European Union

The European Union is a group of countries whose governments work together. The governments have to agree to follow the rules and in return you get certain benefits. To join the EU you have to show that you treat people fairly, respect their human rights and allow them to vote in elections. Some countries have to make changes to their laws so they don't clash with the laws of the EU.

Each country has to pay money to be a member of the European Union and they most do this through taxes. The EU uses the money to change the way people live and do business in Europe. Countries join the EU because they think they will benefit from the changes the EU makes.

On June 23rd 2016 there is going to be a referendum. A referendum is when people can vote and decide if they want to accept a new set of rules of how the EU is run or they can choose to leave the EU.

There has been a big debate over whether it is good to say in the EU or is it better to leave which is why the referendum is taking place.

People who wish to leave the EU are known as Eurosceptics and people who wish to stay in the EU are known as Pro-Europeans.

No country has ever left the EU so no one can predict what the exact consequences will be but there are advantages and disadvantages to leaving.

The problems this country may face if we leave the EU is that many jobs could be lost because the EU helps people earn enough money by creating jobs and making sure people get treated fairly.

If we stay part of the EU than we are part of a group so this means other countries will listen to us more than if we were not part of the EU. Finally if we live the EU will not be able to move between countries in the EU and we will lose the right to vote in European Parliament elections.

The EU first started with six members in 1957 and it now has 28 members.