WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 - Oil has made us billions and fuelled our economic stability, but oil has also become the bane of our existence. For some, it is a curse that has caused poverty and corruption, but for others it is an essential source of untold wealth and power. But as the gap between rich and poor countries continues to expand, it is clear that intellectual capital and technology rule the world, and that natural resources such as oil, gold, and diamonds are no longer the primary determinants of wealth.

BELGRADE, Serbia, Oct. 2 - The European Union (EU) is a multinational union, established in 1993. The EU is made up of twenty-seven Member States. First, the EU was established as the European Economic Community in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome and has since undergone many changes. The EU has a single market between member states with common trade policy. Important EU institutions and bodies include the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union, the European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank, among others.