The concept of the ‘Eurosphere’ or ‘European Empire’ has grown in popularity in the early years of the 21st century, and is associated with the public intellectual, Mark Leonard, the academic at the University of Oxford, Jan Zielonka, the strategist and European Union Director-General for Politico-Military Affairs, Robert Cooper; and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.

Over the past 50 years, the European Union has expanded from the 6 founding members to 27, there are 9 candidate and potential candidate countries waiting to join. A number of western European countries are integrated economically, as part of the Union's single market or using its single currency. Through its High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy it has a capability to speak with one voice in the world and has association and free trade agreements with a large number of states, through the European Neighbourhood Policy and Union for the Mediterranean (developed from the Barcelona process) it is creating closer ties with those countries on its borders, while developed ties with former colonies, now the ACP countries.