France is one of the most modern countries in the world today, a leader among European nations and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. France is the largest country in the European Union, covering an area in Western Europe of 547,000 square kilometers. Its population of 62 million places it second among EU nations, behind Germany and just ahead of the UK and Italy. France has a well diversified economy. It is the European Union's leading agricultural producer with wine, dairy products, beef and wheat among the country's most important products. Much of its agricultural production is exported to other European Union countries and beyond. Principal industries outside of agriculture include aerospace, telecommunications, transportation equipment, chemicals, military equipment and – as France is the most visited country in the world – tourism. It is noteworthy that, as a country devoid of oil, France has developed a very substantial nuclear power industry, which is able to meet the bulk of its energy requirements.