The 1993 Maastricht Treaty has had far greater ramifications than on economic policies alone. The discipline of European studies has developed in order to understand the many effects of these changes and how to work with them through such subjects as history, culture, politics, business, and economics.

Sweden (Sverige) is the largest of the Nordic countries, with a population of about 9.5 million. It borders Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark via the bridge of Öresund (Öresundsbron). Sweden has a strong tradition of being an open, yet discreet country.