Briefly describe the birth and development of the EU

The European Union (EU) was established in 1993 with the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. It was created to promote economic cooperation and integration between its member countries in order to strengthen their overall political and economic power. Over time, the EU has expanded to include 27 member countries, with the most recent addition being Croatia in 2013. The EU operates on a system of supranational governance, meaning that it has the power to make decisions that affect its member states, and it also has its own institutions, such as the European Parliament and the European Commission. The EU has played a significant role in shaping the political, economic, and social landscape of Europe, and it continues to evolve and adapt to the changing needs and challenges of its member countries.