FINAL DAY IN MUNICH

 Germany and Denmark are two of 27 member countries in the European Union.

• The EU was formed in 1993.
• The population of the EU is 448 million, 5.8% of the world population, and higher than the 335 million for the USA.
• Has one-sixth of the world GDP.
• With GDP of $19.3 trillion, the EU is #2 to the U.S. with $28 trillion, and ahead of China with $18.6 trillion.  Where will the EU be in 2028?

• They share boundaries, have a common economy and a unified political leadership.  I remember a long time ago picking up a car in Sweden and driving to Italy.  Crossing into a new country was painful.  Not anymore.

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  Noteworthy for not being a member are Norway (something to do with fishing resources) and Switzerland (it's complicated, but has to do with historical independence).
• Also not a member are Turkey, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
• Of course, the United Kingdom experienced Brexit in 2020.
• Potential new members are:  Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey.

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  A complication is who belongs to NATO.  There are 32 members, including the U.S., Canada, the UK and Turkey.  Sweden just became a partner this year.  Austria, Cyprus, Ireland and Malta are not.  Bosnia/Herzegovina, Georgia and Ukraine have aspirations.

• The EU in 2012 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
• The political leaders today (left to right) are President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and President of the European Commission  Ursula von der Leyen.

To close out our stay in Germany, a few photos.  Some flowers, and a lunch in our room of German beer, chili con carne and Subway salami sandwich.  

On to the Club Lounge for drinks and evening appetizers.  The choice here is modest:  red wine, white wine, sparkling wine and range of Munich beers.  The selected Quiche Lorraine, hamburger and salad.

A Munich sunset.

So this morning off we will go from Munich to Copenhagen.

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