Question

Explain any three factors responsible for the European Union to be a highly influential regional organization.

Hint:

The EU is influential because of its economic power, its political and diplomatic reach, and its military strength.

Answer 1

Step 1: What the EU is:
The European Union grew from the European Coal and Steel Community of 1951 and took its present form in 1992 under the Maastricht Treaty.
It is now a strong regional organisation. Three factors explain its influence.

Step 2: Factor 1 - Economic power:
The EU is one of the largest economies in the world, slightly bigger than that of the USA. Its share in world trade is about three times that of the USA.
It also has a common currency, the Euro, used by many members.

Step 3: Factor 2 - Political and diplomatic influence:
Britain and France are permanent members of the UN Security Council, and several other members sit in it at times.
This helps the EU to shape decisions and to have a say in matters such as the nuclear issue of Iran and trade with China.

Step 4: Factor 3 - Military strength:
The combined military spending of the EU members is the second highest in the world, after the USA.
Britain and France have nuclear weapons, with several hundred warheads between them.

Final Answer:
Economic strength, political and diplomatic reach, and military power make the European Union a highly influential regional organisation.