1. Cannabis

Cannabis is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant native to Central Asia. It is known for its psychoactive effects due to the chemical compounds tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis is often referred to as marijuana, pot, grass, reefer, bud, dope, Mary Jane, ganja, hemp, hashish, tea, and sinsemilla.

2. Europe

Europe is a continent located entirely in Western Eurasia, bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Russia to the east, and North Africa to the south. Its total area is 10,984,820 square kilometres (4,267,918 sq mi), making it the world’s second-largest continent by total area after Asia. Europe is home to 54 sovereign states, five of which have two or more branches—the Russian Federation consists of 16 federal subjects directly subordinate to Moscow, while Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan comprise four separate republics. Europe covers about 9% of Earth’s land surface but contains only 2.8% of its population. Of the continents, Europe is the youngest and most recently formed, having emerged from the Bering Land Bridge around 11,500 years ago following the Wisconsin glaciation.

3. European Dream

The European Union is a political and economic union of 28 member states situated primarily in Europe. Founded in 1993, the EU evolved from the earlier European Economic Community, founded in 1957, which later became the European Communities before changing again to the European Union in 1992. The EU originated in Western Europe but has since expanded to East Asia, South America, and Africa. In addition to being geographically diverse, the EU has been described as unique in comparison to other regional organisations in many ways; it was founded as an attempt to prevent further wars between former enemies Germany and France, and remains among the most highly developed and prosperous regions of the world.

4. Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and held each year in one of the participating countries. It features songs performed solely in the participants’ national language, and not English, although some lyrics may be sung in English. The contest began in 1956, and over the past decades it has become increasingly popular across Europe and beyond.

5. European Parliament

The European Parliament is the EU legislature. It consists of representatives directly elected by citizens of the Member States. Members serve 5-year terms and are allocated a salary, paid by the EU budget. Each state contributes MEPs proportionate to their size, so the largest contributors have 24 seats, whilst those who contribute least have 6. The parliament sits at the heart of the EU’s decision-making process, where legislation is drafted and scrutinised prior to adoption. It also monitors the implementation of existing EU law and enforces compliance with the treaties.

6. European Commission

The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. It is composed of 25 Commissioners, including the President of the European Commission, currently Jean-Claude Juncker, who appoints them. The Commissioners are responsible for implementing decisions taken by the Council of Ministers upon proposal from the European Parliament. The current president is Ursula von der Leyen.

7. European Court of Justice

The European Court of Justice is the highest court of the European Union. Established in 1952, the ECJ interprets and applies EU law. It settles legal disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the Treaties, notably the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC), the Maastricht Treaty, the Treaty of Lisbon, and the Treaty of Amsterdam. The court is composed of judges from the 27 EU member states.

8. Dream

The European Dream is a term coined by French economist Thomas Piketty. He defines the European Dream as the set of social norms and values that have been associated with the European Union since its creation in 1957. These values include democracy, freedom, human rights, equality, and tolerance.