The EU, or European Union is a political and economic union of 28 different member states. According to their website, the aim of the EU is “to promote peace, establish a unified① economic and monetary system, promote inclusion②and combat discrimination③, break down barriers④ to trade and borders, encourage technological and scientific developments, champion⑤ environmental protection”. Many countries in the EU use a common currency: the euro.
After the second World War, there was a lot of tension between the countries within Europe (the geographical area) due to the recent fighting. The foundations of the EU as we know it began with the European Economic Community (EEC) which was established in 1957. The goal of the ECC was “to help break down trade barriers between countries in Europe, protect from private trade agreements that could diminish competition, and establish common agricultural and trade agreements and standards.” Several western European countries were involved, including the UK, the Netherlands, Italy and France. Later on more and more countries joined and in 1993 it officially became the EU.
The 28 countries in the European Union are:
? Austria
? Belgium
? Bulgaria
? Croatia
? Cyprus
? Czech Republic
? Denmark
? Estonia
? Finland
? France
? Germany
? Greece
? Hungary
? Ireland
? Italy
? Latvia
? Lithuania
? Luxembourg
? Malta
? Netherlands
? Poland
? Portugal
? Romania
? Slovakia
? Slovenia
? Spain
? Sweden
? United Kingdom
However, the UK is set to leave the European Union on the 31st October. Watch this space...
词语解释
▼
①    unified monetary system: 统一的货币体系
②    promote inclusion: 促进融合
③    combat discrimination: 反对歧视
④    break down barriers: 打破壁垒
⑤     champion environmental protection: 倡导环境保护
⑥    There was a lot of tension between the countries: 这些国家之间的关系十分紧张。
⑦    diminish competition: 削弱竞争力
⑧     later on: 后来，随后
⑨    beset to do: 计划做某事
⑩    Watch this space：关注某事的动态/进展
Tips:揣摩揣摩这篇文章的写作方法，文章结构和遣词造句;
思考思考如何写好这种观点对比类型的作文。
中文介绍
欧盟, 全称欧洲联盟，是由28个会员国组成的欧洲政治与经济联盟。据其网站称，欧盟的宗旨是“促进和平，建立统一的经济和货币体系，促进融合和反对歧视，打破贸易和边界壁垒，鼓励科技发展，倡导环境保护”。欧盟的许多国家使用一种共同的货币:欧元。
第二次世界大战后，由于当时战后不久，欧洲各国(地理区域)之间关系十分紧张。我们知道，欧盟始于1957年成立的欧洲经济共同体(EEC)。ECC的目标是“帮助打破欧洲国家之间的贸易壁垒，保护成员国免受因少数国家间的贸易协定而导致市场竞争力削弱所带来的影响，建立共同的农业，及贸易协定和标准。”包括英国、荷兰、意大利和法国在内的几个西欧国家也参与其中。随后由于越来越多国家加入EEC，1993年EEC正式易名为欧盟。
欧盟的28个国家分别是:
?奥地利
?比利时
?保加利亚
?克罗地亚
?塞浦路斯
?捷克
?丹麦
?爱沙尼亚
?芬兰
?法国
?德国
?希腊
?匈牙利
?爱尔兰
?意大利
?拉脱维亚
?立陶宛
?卢森堡
?马耳他
?荷兰
?波兰
?葡萄牙
?罗马尼亚
?斯洛伐克
?斯洛文尼亚
?西班牙
?瑞典
?英国
然而，英国计划将于10月31日离开欧盟。我们拭目以待吧。
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