TheEU three, also known as theEU big three,EU triumvirate,EU trio or simplyE3, refers toFrance,Germany, andItaly; the three majorfounding members of the European Union (EU).[1][2][3] These countries are generally regarded as the three most politically and economically influential EU member states, with thelargest populations,highest military expenditures, andlargest economies by nominal GDP, collectively accounting for over half of theEU's economic output.[4]
BeforeBrexit, the term was also used to refer to the grouping of France, Germany, and theUnited Kingdom, especially duringthe negotiations withIran from 2003.[5][6][7]
In a non-European Union context, the term E3 is commonly used to describe the three largestwestern European economies: France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Germany, France and Italy were part of the originalInner Six founders of the EU along withBenelux nations.
Determined to keep the European project intact in the wake of the UK's vote toleave the European Union in 2016, France, Germany and Italy called for greater integration in various trilateral summits inBerlin,Paris andVentotene.[8][9][10]More recently France, Germany and Italy have agreed a common position about theParis climate agreement[11] they have led a draft EU law to restrain Chinese acquisitions of European firms and technologies[12] and they lead the EU sanctions onNorth Korea.[13]
| Country | Population | Votes in the Council (pre-Brexit) | Contribution toEU budget | MEPs | NATO Quint | G7/G8/G20 | P5 | G4 nations | Uniting for Consensus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 France | 66,616,416 | 13.05% | 17,303,107,859€ | 16.44% | 74 |  Y | Y | Y |  N | N |
 Germany | 80,716,000 | 16.06% | 22,218,438,941€ | 21.11% | 96 | Y | Y | N | Y | N |
 Italy | 60,782,668 | 12.00% | 14,359,479,157€ | 13.64% | 73 | Y | Y | N | N | Y |
During the period following theaccession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities in 1973 and prior toBrexit in 2020, the terms EU3 or E3 were comonly used to describe the three largest economies of the European Union: France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In a modern context, the term "E3" is commonly used to describe the same countries, the three largest economies in western Europe, in a non-European Union context. The three countries often meet in the E3 format, especially on topics, such as the Iranian nuclear program and the most active European supporters of Ukraine following the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14]
| Country | Trade bil. USD (2022)[15] | Nom. GDP mil. USD (2025)[16] | PPP GDP mil. USD (2025)[16] | Nom. GDP per capita USD (2025)[16] | PPP GDP per capita USD (2025)[16] | HDI (2023)[17] | Population (2022)[18] | Area km2 | EU | P5 | G4 | G7 | G20 | OECD | DAC |  | IMF economy classification[19][20] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 1,435.8 | 3,361,557 | 4,533,633 | 48,982 | 66,061 | 0.920 | 68,305,148 | 640,679 | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Advanced |
| Germany | 3,226.9 | 5,013,574 | 6,153,741 | 59,925 | 73,553 | 0.959 | 84,316,622 | 357,114 | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Advanced |
 United Kingdom | 1,353.3 | 3,958,780 | 4,454,716 | 56,661 | 63,759 | 0.946 | 68,492,933 | 242,495 | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Advanced |
In 2003, France, Germany and the UK launched negotiations attempting to limit theIranian nuclear program, which led to the Tehran Declaration of 21 October 2003 and the voluntary Paris Agreement of 15 November 2004.[21][22][23]
EU 3 + 3, more commonly referred to as theE3+3,[24] refers to a grouping which includes the EU-3 andChina,Russia, and theUnited States. It was coined when these states joined the EU diplomatic efforts with Iran in 2006. In the United States and Russia, it is more commonly known asP5+1, which refers to the five permanent members of theUN Security Council plus Germany.[25]
Italy took part in a number of these meetings between 2006 and 2007.[26][27] In 2014, under the request of the Italian PMMatteo Renzi, Foreign MinisterFederica Mogherini was named High Representative of the EU as the negotiations approached a conclusion and came to an end with the elaboration of theJoint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015.[28]
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