European integration is the process of political and economic (and in some cases social and cultural) integration of European (and some peripheral) states into a tighter bloc. The main and most powerful body of European integration is the European Union, though other institutions like the Council of Europe also integrate their member states. The regions of Europe are integrated into larger Euroregions.
One of a number of posters created to promote the
U.S. sponsored
Marshall Plan in Europe
Some advocates of unification see it as a process of that will eventually result in a federal state, and opinions about this remain mixed. Some say it is in Europe's best interest to integrate in order to be a more powerful global player, while others say integration is detrimental to national sovereignty and culture, and that the days of large empire like states is over, with people identifying more with localism.
See also
