Political cooperation of the EU

EU government works brings its members together to address issues they all share. For example, environmental problems.

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–The EU also encourages people, especially youth, to learn multiple European languages. Its goal is for all Europeans to learn two languages in addition to their home language

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–National pride makes countries have a hard time putting the interests of all of Europe above their national interests, leading to Competition and rivalries between countries

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Citizens of member countries can live and work anywhere in the EU. They can also vote in EU elections. They have these rights no matter where they live in the EU.

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By 2018 the EU included more than 515 million people in 28 countries. As the size of the EU has increased, so have the differences among the EU’s nations and peoples and cultures which affected their cooperation.

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EU members have been divided over how to handle the increased number of migrants from regions affected by war, such as Syria and Iraq.

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EU works to strengthen Europe’s role in the world. By working together, EU members have more power in world affairs than any single European country would have by itself

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–EU has adopted is the European anthem, which takes its melody from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. When used as the anthem, it is always played without words, in the “universal language of music.”

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–The EU must translate all of its speeches and documents into 24 languages. In 2016 alone, the EU had to translate more than 2.2 million pages.

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Some EU members want to continue to make independent decisions in areas like defense, foreign affairs, and immigration from outside the EU

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