The Benefits of EU Membership

   By Henry  Nakie Kulu* 

The European Union (EU) can be described as both a super national and intergovernmental organization of 28 member states which was established after the Second World War with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between European countries, and preventing future wars

The EU with common social, economic and security policies, was formed on November 1, 1993 by six countries namely Germany, France, Luxemburg, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. Their aim was to promote peace and unity within Europe after the Second World War.

It has 24 working languages and its official currency is the Euro with its affiliated  countries being Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey.

Any Country interested in joining the EU must have a government that guarantees democracy, human rights, the rule of law as well as protect the rights of the minorities; also, the country must have a market economy that is strong enough to stand on its own within the competitive EU market and lastly the county must be willing to adhere to the objectives of the EU.

Becoming a member of the Union comes with several benefits.

 The EU has ensured the abolition of all border controls to provide the free movement of people    from one member state to another without visas; this has made it easy to work study or travel from one Member County to another. Since the EU was created its main economic engine, which is the single market, has led to the free movement of goods, services and money from one member country to another.

Furthermore, the EU has made it possible that all member states have good health care services, good educational system and the right to security for all citizens.

 The EU has also encouraged scientific and technological developments in order to improve the living standards of member countries. It has also helped to modernize all member states and even non-member countries like Turkey, Switzerland and Norway.

 Politically, the EU has helped reduce tension among member states and the world as whole thereby averting wars among member countries, which is considered as the biggest achievement of the Union.

          In my opinion, the benefits of being an EU member make the Union a very worthwhile organization and a great force to reckon with.

*Henry Nakie Kulu is a Cameroonian and an MA student of  International Relations & Political Sciences ,Istanbul  Aydin University