When the European Union (EU) was formed, member nations began to do which of the following in order to deepen cooperation?

Introduction / Context:
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union that has developed over several decades among European states. It promotes cooperation in many areas such as trade, movement of people and security. Exam questions often focus on what changed when the EU was formed, especially regarding how independent governments coordinate their policies. In this question, the emphasis is on cooperation that goes beyond simple economic arrangements.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks what nations began to do when the European Union formed.
- Options mention abolishing geographic boundaries, creating a unified education system, eliminating home governments and cooperating on law enforcement.
- We assume basic knowledge that EU countries remain sovereign but choose closer cooperation in selected fields.
- The focus is on a realistic and historically accurate change produced by the EU framework.

Concept / Approach:
While the EU does encourage free movement and reduce internal border controls, it does not literally abolish geography or erase all national boundaries. Nor does it replace national education systems or home governments. Instead, one of the significant developments has been greater cooperation on law enforcement, including sharing information, coordinating police work and dealing with cross border crime. Therefore, the correct answer is the option describing cooperation on law enforcement and security.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that EU member states keep their own governments and education systems; these have not been eliminated or fully merged.Step 2: Recognise that although border controls have been relaxed in many areas, national borders still exist and states remain sovereign.Step 3: Consider the need for cooperation in areas such as fighting organised crime, terrorism and human trafficking, which has grown with freer movement.Step 4: Examine the options and note that only one mentions cooperation on law enforcement, which reflects real EU initiatives.Step 5: Eliminate options that exaggerate or misrepresent EU integration, such as a single education system or the removal of all home governments.Step 6: Select the option that best matches actual EU practice: closer cooperation on law enforcement.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think about EU institutions such as Europol and various agreements that allow police and judicial authorities to work together across borders. These developments are widely documented and clearly connected to the growth of the EU. By contrast, there is no evidence that EU nations completely abolished their governments or created one standard education system. Likewise, geographical borders still exist even if travel is easier. This confirms that enhanced cooperation in law enforcement is the accurate description.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A exaggerates the idea of open borders by saying that geographic boundaries were abolished. In reality, boundaries remain, although some internal border checks are reduced. Option B is wrong because education policy largely remains under national control and there is no single unified EU education system. Option C is incorrect since member states still have their own governments and have not surrendered all political authority to a single EU government.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to assume that any regional union must behave like a single country, eliminating national institutions. This can lead students to overstate the extent of integration. Another mistake is to focus only on trade and ignore security cooperation. A good strategy is to remember that the EU balances national sovereignty with practical cooperation in fields where working together offers clear benefits, such as law enforcement.

Final Answer:
When the European Union formed, member nations began to cooperate more closely on law enforcement and cross border security.