European Union

The European Union, headed by Chancellor Dominic Cylis, led the world toward the new Global Union.

History
The European Union was initially formed as an economic agreement between independent European nation-states. Over time, however, the economic agreement gave way to a loose confederation that dubbed itself the “European Union.” While many member states opted for stronger fusion between themselves—using a standard E.U. currency, for example—a few countries preferred a more distant relationship and greater independence for themselves.

About twenty-five years before Swipe, war broke out within the European Union. This war, called the European War, was a part of the worldwide Total War. The member nations of the European Union had reached a point where they could no longer peacefully disagree. The ravages of the European War caused the members of the European Union to eagerly accept Dominic Cylis as chancellor. Cylis was handsome, young, and likeable. He seemed to be the European Union’s best chance at reestablishing harmony among its member states.

The new chancellor argued that the European Union’s previous confederation structure promoted disunity. In order to preserve a lasting peace, national unity was essential. Toward this end, he created the Marking program, requiring all who wanted to remain citizens of the E.U. to Pledge their loyalty to him. He also banned individual religions in favor of a watered-down belief system of his own invention. Since much of the European Union was in ruins, Cylis built his own capital, Third Rome, from the rubble of an older Europe.

Chancellor Cylis soon began working toward a worldwide union under his control. He established a strong relationship with General Lamson, leader of the American Union, and soon the American Union not only entered an economic merger with the European Union, it also adopted Cylis’s programs as what became known as the Unity. Cylis and Lamson agreed that a Global Union would be best for both their countries, and they slowly started to enact plans toward that end. After some fifteen years of work, their dreams came to fruition, as recorded in Storm. The European Union was a thing of history, and the Global Union had risen to take its place.

Government
The chief executive of the European Union was its chancellor-for-life, Dominic Cylis. He led the E.U. from his capital of Third Rome.