Answer:
The European Union (EU) is a unique partnership in which member states have pooled
sovereignty in certain policy areas and harmonized laws on a wide range of economic and
political issues. The EU is the latest stage in a process of European integration begun after World
War II, initially by six Western European countries, to promote peace, security, and economic
development. The EU currently consists of 28 member states, including most of the formerly
communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
The EU is largely viewed as a cornerstone of European stability and prosperity. For much of the
last decade, however, many EU countries have faced considerable economic difficulties. Despite
an improved economic situation in the EU since 2017, economic pressures and societal changes
have contributed to the rise of populist and antiestablishment political parties, at least some of
which harbor anti-EU or “euroskeptic” sentiments. Such trends have complicated the EU’s ability
to deal with multiple internal and external challenges. Among the most prominent challenges are
the pending departure of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU (“Brexit”);
democracy and rule-of-law concerns in Poland, Hungary, and other EU members;
migration and related societal integration concerns;
a resurgent Russia; and
a heightened terrorism threat
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