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class="ecl-site-header__language-link-label">русский</span></a></li><li class="ecl-site-header__language-item"><a href="https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/principles-and-values/aims-and-values_uk" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--no-visited ecl-site-header__language-link" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" ><span class="ecl-site-header__language-link-code">uk</span><span class="ecl-site-header__language-link-label">yкраїнська</span></a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> <div class="ecl-site-header__search-container" role="search"> <a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-site-header__search-toggle" href="" data-ecl-search-toggle="true" aria-controls="oe-search-search-form" aria-expanded="false" ><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--s ecl-site-header__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" role="img"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/eu/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#search"></use></svg>Search </a> <form class="ecl-search-form 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id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-0-link" >Home</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__item ecl-menu__item--current ecl-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-menu-item data-ecl-has-children aria-haspopup aria-expanded="false" id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-1"><a href="/principles-countries-history_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__link ecl-menu__link--current" data-untranslated-label="Principles, countries, history" data-ecl-menu-link id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-1-link" >Principles, countries, history</a><button class="ecl-button ecl-button--ghost ecl-menu__button-caret ecl-button--icon-only" type="button" data-ecl-menu-caret aria-label="Access item's children" aria-describedby="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-1-link" aria-expanded="false" ><span class="ecl-button__container"><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-button__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" data-ecl-icon><use 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data-untranslated-label="EU countries" >EU countries</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/principles-countries-history/eu-enlargement_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="EU enlargement" >EU enlargement</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/principles-countries-history/history-eu_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="History of the EU" >History of the EU</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/principles-countries-history/symbols_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Symbols" >Symbols</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/principles-countries-history/languages_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Languages" >Languages</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/principles-countries-history/eu-made-easy_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="EU made easy" >EU made easy</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem ecl-menu__see-all"><a href="/principles-countries-history_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-menu__sublink" ><span class="ecl-link__label">See all</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" ><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/eu/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#arrow-left"></use></svg></a></li></ul></div></li><li class="ecl-menu__item ecl-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-menu-item data-ecl-has-children aria-haspopup aria-expanded="false" id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-2"><a href="/institutions-law-budget_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__link" data-untranslated-label="Institutions, law, budget" data-ecl-menu-link id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-2-link" >Institutions, law, budget</a><button class="ecl-button ecl-button--ghost ecl-menu__button-caret ecl-button--icon-only" type="button" data-ecl-menu-caret aria-label="Access item's children" aria-describedby="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-2-link" aria-expanded="false" ><span class="ecl-button__container"><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-button__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" data-ecl-icon><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/eu/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></span></button><div class="ecl-menu__mega" data-ecl-menu-mega ><ul class="ecl-menu__sublist"><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/institutions-law-budget/institutions-and-bodies_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Institutions and bodies" >Institutions and bodies</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/institutions-law-budget/leadership_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Leadership " >Leadership </a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/institutions-law-budget/law_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Law" >Law</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/institutions-law-budget/budget_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Budget" >Budget</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/institutions-law-budget/euro_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="The Euro" >The Euro</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem ecl-menu__see-all"><a href="/institutions-law-budget_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-menu__sublink" ><span class="ecl-link__label">See all</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs 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href="/priorities-and-actions/eu-support-ukraine_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="EU support for Ukraine" >EU support for Ukraine</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem ecl-menu__see-all"><a href="/priorities-and-actions_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-menu__sublink" ><span class="ecl-link__label">See all</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" ><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/eu/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#arrow-left"></use></svg></a></li></ul></div></li><li class="ecl-menu__item ecl-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-menu-item data-ecl-has-children aria-haspopup aria-expanded="false" id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-4"><a href="/live-work-study_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__link" data-untranslated-label="Live, work, study" data-ecl-menu-link id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-4-link" >Live, work, study</a><button class="ecl-button ecl-button--ghost ecl-menu__button-caret ecl-button--icon-only" type="button" data-ecl-menu-caret aria-label="Access item's children" aria-describedby="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-4-link" aria-expanded="false" ><span class="ecl-button__container"><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-button__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" data-ecl-icon><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/eu/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></span></button><div class="ecl-menu__mega" data-ecl-menu-mega ><ul class="ecl-menu__sublist"><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/living-eu_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Living in the EU" >Living in the EU</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/travelling-eu_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Travelling in the EU" >Travelling in the EU</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/participate-interact-vote_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Participate, interact, vote" >Participate, interact, vote</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/immigration-eu_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Immigration to the EU" >Immigration to the EU</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/working-eu_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Working in the EU" >Working in the EU</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/doing-business-eu_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Doing business in the EU" >Doing business in the EU</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/import-and-export_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Import and export" >Import and export</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/funding-grants-subsidies_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Funding, grants, subsidies" >Funding, grants, subsidies</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/public-contracts_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Public contracts" >Public contracts</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/studying-and-training-eu_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Studying and training in the EU" >Studying and training in the EU</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/live-work-study/jobs-and-traineeships-eu-institutions_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Jobs and traineeships in EU institutions" >Jobs and traineeships in EU institutions</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem ecl-menu__see-all"><a href="/live-work-study_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-menu__sublink" ><span class="ecl-link__label">See all</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" ><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/eu/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#arrow-left"></use></svg></a></li></ul></div></li><li class="ecl-menu__item ecl-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-menu-item data-ecl-has-children aria-haspopup aria-expanded="false" id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-5"><a href="/news-and-events_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__link" data-untranslated-label="News and events" data-ecl-menu-link id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-5-link" >News and events</a><button class="ecl-button ecl-button--ghost ecl-menu__button-caret ecl-button--icon-only" type="button" data-ecl-menu-caret aria-label="Access item's children" aria-describedby="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-534673575-5-link" aria-expanded="false" ><span class="ecl-button__container"><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-button__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" data-ecl-icon><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/eu/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></span></button><div class="ecl-menu__mega" data-ecl-menu-mega ><ul class="ecl-menu__sublist"><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a href="/news-and-events/events_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-menu__sublink" data-untranslated-label="Events" >Events</a></li><li class="ecl-menu__subitem" data-ecl-menu-subitem ><a 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class="ecl-u-pb-xl" id="main-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2.ecl-u-type-heading-2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading"> <div class="ecl-container"> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12 ewcms-top-sidebar"> <div> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12"> <div id="block-ewcms-theme-main-page-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading" class="ecl-u-mb-l"> <article dir="ltr"> <div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_740"></a> <div> <div class="ecl"> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Aims</h2> </div> <div class="ecl"><p>The aims of the European Union within its borders are:</p> <ul> <li>promote peace, its values and the well-being of its citizens</li> <li>offer freedom, security and justice without internal borders, while also taking appropriate measures at its external borders to regulate asylum and immigration and prevent and combat crime</li> <li>establish an internal market</li> <li>achieve sustainable development based on balanced economic growth and price stability and a highly competitive market economy with full employment and social progress</li> <li>protect and improve the quality of the environment</li> <li>promote scientific and technological progress</li> <li>combat social exclusion and discrimination</li> <li>promote social justice and protection, equality between women and men, and protection of the rights of the child</li> <li>enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and solidarity among EU countries</li> <li>respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity</li> <li>establish an economic and monetary union whose currency is the euro</li> </ul> <p>The aims of the EU within the wider world are:</p> <ul> <li>uphold and promote its values and interests</li> <li>contribute to peace and security and the sustainable development of the Earth</li> <li>contribute to solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights</li> <li>strict observance of international law</li> </ul> <p>The EU’s aims are laid out in article 3 of the <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12016ME/TXT&from=EN">Lisbon Treaty</a>.</p></div> </div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_741"></a> <div> <div class="ecl"> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Values</h2> </div> <div class="ecl"><p>The European Union is founded on the following values:</p> <p><strong>Human dignity</strong><br> Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected, protected and constitutes the real basis of fundamental rights.</p> <p><strong>Freedom</strong><br> Freedom of movement gives citizens the right to move and reside freely within the Union. Individual freedoms such as respect for private life, freedom of thought, religion, assembly, expression and information are protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.</p> <p><strong>Democracy</strong><br> The functioning of the EU is founded on representative democracy. A European citizen automatically enjoys political rights. Every adult EU citizen has the right to stand as a candidate and to vote in elections to the European Parliament. EU citizens have the right to stand as a candidate and to vote in their country of residence, or in their country of origin.</p> <p><strong>Equality</strong><br> Equality is about equal rights for all citizens before the law. The principle of equality between women and men underpins all European policies and is the basis for European integration. It applies in all areas. The principle of equal pay for equal work became part of the <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Axy0023">Treaty of Rome</a> in 1957.</p> <p><strong>Rule of law</strong><br> The EU is based on the rule of law. Everything the EU does is founded on treaties, voluntarily and democratically agreed by its EU countries. Law and justice are upheld by an independent judiciary. The EU countries gave final jurisdiction to the European Court of Justice - its judgments have to be respected by all.</p> <p><strong>Human rights</strong><br> Human rights are protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. These cover the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, the right to the protection of your personal data, and the right to get access to justice.</p> <p> </p> <p>The EU’s values are laid out in article 2 of the <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12016ME/TXT&from=EN">Lisbon Treaty</a> and the <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:12012P/TXT">EU Charter of Fundamental Rights</a>.</p> <p>In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the causes of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.</p></div> </div> </div> <div class="related-links"> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Related links</h2> <div class="ecl-list"> <div class="ecl-content-item-block"><div class="ecl-row"><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-6 "><a 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