The European Union is a unique economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It is a huge single market and has now evolved into an organisation spanning all areas, from development aid to environmental policy. The EU actively promotes human rights and democracy, and has the most ambitious emission reduction targets for fighting climate change in the world. Thanks to the abolition of border controls between EU countries, it is now possible for people to travel freely within most of the EU. It has also become much easier to live and work in another EU country.