…an economic and political association of certain European countries as a unit with internal free trade and common external tariffs…
…a European Union programme intended to work towards full economic unity in Europe based on the phased introduction of a common currency (the euro). The programme was announced in 1989; the second stage came into effect on 1 January 1994 under the terms of the Maastricht Treaty, and in 2002 the euro replaced the currencies of twelve European Union countries (see euro)…
…an association formed in 1955 from the former Western Union, with the addition of Italy and West Germany, chiefly in order to coordinate defence and promote economic cooperation…
