<P> The EU's member states cover an area of 4,423,147 square kilometres (1,707,787 sq mi). The EU's highest peak is Mont Blanc in the Graian Alps, 4,810.45 metres (15,782 ft) above sea level . The lowest points in the EU are Lammefjorden, Denmark and Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands, at 7 m (23 ft) below sea level . </P> <P> The landscape, climate, and economy of the EU are influenced by its coastline, which is 65,993 kilometres (41,006 mi) long . </P> <P> Including the overseas territories of France which are located outside the continent of Europe, but which are members of the union, the EU experiences most types of climate from Arctic (North - East Europe) to tropical (French Guiana), rendering meteorological averages for the EU as a whole meaningless . The majority of the population lives in areas with a temperate maritime climate (North - Western Europe and Central Europe), a Mediterranean climate (Southern Europe), or a warm summer continental or hemiboreal climate (Northern Balkans and Central Europe). </P> <P> The EU's population is highly urbanised, with some 75% of inhabitants living in urban areas as of 2006 . Cities are largely spread out across the EU, although with a large grouping in and around the Benelux . </P>

Who was in power when we joined the eu