These are the five big things the EU has set out to do.

1. Promote economic and social progress.
Help people earn enough money and get treated fairly.

2. Speak for the European Union on the international scene.
By working as a group the EU hopes that Europe will be listened to more by other countries.

3. Introduce European citizenship.
Anyone from a member state is a citizen of the EU and gets four special rights.

4. Develop Europe as an area of freedom, security and justice.
Help Europeans to live in safety, without the threat of war.