Final answer:
The primary purpose of the European Union is to economically and politically unite member states to strengthen Europe and benefit all members, avoid conflicts, introduce a common currency, and remove trade barriers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose of the European Union (EU) is to strengthen Europe and benefit all member nations by tying their economies together more closely, which leaders believed would help avoid another devastating war after World War II. The EU, prestigious as one of the regional trading agreements, started as a free trade association and has evolved into a full economic union. Its goals are many, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, and the elimination of barriers to the mobility of goods, labor, and capital across Europe. The Union aims to promote a high standard of living and to enable Europe to compete globally with other major economies like the United States and Japan.