European Union
The European Union describes the coalition between member states as sharing political and economic goals, as well as a commitment to provincial integration, across all countries that are members. This framework of a large network of countries, mainly located within the continent, enables everyone living in Europe the capacity to operate on a trans-continental basis.
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History
The European Union (or the EU as we now know it) comprises 27 countries and was formed following the completion of the Maastricht treaty in 1993.
However, the EU has its roots in history as far back as 1951.
After World War 2, many in Europe wanted to move away from the dis-integration that had created distrust across the continent and culminated in the bloody cul-de-sac of Nazi Germany attempting to overthrow any country in its path. This led to the forming of a cross-country coalition based on the coal and steel trade.
This developed into a wider reaching union in 1957 called the Treaties of Rome, although the UK was not part of the original collection of member states that signed this agreement. This collection of countries was made up of France, Belgium, West Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Luxembourg. This incarnation of what is now known as the EU was named the European Economic Community (EEC).
Benefits to members
For those citizens that live in European Union countries, travel within the EU does not require a visa. The relationship between countries enables those wishing to travel and even work in a different country the freedom to do so.
In 2004 the European Union accepted its newest members, the largest enlargement so far, a total of 10 new countries; Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovak Republic and Malta all joined the EU. This meant that the foreign nationals living in any of these countries were now able to live and work anywhere within the European Union, including the UK.
Since the inauguration of what is commonly termed the ‘Baltic Nations’ the UK has seen over 1 million new immigrants from these countries that made the move to the UK permanently and now work in the UK.
This approach is mirrored across Europe, as all citizens are free to work abroad with no need for a work permit or work visa.
This unilateral approach to migration fits perfectly within the structure of the ideologies of the EU. Across all countries within the arrangement there are standardised laws and practices. This ensures that trade and business operate in such a way that it is beneficial to all countries involved as well as facilitating growth within the organisation.
The development of a single currency across the member states in 2002 – the Euro, has further enhanced this, with the currency being adopted (to date) by 16 member states. The UK has yet to decide on whether to join the Euro, and this is a matter of some disagreement across the British political spectrum. Although it has widely been decided across most party’s that any adoption of the currency would be decided by a referendum.
EU Visas for Non-EU countries
For people wishing to a EU country that originate from outside of the EU - for example travelling from Australia or Canada into Germany - then the standard tourist visa will have to be applied for. Across most countries in the EU this is known as a Shengen visa.
Those wishing to work in a EU country must apply for a work permit. Each country has unique rules for what they will consider for immigration into their country to work and different systems of assessment. However, broadly speaking to obtain a work visa the candidate must have an occupation that is in demand and be on a skills shortage list.
There are exceptions to this, for example in the UK the Intra company transfer allows individuals to move to the UK within a multi-national company.
Countries such as France, Germany and Spain operate on a similar basis to the UK for non-EU nationals, with French work permits being similarly employer led.
The member states of the EU include:
- Austria 
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
