Geographically small, Europe is home to two-thirds of a billion people representing a shifting mosaic of cultures, languages, and borders. The 20th century saw two world wars, the division of Europe by the Cold War, and a decade of conflict in the Balkans.
Despite these conflicts, the European Union now consists of 27 member countries and citizens who increasingly identify themselves as European. The challenge facing Europe in the 21st century is to create a model of peace and prosperity—built on freedom and diversity—that embraces all its countries.
