Union économiqueAn economic union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a common market with a customs union. The participant countries have both common policies on product regulation, freedom of movement of goods, services and the factors of production (capital and labour) as well as a common external trade policy. When an economic union involves unifying currency, it becomes an economic and monetary union. The purposes for establishing an economic union normally include increasing economic efficiency and establishing closer political and cultural ties between the member countries.
Trade agreementA trade agreement (also known as trade pact) is a wide-ranging taxes, tariff and trade treaty that often includes investment guarantees. It exists when two or more countries agree on terms that help them trade with each other. The most common trade agreements are of the preferential and free trade types, which are concluded in order to reduce (or eliminate) tariffs, quotas and other trade restrictions on items traded between the signatories.
Trade blocA trade bloc is a type of intergovernmental agreement, often part of a regional intergovernmental organization, where barriers to trade (tariffs and others) are reduced or eliminated among the participating states. Trade blocs can be stand-alone agreements between several states (such as the USMCA) or part of a regional organization (such as the European Union). Depending on the level of economic integration, trade blocs can be classified as preferential trading areas, free-trade areas, customs unions, common markets, or economic and monetary unions.
Regional integrationRegional Integration is a process in which neighboring countries enter into an agreement in order to upgrade cooperation through common institutions and rules. The objectives of the agreement could range from economic to political to environmental, although it has typically taken the form of a political economy initiative where commercial interests are the focus for achieving broader socio-political and security objectives, as defined by national governments.
Zone monétaireUne zone monétaire est formée des pays : qui ont la même devise (monnaie), par exemple les pays de la zone euro ayant accepté l'euro comme monnaie commune et unique ; ou dont la monnaie locale est rattachée à une monnaie de référence externe par un taux de change fixe (par exemple la Lettonie avait, juste avant l'adoption de l'euro, une parité fixe entre sa monnaie et l'euro). Il y a donc en fait au minimum deux types possibles de zones monétaires.
Accord de libre-échangeUn accord de libre-échange ou traité de libre-échange est un accord international passé entre deux ou plusieurs États pour favoriser le commerce international, en général en diminuant les taxes et les contrôles douaniers et en supprimant les réglementations nationales susceptibles de gêner l'importation des biens, des services, de la main-d’œuvre et des capitaux étrangers. La signature d'un accord de libre-échange donne naissance à une zone de libre-échange.
Intégration européennevignette|300px| (Kosovo, non reconnu par certains membres de l'UE) L'expression désigne le transfert volontaire par un État européen d'une partie de ses compétences juridiques et de sa souveraineté nationale aux institutions des Communautés européennes puis de l'Union européenne ou à d'autres grandes institutions supranationales européennes telles que le Conseil de l'Europe. Il est ainsi question d'intégration économique et politique. Alan Milward définit l'intégration européenne comme un .
