European Union

American  

[yoor-uh-pee-uhn yoon-yuhn, yur‐] / ˈjʊər əˌpi ən ˈjun jən, ˈjɜr‐ /

noun

1. an association of European nations formed in 1993 for the purpose of achieving political and economic integration. Incorporating the European Community, the European Union's member states are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In 2016 the United Kingdom voted by referendum to withdraw from membership in the European Union.

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European Union British  

noun

1.  EU.  an organization created in 1993 with the aim of achieving closer economic and political union between member states of the European Community. The current members are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK

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European Union Cultural  

1. A political union, often called the EU, to which the member states of the EEC are evolving. Based on the Maastricht Treaty, it envisions the eventual establishment of common economic, foreign, security, and justice policies. The extent to which this goal will be achieved is still in doubt and occasions deep divisions in some member states, especially Great Britain. The members of the EU are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Several nations, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Turkey, are seeking membership.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

European Union

The European Union has proposed to relax its landmark carbon-pricing system, and allow automakers to sell gasoline-burning cars for longer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Before its services can run, Virgin still needs to procure a rolling stock of trains for the route, gain access to other rail networks and obtain safety approvals from British and European Union authorities.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

The European Union on Saturday said the restrictions had "contributed to an uneven playing field" in the vote.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

Most wealthy Americans, and particularly Californians, are interested in residency in a European nation, which affords someone the ability to live or work in more than two dozen countries in the European Union.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

In Europe alone, the fall of the wall opened the way for the formation of the European Union and its expansion from fifteen to twenty-five countries.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman