Final answer:
The European Union, initially comprised of six founding states, has expanded to include 27 member states as of 2022, down from 28 in 2018 due to the UK's exit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The European Union (EU) has expanded to become a significant international organization since its inception. As of 2022, the European Union has grown to include twenty-seven member states. It started with six founding states: Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Over the years, the EU has seen several rounds of enlargement, bringing the total number of member countries to its current number.
Notably, in 2018, there were 28 member states, but this decreased due to the United Kingdom leaving the EU, an event commonly referred to as Brexit. This alliance has not only expanded in terms of membership but also in its scope, evolving from a focus on trade, embodied by the original European Economic Community, to a broader mandate that includes the free movement of goods, services, money, and people, as well as political and economic integration among member states.