Nature of the EU

• custom unions no tariffs on goods and services being traded
• free single market
• partial political union. laws are made by the institutions the EU which apply to the union
• four freedoms- freedom of people, labour and capital and goods and services
• Main features of the European Union (EU)

  • It is a customs union
  • It is a free, single market
  • It is a partial political union
  • Some but not all member states are part of a monetary union
• Customs union

  There are no tariffs (import taxes) on any goods and services being traded between member states, and member states cannot have separate trade agreements with countries outside the EU
• Free, single market

  There can be no barriers to the free movement of goods, services, finance, labour or people between member states, and citizens of a member state are also citizens of the European Union and can live wherever they wish within the Union and, broadly speaking, enjoy common citizenship rights
• Partial political union


  There are laws made by the institutions of the European Union which apply throughout the Union, ensuring that all members compete on a level playing field using the same laws
• Monetary union

  Some but not all member states use the same currency, the euro