Originally posted by §pearheadAt First it was an answer to economic and peace concerns : Build a power, a free-trade zone with common trade tariffs. Putting everyone's resources together could helped the whole thing work better (economically speaking). It also avoided another war to happen, by binding many European countries.
Help the ignorant american bastard...what good does it do if you're in the EU or not, not counting the Euro? What are the other benefits?
Now the EU is economically and financially prosperous, it is attractive to many countries, for which it is considered as a 'democracy Certificate' and as much helpful economically.