The European Union is effectively an economic and political union between 27 states -its member states. It is inevitable these 27 states will have differing views on issues and objectives, therefore, it is essential that the Union is able to resolve these conflicts to maintain cooperation and its unity. In this section, we endeavour to propose several of the main challenges the European Union currently faces in different sectors of its organisation and various measures and methods it implements to combat them. We will also be assessing the implications of globalisation and enlargement in this current climate in the "Trajectories" section.

Challenges

Social Challenges:

• Demographic Challenges 
• Gender Equality 

Challenges to Security:

• Internal Security Strategy 2010
  
• Common Foreign and Security Policy
• Common Security and Defence Policy 

Economic Aspects:

• Single European Currency 
• Economic Challenges to the EU
  

Trajectories

Globalisation:

• General Overview of Globalisation 
• Economic Challenges of Globalisation  
• Social Challenges of Globalisation
  

Enlargement:

• Trajectory of Enlargement 
• Migration