the european union. what is the eu ? a “family” of 27 european countries

The European Union

What is the EU ?

• A “family” of 27 European countries

What is the EU: The Origins

• The old dream of European brotherhood

• From enemies to “Family”

• From war to peace

What is the EU:The Origins

• Making war unthinkable among Europeans• Together managing main materials used in war:

coal and steel

What is the EU: Its birth

• 9 May 1950: Schuman calls for a European Coal and Steel Community

• 6 founding States decide to share and co-manage coal and steel.

What is the EU: Its birth

• The 6 founding States decide to share and co-manage other policy areas and to build up an economic union (Treaty of Rome, 1957)

• Other members

joined gradually in

the following years

• 27 Member States• Some European

countries would also like to join

• Others prefer not to join for the time being, like Norway and Switzerland

A few facts

• The EU is over 10 times the size of Japan

A few facts

• The total population of the EU countries is approximately 4 times the population of Japan. Almost 500 million

A few facts

• More and more laws that citizens have to follow are decided in Brussels, by the 27 Member States

What the EU means for its citizens

What the EU means for its citizens: examples

Cheap and easy flights around Europe

EU laws pushing for: • The opening of more

routes

• Lower prices

Mobile phones

EU laws pushing for:

• Investment in research• Making mobile phones

work all around Europe• Lower Prices

Previously different systems in each country,

a common one now.

What the EU means for its citizens: examples

• The European Commission: common interest of theUnion, proposes legislation

≈ government

• The European Parliament: represents the people, decides legislation ≈ Diet

• The Council: Ministers of the Member States, decides legislation

(no equivalent in Japan)

How it is organised:The institutions

• The people of the EU are all different but united as Europeans• These differences make up European culture• The EU has 23 official languages:Dobre rano !

God Morgen ! Goedemorgen !

Good morning !

Tere hommikust !

Hyvää huomenta ! Bonjour !

Guten Morgen ! Kalimera ! Jo reggelt !

Buon giorno ! Labrīt ! Labas Rytas !

L-Ghodwa t-tajba ! Dzień dobry ! Bom dia !

Dobre rano ! Dobro jutro ! Buenos días !

God Morgon !

Unity in Diversity

Some historical developments

Completion of the single market in 1993, free movement of persons, goods, services and capital

No need to show passports

inside Schengen area

Some historical developments

The Euro• A single European currency• Introduced in 2002• 15 countries use the Euro today• Bank notes are illustrated with

examples of European architecture

• One side of the coins is different in each Euro country, the other is the same for all

Some historical developments

Enlargement:• The fall of the Iron CurtainReunification of Germany

More countries joined the EU “family” in 2004 (+10 countries) and 2007 (+ Romania and Bulgaria)

• This is how we came to be 27 Member States!

More countries to join ?

Some countries have declared that they want to join and are preparing for it, such as Turkey

EU in the World:a trading power

• EU is the main exporter in the world • EU is the second largest importer• EU is the third largest export market for Japan,

and its third largest source of imports

EU in the World

Sharing the European way with the world

• Culture of constant consultation and compromise

• Global challenges to be handled together

• Just as Japan and the EU will do with their partners at the G8

Facing Climate Change

• Situation of emergency• EU in a leading position

Responsibility of developed economies to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions all have to participate Helping the developing world

Facing Climate Change

Affordable, ambitious goalEU goals for 2020• 20% of renewable energy• - 20 % of GHG emissions• - 30% if others do their part

Benefits from action• Lower dependency on imported energy• Better health for all• A new impetus for our economies

EU in the World: top donor of development aid

Development aid (Global solidarity)

The EU provides 55% of total international aid Promotes peace, prosperity and

stability in less-favoured parts of the globe

E.g.: EU emergency and

reconstruction help to Afghanistan

The Lisbon Treaty

• The functioning of the EU is based on Treaties, not on a constitution

• Last Treaty agreed in Lisbon in December 2007

• For the first time, there will be an EU president

• And a new EU “minister of Foreign Affairs”

The Lisbon Treaty

• Greater cooperation on more issues

• More democracy and transparency

• Fairer voting system and more efficient decision making

To learn more about the EU:www.europa.eu

• Suggestion: for junior high schools the following slide should substitute slides 21 and 22.

Climate Change

• Situation of emergency. If global temperature increases by more than 2°C:

Sea-level rising, animal species disappearing, etc. • We can all contribute to slow down global warming: Switching lights off when not necessary,

walking instead of driving cars etc.