2020 Edition

Background

In the aftermath and devastation of the two World Wars, a number of far-sighted European leaders in the late 1940s sought to respond to the overwhelming desire for peace and reconciliation on the continent. In 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed pooling the production of coal and steel in Western Europe, which would bring France and West Germany together and be open to other countries as well. The following year, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members -- Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands -- signed the Treaty of Paris. Within a few years, the ECSC was so successful that member states decided to further integrate their economies. In 1957, envisioning an "ever closer union," the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), which eliminated trade barriers among the six member states to create a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and a legislative body known today as the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but direct elections began in 1979 and have been held every five years since. In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC added Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. The 1980s saw further membership expansion, with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further cooperation in foreign and defense policy and judicial and internal affairs, as well as the creation of an economic and monetary union -- including a common currency. The Maastricht Treaty created the European Union (EU), at the time standing alongside the EC. In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU/EC, raising the total number of member states to 15. On 1 January 1999, the new euro currency was launched in world markets and became the unit of exchange for all EU member states except Denmark, Sweden, and the UK. In 2002, citizens of the 12 participating member states began using euro banknotes and coins. In an effort to ensure that the EU could function efficiently with an expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice in 2000 set forth rules to streamline the size and procedures of the EU's institutions. An effort to establish a "Constitution for Europe," growing out of a Convention held in 2002-2003, foundered when it was rejected in referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005. A subsequent effort in 2007 incorporated many features of the rejected draft Constitutional Treaty, while also making a number of substantive as well as symbolic changes. The new treaty, referred to as the Treaty of Lisbon, sought to amend existing treaties rather than replace them. The treaty was approved at a conference of member states, and after all member states ratified, the Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009, at which point the EU officially replaced and succeeded the EC. Ten new countries joined the EU in 2004 -- Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 and Croatia in 2013. UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU; the formal exit, widely known as "Brexit," took place on 31 January 2020. The EU and the UK negotiated a withdrawal agreement that included a status quo transition period through December 2020, when the follow-on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was concluded. Current EU membership stands at 27. Eight of the newer member states -- Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, and Slovenia -- have now adopted the euro, bringing total euro-zone membership to 20.

Preliminary statement

The European Union's (EU) evolution is unprecedented in history, transforming from a regional economic agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to today's hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization of 27 countries across the European continent. Such a large number of nation-states ceding some of their sovereignty to an overarching entity is unique. Dynastic unions for territorial consolidation were long the norm in Europe, although country-level unions were sometimes arranged, such as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  The EU is not a federation in the strict sense, but it is far more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN or Mercosur. It has certain attributes associated with independent nations: its own flag, currency (for some members), and law-making abilities, as well as diplomatic representation and a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with external partners. For these reasons, The World Factbook includes basic information on the EU as a separate entity.

Area

total

4,236,351 sq km

Area - comparative

less than one-half the size of the United States

Climate

cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south

Coastline

53,563.9 km

Elevation

highest point

Mont Blanc, France 4,810 m

lowest point

Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands -7 m

Irrigated land

154,539.82 sq km (2011 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Albania 212 km; Andorra 118 km; Belarus 1,176 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Holy See 3 km; Liechtenstein 34 km; North Macedonia 396 km; Moldova 683 km; Monaco 6 km; Montenegro 19 km; Norway 2,375 km; Russia 2,435 km; San Marino 37 km; Serbia 1,353 km; Switzerland 1,729 km; Turkey 415 km; United Kingdom 499 km; Ukraine 1,324 km

total

13,770 km

Location

Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean in the west and Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to the east

Map references

Europe

Natural hazards

flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic Sea region

Natural resources

iron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish

Population distribution

population distribution varies considerably from country to country but tends to follow a pattern of coastal and river settlement, with urban agglomerations forming large hubs; the area in and around the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (known collectively as Benelux), is the most densely populated area in the EU

Terrain

fairly flat along Baltic and Atlantic coasts; mountainous in the central and southern areas

Age structure

0-14 years

14.5% (male 33,606,273/female 31,985,118)

15-64 years

63.5% (male 143,874,460/female 143,104,994)

65 years and over

22% (2024 est.) (male 43,150,599/female 56,093,868)

Birth rate

8.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate

11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

34.5 (2024)

potential support ratio

3 (2024)

total dependency ratio

57.2 (2024)

youth dependency ratio

22.8 (2024)

Education expenditure

5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.75 (2024 est.)

Health expenditure

10.9% of GDP (2021)

Infant mortality rate

total

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.51 years

male

72.98 years

total population

77.63 years (2021)

Median age

female

45.5 years

male

42.6 years

total

44 years (2020)

Net migration rate

-2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

female

231,183,980

male

220,631,332

total

451,815,312 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

0.1% (2021 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 41%, Orthodox 10%, Protestant 9%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 2%, other 4% (includes Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu), atheist 10%, non-believer/agnostic 17%, unspecified 3% (2019 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

(Brussels) 50 50 N, 4 20 E

name

Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg, Frankfurt (Germany)

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note

the 27 European Union member states are spread across three time zones

Constitution

amendment process

EU treaties can be amended in several ways: 1) Ordinary Revision Procedure (for key amendments to the treaties); initiated by an EU member state, the European Parliament, or the European Commission; after the proposal is adopted by the European Council, a conference of national government representatives then reviews the proposal; passage requires ratification by all EU member states 2) Simplified Revision Procedure (for amendment of EU internal policies and actions); passage of a proposal requires unanimous European Council vote after European Council consultation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Central Bank (if the amendment concerns monetary matters) and requires ratification by all EU member states 3) Passerelle Clause; allows the alteration of a legislative procedure without a formal amendment of the treaties 4) Flexibility Clause; permits the EU to decide in subject areas where EU competences have not been explicitly granted in the treaties but are necessary to the attainment of treaty objectives

history

none; the EU legal order relies primarily on the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Andrew PUZDER (since 11 September 2025)

email address and website

https://useu.usmission.gov/

embassy

Zinnerstraat - 13 - Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[32] (2) 811-4100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2175 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador Jovita NELIUPŠIENĖ, Head of Delegation (since 27 February 2024)

email address and website

delegation-usa-info@eeas.europa.eu Delegation of the European Union to the United States of America | EEAS (europa.eu)

FAX

[1] (202) 429-1766

telephone

[1] (202) 862-9500

Executive branch

three EU institutions have functions that can be regarded as executive in nature: European Council - composed of member-state heads of state or government, along with the president of the European Commission; meets at least four times a year to issue general policy guidance; the president of the European Council is appointed by leaders of the EU member states for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once president: António Costa (since 1 December 2024) Council of the European Union - consists of member-state officials, ranging from working-level diplomats to cabinet ministers in specific policy fields such as foreign affairs, agriculture, or economy; has policymaking, coordinating, and legislative functions president: the six-month presidency rotates among the member states  European Commission - composed of 27 commissioners (one from each member state), including the president; the president assigns each commissioner one or more policy areas, called portfolios; the Commission has the sole right to initiate EU legislation, except for foreign and security/defense policy, and is responsible for monitoring the application of EU law, implementing/executing the EU budget, negotiating in certain policy areas, and ensuring the EU's external representation in some policy areas; the president is nominated for a 5-year term by the European Council and confirmed by the European Parliament; the European Parliament also confirms the entire Commission for a 5-year term president: Ursula von der Leyen (since 1 December 2019)

Flag

description: a blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in the center; blue stands for the sky of the Western world, and the stars for unity, solidarity, and harmony meaning: the number of stars is fixed and does not correspond to the number of member states

Government type

a hybrid and unique intergovernmental and supranational organization

Independence

7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the European Union); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)

International organization participation

ARF, ASEAN (dialogue member), Australian Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CERN, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-7, G-10, G-20, IDA, IEA, IGAD (partners), LAIA (observer), NSG (observer), OAS (observer), OECD, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN (observer), UNRWA (observer), WCO, WTO, ZC (observer)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ, includes 11 advocates general) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; can include additional judges); both the ECJ and the General Court sit in chambers of 3 to 5 judges but may sit in a Grand Chamber of 15 judges in special cases

judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms

Legal system

unique supranational system in which EU treaties and EU law have primacy over member-state law

Legislative branch

electoral system

Council - none, composed of ministers from EU member states; EP - proportional representation

expected date of next election

EP - June 2029

legislature name

Council of the European Union (Council) and the European Parliament (EP) (separate legislative bodies; see note 2)

most recent election date

EP - 6/9/2024

number of seats

Council - 27; EP - 720

parties elected and seats per party

EP - PP (188); S&D (136); PfE (84); ECR (78); Renew (77); Greens/EFA (53); GUE-NGL (46); ESN (25); non-attached (12); other (21)

percentage of women in chamber

39.8% note: for the EP

scope of elections

EP - full renewal

term in office

5 years note: for the EP

Member states

27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden 13 overseas countries and territories: 1 with Denmark (Greenland), 6 with France (French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna), and 6 with the Netherlands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten); all are part of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA)

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1985; the anthem is meant to represent all of Europe rather than just the organization, conveying the ideals of peace, freedom, and unity

lyrics/music

no lyrics/Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN, arranged by Herbert VON KARAJAN

title

"European Anthem" (Ode to Joy)

National color(s)

blue, yellow

National holiday

Europe Day (also known as Schuman Day), 9 May (1950)

National symbol(s)

a circle of 12 five-pointed golden-yellow stars on a blue field

Political parties

The Left or GUE/NGL  European Conservatives and Reformists or ECR  Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA  European People's Party or EPP  Europe of Sovereign Nations or ESN  Patriots for Europe or PfE  Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats or S&D  Renew Europe or Renew (formerly Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE)

Suffrage

18 years of age (16 years in Austria); universal; voting for the European Parliament occurs in each member state

Union name

abbreviation

EU

conventional long form

European Union

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, sugar beets, maize, potatoes, barley, grapes, pork, rapeseed, tomatoes (2022)

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$9.425 trillion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$9.689 trillion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$9.783 trillion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, vaccines (2023)

Exports - partners

US 20%, UK 12%, China 10%, Switzerland 7%, Turkey 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

51.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption

20.8% (2023 est.)

household consumption

51.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-48.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.6% (2024 est.)

industry

22.1% (2024 est.)

services

66.1% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.423 trillion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

31 (2015 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$9.072 trillion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$8.978 trillion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$8.953 trillion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

Imports - partners

China 21%, US 14%, UK 7%, Switzerland 6%, Norway 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.7% (2024 est.)

Industries

among the world's largest and most technologically advanced regions, the EU industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverages, furniture, paper, textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

221.391 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2013

85.5% of GDP (2013)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$24.036 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$24.17 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$24.441 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$53,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$53,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$54,300 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

6.2% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

6% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

16% (2024 est.)

male

16% (2024 est.)

total

15.9% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

398.817 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

32.326 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

127.304 million metric tons (2023 est.)

production

304.827 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

84.193 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

2.511 trillion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

407.824 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

405.154 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

1.142 billion kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

169.694 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

33.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

11.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

22.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

9.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

17.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

114.309 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

335.326 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

100.238 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

396.993 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

40.239 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

97.63GW (2025 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

75 (2025)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction

1 (2025)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

100 (2025)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

11.022 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

748,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

39 (2022 est.)

total

172.888 million (2022 est.)

Internet country code

.eu

Internet users

percent of population

90% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

36 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

155,004,603 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

124 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

552,315,605 (2022 est.)

Airports

5,211 (2025)

Heliports

2,069 (2025)

Railways

total

4,894,173 km (2019)

Military - note

the EU partners with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); NATO is an alliance of 32 countries from North America and Europe; its role is to safeguard the security of its member countries by political and military means; NATO conducts crisis management and peacekeeping missions; member countries that participate in the military aspect of the Alliance contribute forces and equipment, which remain under national command and control until a time when they are required by NATO for a specific purpose (i.e., conflict or crisis, peacekeeping); NATO, however, does possess some common capabilities owned and operated by the Alliance, such as some early warning radar aircraft; relations between NATO and the EU were institutionalized in the early 2000s, building on steps taken during the 1990s to promote greater European responsibility in defense matters; cooperation and coordination covers a broad array of issues, including crisis management, defense and political consultations, civil preparedness, capacity building, military capabilities, maritime security, planning, cyber defense, countering hybrid threats, information sharing, logistics, defense industry, counterterrorism, etc.; since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU and NATO have intensified their work and cooperation; NATO and the EU have 23 member countries in common there are no permanent standing EU forces, but Europe has a variety of multinational military organizations that may be deployed through the EU, in a NATO environment, upon the mandate of the participating countries, or upon the mandate of other international organizations, such as the UN or OSCE including:  the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC) was declared operational in May 2025; the RDC's purpose is to enable the EU to respond to different crisis scenarios by providing a flexible and scalable military instrument of up to 5,000 troops that can be deployed in a swift manner; missions could include capacity building, conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, rescue and evacuation, or stabilization; the use of the RDC is subject to a unanimous decision by the EU Member States EU Battlegroups (BGs) are rapid reaction multinational army units that form a key part of the EU's capacity to respond to crises and conflicts; their deployment is subject to a unanimous decision by the European Council; BGs typically consists of 1,500-2,000 troops organized around an infantry battalion depending on the mission; the troops and equipment are drawn from EU member states and under the direction of a lead nation; two BGs are always on standby for a period of six months; the BGs were declared operational in 2007 but have never been used operationally due to political and financial obstacles the European Corps (Eurocorps) is an independent multinational land force corps headquarters composed of personnel from six framework nations and five associated nations; the corps has no standing operational units; during a crisis, units would be drawn from participating states, and the corps would be placed at the service of the EU and NATO; Eurocorps was established in 1992 by France and Germany; Belgium (1993), Spain (1994), and Luxembourg (1996) joined over the next few years; Poland joined in 2022; Greece and Turkey (since 2002), Italy, Romania, and Austria (since 2009, 2016, and 2021 respectively) participate as associated nations; Eurocorps is headquartered in France the European Gendarmerie Force (EURGENDFOR) is an operational, pre-organized, and rapidly deployable European gendarmerie/police force; it is not established at the EU level, but is capable of performing police tasks, including law enforcement, stability operations, and training in support of the EU, the UN, OSCE, NATO, and other international organizations or ad hoc coalitions; member state gendarmeries include those of France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain; the Lithuanian Public Security Service is a partner, while Turkey's Gendarmerie is an observer force the European Medical Corps (EMC) was set up in the aftermath of the Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2014 to enable the deployment of teams and equipment from EU member states to provide medical assistance and public health expertise in response to emergencies inside and outside the EU; 12 European states have committed teams and equipment to the EMC the European Medical Command (EMC) was formed to provide a standing EU medical capability, increase medical operational readiness, and improve interoperability amongst the participating EU members; it operates closely with the NATO Framework Nations Concept’s Multinational Medical Coordination Center (MMCC) under a single administrative and infrastructural framework (MMCC/EMC); the EMC was declared operational in May 2022 the European Air Transport Command (EATC) is a single multinational command for more than 150 military air mobility assets from seven member states, including transport, air-to-air refueling, and aeromedical evacuation; the EATC headquarters is located in the Netherlands, but the air assets remain located at member national air bases; the EATC was established in 2010 the European Air Group (EAG) is an independent organization formed by the air forces of its seven member nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK) that is focused on improving interoperability between the air forces of EAG members and its 14 partner and associate nations; it was established in the late 1990s and is headquartered in the UK the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR or EMF) is a four-nation (France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain), non-standing naval force with the ability to carry out naval, air, and amphibious operations; EUROMARFOR was formed in 1995 to conduct missions such as crisis response, humanitarian missions, peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and sea control; it can deploy under EU, NATO, or UN mandate, but also as long as the four partner nations agree the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) is a deployable, combined France-UK military force of up to 10,000 personnel for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces but would be available at short notice for French-UK bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; it was established in 2010 and declared operational in 2020 the 1st German/Netherlands (Dutch) Corps is a combined army corps headquarters that has the ability to conduct operations under the command and control of Germany and the Netherlands, NATO, or the EU; in peacetime, approximately 1,100 Dutch and German soldiers are assigned, but during a crisis up to 80,000 troops may be assigned; it was formed in 1995 and is headquartered in Germany  the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG) is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation; it was formed in 2014 and is headquartered in Poland (2025)

Military and security forces

the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) provides the civilian, military, and political structures for EU crisis management and security issues; the highest bodies are: the Political and Security Committee (PSC), which meets at the ambassadorial level as a preparatory body for the Council of the EU; it assists with defining policies and preparing a crisis response the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is the EU's highest military body; it is composed of the chiefs of defense (CHODs) of the Member States, who are regularly represented by their permanent Military Representatives; the EUMC provides the PSC with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EU the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC in parallel with the EUMC on civilian aspects of crisis management the Politico-Military Group (PMG) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC on political aspects of EU military and civil-military issues, including concepts, capabilities and operations and missions, and monitors implementation other bodies set up under the CSDP include the Security and Defense Policy Directorate (SECDEFPOL), the Integrated approach for Security and Peace Directorate (ISP), the EU Military Staff (EUMS), the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), the Civilian Operations Headquarters (CivOpsHQ), the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), the European Defense Agency (EDA), the European Security and Defense College (ESDC), the EU Institute for Security Studies, the EU Satellite Center, the Peace, Partnerships and Crisis Management Directorate (PCM) (2025)

Military deployments

since 2003, the EU has launched more than 30 civilian and military crisis-management, advisory, and training missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and a naval operation in the Mediterranean to disrupt human smuggling and trafficking networks and prevent the loss of life at sea (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1979 - first launch of Ariane heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) 1980s-2011 - participated in US Space Shuttle program (included more than 20 Spacelab missions, 1983-1998) 1995 - first solar satellite/orbiter (SOHO) launched 1997-2017 - Cassini-Huygens research mission to Saturn  1998-present - participating in a series of missions with varying start dates, including the International Space Station, International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory mission (INTEGRAL), Mars Express orbiter exploration mission, Rosetta comet probe (included world’s first landing on a comet, 2014), Copernicus Earth observation program, Mars orbiter mission (ExoMars), Mercury planetary orbiter mission (BepiColombo), Solar Orbiter mission, US Gateway Lunar orbital station project 2016 - Galileo satellite-based global navigational positioning system reached initial operational capability 2019 - began development of quantum communications infrastructure (EuroQCI) 2021 - implemented EU government satellite communications (GOVSATCOM) and Space Surveillance and Awareness (SSA) components of EU space program; launched world’s first commercial, fully flexible, reprogrammable quantum satellite; launched US-built James Webb Space Telescope 2023 - launched Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission; launched Euclid space observatory/telescope 2024 - successful test launch of Ariane-6 SLV; launched probe (Hera) to study asteroid Didymos and its moon Dimorphos 2025 - announced EU Space Act, a cooperative framework for space activities across the EU

Space agency/agencies

the only EU agency dedicated to space is the EU Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA; established in 2021); the EUSPA originated with the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) set up in 2002 by the European Community (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to manage the development phase of Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation program; the GJU’s responsibilities were assumed by the European Global Navigation Satellite System Supervisory Authority (GSA) in 2007 the ESA (established 1975 from the European Launcher Development Organization and the European Space Research Organization, which were established in the early 1960s) is an independent organization although it maintains close ties with the EU through an ESA/EC Framework Agreement; the ESA and EC share a joint European Strategy for Space and have together developed a European Space Policy the ESA has 23 member states; the national bodies responsible for space in these countries sit on ESA’s governing Council: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK; Canada also sits on the Council and takes part in some projects under a Cooperation Agreement;  Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia are Associate Members; Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Malta have cooperation agreements with ESA; ESA has established formal cooperation with all member states of the EU that are not ESA members (2025)

Space launch site(s)

ESA’s spaceport is located in Kourou, French Guiana; EU members Norway and Sweden have operational commercial space ports; the UK, non-EU member, has two operational commercial space ports (2025)

Space program overview

EU member states have a large and advanced commercial space sector that develops and produces a full range of capabilities and technologies; a key focus for both the European Space Agency (ESA) and the EU Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA) is encouraging this sector; Europe is a global leader in satellite-based communications and hosts the headquarters of three of the world’s major satellite communications companies ESA is comprehensive space agency that is active across the space sector, except for launching humans into space; its activities include producing and operating satellites with a full spectrum of capabilities (communications, multipurpose, navigational, remote sensing, science/technology), satellite launch vehicles (SLVs), space launches, astronaut training, space transportation/automated transfer vehicles, reusable spacecraft, space station modules, spacecraft components, robotic space labs, lunar/planetary surface rovers, interplanetary space probes and exploration, and space telescopes; ESA participates in international programs such as the International Space Station and works closely with Europe’s commercial space industry; it also works with a broad range of space agencies and industries of non-member countries, including China, Japan, Russia, and the US; many of its programs are conducted jointly, particularly with the US space program the EUSPA is responsible for the operational management of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and Galileo satellite navigation programs; the EU space strategy encourages investment in and the use of space services and data, fosters competition and innovation, develops space technologies, and reinforces Europe’s autonomy in accessing space (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

see individual EU member states

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

518.857 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

643.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

1.489 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

2.651 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

various forms of air, soil, and water pollution; see individual country entries

International environmental agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

Total renewable water resources

1.7 trillion cubic meters (2019)