With the Admission of an Additional Ten Countries in 2004

With the admission of an additional ten countries in 2004, what superlative was associated with the EU countries?

A) The countries were the most populous entity in the world.
B) The EU became the largest and richest single market in the world.
C) The countries were the second largest market behind the U.S.
D) The EU was finally able to compete with the emerging economies on Asia.
E) The EU countries represented the strongest military force in history.