with Ukraine. The decision to apply was made by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky after his country was attacked by Russia.

Already on March 1, 2022, the European Parliament recommended granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country for EU accession. On June 17, 2022, the European Commission supported a resolution to grant Ukraine candidate status for EU accession. On June 23, the European Parliament overwhelmingly adopted a resolution in support of EU candidate status for Ukraine, and the Council of the European Union granted Ukraine candidate status for EU accession

According to some Western sources, negotiations between Ukraine and the EU regarding membership could start in December.

For more details on when Ukraine will join the EU, read in our material.

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How can Ukraine help Europe?

The importance of Ukraine's accession to the European Union cannot be underestimated. This event would not only strengthen democratic institutions in Ukraine, but also contribute to peace and stability in Eastern Europe, as Ukraine is one of the few countries that can stop the EU's main enemy - Russia. 

In addition, Ukraine is a large and strategically important country, and its integration into the EU would help strengthen cooperation in the region and help solve many global problems.

The country could also contribute to a variety of EU areas, including economy, energy, science and culture. Ukraine's large population and rich natural resources make it a potentially important player in the European Union.

The European Union is a unique project of peace and cooperation and its importance cannot be overemphasized. By integrating Ukraine into the EU, these ideals can be reinforced and peace and prosperity can be ensured not only in Ukraine, but throughout Europe.

We remind you! The European Union has suspended the launch of the new border control system tentatively until 2025. Find out more about when the system is expected to be launched and what is standing in the way. 

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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