If the EU were to be recognised as a country (see What are the criteria defining a country ?), its ranking in terms of economics, scientific and artistic achievements and sports would overshadow any other country in the world (yes, even the US and China, and sometimes by far). Here is a quick overview :
Sports
Here are the stats for the 27 EU countries (so without Norway, Switzerland, etc.). I couldn't count the medals of the 3 Baltic countries during the Soviet period, as they were part of the USSR.
Summer Olympic Games
Gold medals : 1831 (USA = 896, USSR+Russia = 481, China = 112)
Silver medals : 2001 (USA = 692, USSR+Russia = 399, China = 96)
Bronze medals : 2072 (USA = 603, USSR+Russia = 374, China = 78)
---------------
TOTAL : 7976 (USA = 2191, USSR+Russia = 1261, China = 286) out of 12797 medals ever given to all combined countries (so just 2/3 of all medals)
Winter Olympic Games
Gold medals : 360 (USA = 78, USSR+Russia = 111, China = 4)
Silver medals : 383 (USA = 80, USSR+Russia = 81, China = 16)
Bronze medals : 400 (USA = 58, USSR+Russia = 78, China = 13)
---------------
TOTAL : 1043 (USA = 216, USSR+Russia = 270, China = 33) out of 2311 medals ever given to all combined countries (so almost half).
If Norway were to join the EU (it's already half in it), this would seriously affect the Winter Olympic medal count, as it has earned more gold, silver and bronze medals alone than the USA. With Norway and Switzerland, the EU would have a total of 1441 medals, i.e. 80% of all medals worldwide.
Motor sports are not included in the Olympics, so I chose F1, the queen of all motor sports, as the reference.
Formula One
Number of World Champion (drivers) : 34 out of 56 since 1950 (all Europeans since 1992, except for 1997).
Number of World Champion (constructors) : 56 out of 56 !
Economy
The EU has the largest GDP in the world, noth nominal and at PPP, since it has reached 25 members in 2004. If the EU has a lower GDP per capita than the USA, one EU member state (Luxembourg) has by far the highest GDP per capita in the world (almost twice that of the USA).
The EU is also the biggest donor of development aid or ODA in the world (over twice that of the USA).
Sciences & Arts
Europe is the birthplace of some of the greatest artistic styles in the world, which have influenced and been copied by most cultures. Former colonies like the USA, Canada or Australia have inherited the best of European architecture. Even Japan and China have copied European architecture for the most prestigious buildings (e.g. banks' HQ, government buildings...). Museums and art galleries worldwide vie for European painters or sculptors. The most expensive paintings in the world are all European (Van Gogh, Picasso, etc.). 99% of the famous classical music composers are European (maybe 90% without Russia).
Europe invented most of the technology and products we use in our daily life (over twice more than the USA and Japan combined, => see Who invented what).
One way to quantify modern scientific and literary achievements is to count the number of Nobel prizes for each field. Note that these figures for Europe are mostly for Northern and Western Europe.
Nobel prizes
TOTAL Nobel laureates (including Peace) : 350 (USA = 155, USSR+Russia = 21, Japan = 12, China = 8)
Again, Norway and Switzerland would considerably increase those numbers (+33 Nobel prizes for both of them).
Field Medal of Mathematics : 20 (USA = 20, Japan = 1)
-----------
EU vs USA
In summary, the EU is comparable to the USA in terms of GDP (that really depends on the change rate), and the USA has a greater military power and better rated universities (more funds).
However the EU beats the US in sciences, arts and sports, especially if we look at historical records. The EU has earned over twice more Nobel prizes, about 4x more Summer and Winter Olympic medals, dominates in motor sports, is the leader in food products, alcohols, fashion, cosmetics, classical arts (music, architecture, paintings...), and invented over twice more of the major inventions used in everyday life.
Sports
Here are the stats for the 27 EU countries (so without Norway, Switzerland, etc.). I couldn't count the medals of the 3 Baltic countries during the Soviet period, as they were part of the USSR.
Summer Olympic Games
Gold medals : 1831 (USA = 896, USSR+Russia = 481, China = 112)
Silver medals : 2001 (USA = 692, USSR+Russia = 399, China = 96)
Bronze medals : 2072 (USA = 603, USSR+Russia = 374, China = 78)
---------------
TOTAL : 7976 (USA = 2191, USSR+Russia = 1261, China = 286) out of 12797 medals ever given to all combined countries (so just 2/3 of all medals)
Winter Olympic Games
Gold medals : 360 (USA = 78, USSR+Russia = 111, China = 4)
Silver medals : 383 (USA = 80, USSR+Russia = 81, China = 16)
Bronze medals : 400 (USA = 58, USSR+Russia = 78, China = 13)
---------------
TOTAL : 1043 (USA = 216, USSR+Russia = 270, China = 33) out of 2311 medals ever given to all combined countries (so almost half).
If Norway were to join the EU (it's already half in it), this would seriously affect the Winter Olympic medal count, as it has earned more gold, silver and bronze medals alone than the USA. With Norway and Switzerland, the EU would have a total of 1441 medals, i.e. 80% of all medals worldwide.
Motor sports are not included in the Olympics, so I chose F1, the queen of all motor sports, as the reference.
Formula One
Number of World Champion (drivers) : 34 out of 56 since 1950 (all Europeans since 1992, except for 1997).
Number of World Champion (constructors) : 56 out of 56 !
Economy
The EU has the largest GDP in the world, noth nominal and at PPP, since it has reached 25 members in 2004. If the EU has a lower GDP per capita than the USA, one EU member state (Luxembourg) has by far the highest GDP per capita in the world (almost twice that of the USA).
The EU is also the biggest donor of development aid or ODA in the world (over twice that of the USA).
Sciences & Arts
Europe is the birthplace of some of the greatest artistic styles in the world, which have influenced and been copied by most cultures. Former colonies like the USA, Canada or Australia have inherited the best of European architecture. Even Japan and China have copied European architecture for the most prestigious buildings (e.g. banks' HQ, government buildings...). Museums and art galleries worldwide vie for European painters or sculptors. The most expensive paintings in the world are all European (Van Gogh, Picasso, etc.). 99% of the famous classical music composers are European (maybe 90% without Russia).
Europe invented most of the technology and products we use in our daily life (over twice more than the USA and Japan combined, => see Who invented what).
One way to quantify modern scientific and literary achievements is to count the number of Nobel prizes for each field. Note that these figures for Europe are mostly for Northern and Western Europe.
Nobel prizes
TOTAL Nobel laureates (including Peace) : 350 (USA = 155, USSR+Russia = 21, Japan = 12, China = 8)
Again, Norway and Switzerland would considerably increase those numbers (+33 Nobel prizes for both of them).
Field Medal of Mathematics : 20 (USA = 20, Japan = 1)
-----------
EU vs USA
In summary, the EU is comparable to the USA in terms of GDP (that really depends on the change rate), and the USA has a greater military power and better rated universities (more funds).
However the EU beats the US in sciences, arts and sports, especially if we look at historical records. The EU has earned over twice more Nobel prizes, about 4x more Summer and Winter Olympic medals, dominates in motor sports, is the leader in food products, alcohols, fashion, cosmetics, classical arts (music, architecture, paintings...), and invented over twice more of the major inventions used in everyday life.