The European Union is a unique economic and political union between 28 EU countries that together cover much of the continent.  The predecessor of the EU was created in the aftermath of the Second World War with the intention of creating an environment that fostered economic cooperation. The result was the European Economic Community (EEC), created in 1958, and initially increasing economic cooperation between six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.  Since then, 22 other members joined and what began as a purely economic union evolved into an organization spanning several policy areas.  In 1993, the the European Economic Community (EEC) changed its name to European Union (EU) to reflect this evolution.  The EU has delivered more than half a century of peace, stability and prosperity, helped raise living standards and launched a single European currency: the euro.  Thanks to the abolition of border controls between EU countries, people can travel freely throughout most of the continent. And it has become much easier to live, work and travel abroad in Europe. Every EU country must treat EU citizens in exactly the same way as its own citizens for employment, social security and tax purposes.  The EU remains focused on making its governing institutions more transparent and democratic. Decisions are taken as openly as possible and as closely as possible to the citizen.