Europe is the sixth largest continent in the world with an area of 10,180,000 square kilometers (3,931,000 square miles) and a population of 742,452,000 (2013). It is the third most populous continent in the world. It is second only to Asia and Africa and has 50 independent nations.
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic alliance established under the Maastricht Treaty (also known as the "European Union Treaty") that entered into force in 1993. The European Union has 28 member states, and all political members are democratic country. The European Parliament is a democratically elected body that represents the interests of all citizens of the European Union. It is also the fifth year in a row. The latest session has a total of 751 seats. The 28 member countries are assigned to a certain number of seats according to the principle of diminishing proportions of their population.