European UnionEuropean Union

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EUEU

The European The European Union has gone Union has gone through many through many incarnations since incarnations since its origins its origins

fifty-plus years fifty-plus years ago.ago.

European Coal and Steel European Coal and Steel CommunityCommunity

**1952: The basis of the EU began with the signing of the 1952: The basis of the EU began with the signing of the

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris, establishing the European Coal , establishing the European Coal and Steeland Steel

Community (ECSC), to regulate European industry Community (ECSC), to regulate European industry &&

improve commerce, post WWII.improve commerce, post WWII.

* The six founding states were Belgium, France, * The six founding states were Belgium, France, Germany, Germany,

Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.

*1957: the *1957: the Treaties of RomeTreaties of Rome were signed by the six were signed by the six membermember

states, forming:states, forming:-The European Economic Community (EEC)-The European Economic Community (EEC)

-The European Atomic Energy Community-The European Atomic Energy Community (Euroatom)(Euroatom)

* These units worked concurrently with the ECSC.* These units worked concurrently with the ECSC.

The The European European CommunitCommunit

yy

1967: ECSC, EEC, and 1967: ECSC, EEC, and EuroAtom merged to EuroAtom merged to form the basis of the form the basis of the EC. EC.

1973: the United 1973: the United Kingdom,Kingdom,

Denmark, and Denmark, and IrelandIreland

joined the EC.joined the EC.

1981: Greece joined.1981: Greece joined.

1986: Spain and Portugal1986: Spain and Portugal

joined.joined.

1995: Finland, Sweden, 1995: Finland, Sweden, andand

Austria joinedAustria joined..

Goals of the ECGoals of the EC To continue to improve Europe’s economy byTo continue to improve Europe’s economy by regulating trade and commerce.regulating trade and commerce.

To form a single market for Europe'sTo form a single market for Europe'seconomic resources.economic resources.

As these goals were accomplished, otherAs these goals were accomplished, other goals were developed: goals were developed:

Environmental movementsEnvironmental movements Regulatory actsRegulatory acts Human rights concerns.Human rights concerns.

THE EUROPEAN UNIONTHE EUROPEAN UNION

1992: the 1992: the Maastricht Maastricht TreatyTreaty was ratified, was ratified, which rechartered which rechartered the EC as the the EC as the European UnionEuropean Union..

Basis of the EUBasis of the EU

The European Union is based on the rule of The European Union is based on the rule of law and democracy. It is neither a new State law and democracy. It is neither a new State replacing existing ones nor is it comparable replacing existing ones nor is it comparable to other international organisations. Its to other international organisations. Its Member States delegate sovereignty to Member States delegate sovereignty to common institutions representing the common institutions representing the interests of the Union as a whole on interests of the Union as a whole on questions of joint interest. All decisions and questions of joint interest. All decisions and procedures are derived from the basic procedures are derived from the basic treaties ratified by the Member States.treaties ratified by the Member States.

Principal Objects of the Principal Objects of the EUEU

Establish European CitizenshipEstablish European Citizenship

Ensure freedom, security, and justiceEnsure freedom, security, and justice

Promote economic and social progressPromote economic and social progress

Assert Europe’s role in the worldAssert Europe’s role in the world

The EU is run by five The EU is run by five institutions, each playing a institutions, each playing a

specific role:specific role: European ParliamentEuropean Parliament

– elected by the peoples of the Member Stateselected by the peoples of the Member States

Council of the UnionCouncil of the Union – composed of the governments of the Member Statescomposed of the governments of the Member States

European CommissionEuropean Commission – driving force and executive bodydriving force and executive body

Court of JusticeCourt of Justice – compliance with the lawcompliance with the law

Court of AuditorsCourt of Auditors – sound and lawful management of the EU budgetsound and lawful management of the EU budget

European ParliamentEuropean Parliament

Members elected every 5 years Members elected every 5 years – 625 members as of July 2003625 members as of July 2003

Three essential functions:Three essential functions:– Legislate laws along w/ CouncilLegislate laws along w/ Council– Budget authority along w/ CouncilBudget authority along w/ Council– Supervision of CommissionSupervision of Commission

http://www.europarl.eu.int/home/default_en.htm

Council of the EUCouncil of the EU Composed of the head of each member Composed of the head of each member

country (Prime Minster/President, etc) & the country (Prime Minster/President, etc) & the President of the EU Commission President of the EU Commission – 1 Minister acts as President, rotating twice yearly1 Minister acts as President, rotating twice yearly– 2 meetings a year, in President’s country 2 meetings a year, in President’s country

Main decision making body of the EUMain decision making body of the EU

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities– Legislation & budgetary policies along w/ ParliamentLegislation & budgetary policies along w/ Parliament– Economic policiesEconomic policies– International agreementsInternational agreements

http://ue.eu.int/en/summ.htm

European CommissionEuropean Commission Embodies and upholds the general interest of the Union. Embodies and upholds the general interest of the Union.

20 members: 1 President, 2 vice-Presidents & 17 Commissioners20 members: 1 President, 2 vice-Presidents & 17 Commissioners– Elected every 5 yearsElected every 5 years by the Member States after they have been by the Member States after they have been

approved by the European Parliament.approved by the European Parliament.

As the EU’s executive body, it:As the EU’s executive body, it:

– Drafts legislation for Parliament & Council; Implements legislationDrafts legislation for Parliament & Council; Implements legislation

– Guardian of treaties, along with Court of JusticeGuardian of treaties, along with Court of Justice

– Represents EU internationallyRepresents EU internationally

– Manages the 15 EU agenciesManages the 15 EU agencies http://europa.eu.int/agencies/index_en.htm http://europa.eu.int/agencies/index_en.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htmhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm

President of the EUPresident of the EU President is appointed President is appointed (not elected) by the (not elected) by the EU Council for a 5-year EU Council for a 5-year term and term and confirmed confirmed by Parliament.by Parliament.

Romano ProdiRomano Prodi (Italy), (Italy),– Confirmed Sept. 1999; His term ends 2004Confirmed Sept. 1999; His term ends 2004– Former law/political science professor with many academic publicationsFormer law/political science professor with many academic publications

Commissioners: Commissioners: – http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/index_en.htm

Court of JusticeCourt of Justice 15 judges and 8 advocate generals 15 judges and 8 advocate generals appointedappointed by member states for 6 year terms. by member states for 6 year terms.

The Court of Justice ensures that CommunityThe Court of Justice ensures that Communitylaw is uniformly interpreted and effectively applied. law is uniformly interpreted and effectively applied.

It has jurisdiction in disputes involving It has jurisdiction in disputes involving Member States, EU institutions, businesses Member States, EU institutions, businesses and individualsand individuals

http://curia.eu.int/en/index.htm

The EU Headquarters The EU Headquarters

Brussels, Belgium Brussels, Belgium

Selected as the Selected as the headquarters of headquarters of the European the European Union because of Union because of its centralized its centralized location in Europe.location in Europe.

CURRENT EU ISSUESCURRENT EU ISSUES

1. Enlargement:

*Ten countries joined the EU in 2004, making 25 countries total.

2. The Euro:

*The Common Currency for the EU Countries.

3. Multilingualism:

*20 official languages (as of 2004) for 25 countries.

4. Openness, Access and Transparency:

*How to get the documents to the people?

5. Safety & security of Europe:

*Against terrorism.

ENLARGEMENT:ENLARGEMENT:10 more countries become 10 more countries become EU Member States in 2004 EU Member States in 2004

country - date of EU country - date of EU applicationapplication

Cyprus - 3 July 1990Cyprus - 3 July 1990 Malta - 16 July 1990Malta - 16 July 1990 Hungary - 31 March 1994Hungary - 31 March 1994 Poland - 5 April 1994Poland - 5 April 1994 Slovakia - 27 June 1995Slovakia - 27 June 1995 Latvia - 13 October 1995Latvia - 13 October 1995 Estonia - 24 November 1995Estonia - 24 November 1995 Lithuania - 8 December 1995Lithuania - 8 December 1995 Czech RepublicCzech Republic - - 17 January 199617 January 1996

Slovenia - 10 June 1996Slovenia - 10 June 1996

25 CURRENT EU 25 CURRENT EU COUNTRIESCOUNTRIES

Austria Belgium Czech RepublicCzech Republic Cyprus Denmark EstoniaEstonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy LatviaLatvia LithuaniaLithuania Luxembourg Malta The Netherlands Poland Portugal SlovakiaSlovakia SloveniaSlovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom

Applicant Countries whose Applicant Countries whose requests for EU membership are requests for EU membership are

still pendingstill pending

country - date of EU applicationcountry - date of EU application

Turkey - 14 April 1987Turkey - 14 April 1987

Romania - 22 June 1995Romania - 22 June 1995

Bulgaria - 14 December Bulgaria - 14 December 19951995

Croatia - 2003 Croatia - 2003

NORWAY?NORWAY? Norway has never been a Norway has never been a

member of the EU, but is member of the EU, but is ‘partners’ with EU for ‘partners’ with EU for certain economic reasons. certain economic reasons.

Their economy has Their economy has historically been very good historically been very good and they had no desire to and they had no desire to ‘merge’ with lesser ‘merge’ with lesser economies. economies.

As of 2002, the Norwegian As of 2002, the Norwegian economy began to decline. economy began to decline. There is a now a There is a now a developing majority of developing majority of Norwegian that want Norwegian that want Norway to join the EU. Norway to join the EU.

SWITZERLAND?SWITZERLAND?

Switzerland has Switzerland has never been a never been a member of the EU,member of the EU, but is ‘partners’ but is ‘partners’ with EU for certainwith EU for certain

economic reasons. economic reasons.

Switzerland Switzerland Just joinedJust joined UN in 2002.UN in 2002.

Swiss Government want Switzerland to join forSwiss Government want Switzerland to join foreconomic reasons but the Swiss people economic reasons but the Swiss people

continue tocontinue tovote against joining the EU.vote against joining the EU.

THETHE EUROEURO The euro – Europe's new

single currency - represents the consolidation and culmination of European economic integration.

Its introduction on January 1, 1999, marked the final phase of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), a three-stage process that was launched in 1990 as EU member states prepared for the 1992 single market.

The EUROThe EUROEarly 1990’sEarly 1990’s

1990: Aimed at boosting cross-border business activity, the first stage of EMU lifted restrictions on movements of capital across internal EU borders.

1994: The European Monetary Institute was established in Frankfurt to pave the way for the European Central Bank.

1999: the Euro was introduced as the single currency for eleven EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.

The EUROThe EURO1999-Present1999-Present 1999-2002: The Euro and

the previous national currencies were concurrently used in participating states.

2002: The participating countries had their previous national currencies withdrawn permanently as legal tender.

EU member states not yet using the Euro as currency: Denmark, Greece, Sweden, United Kingdom

What Does it Take to qualify for Membership in the EU:

1. The candidate country has achieved stability of institutions

guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights

and respect for and protection of minorities.

2. The candidate country has the existence of a functioning market

economy, as well as the capacity to cope with competitive

pressure and market forces within the Union.

3. The candidate country has the ability to take on the obligations

of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.

EU PUBLICATIONSEU PUBLICATIONS

* The EU publishes on a multitude of topics in a variety of * The EU publishes on a multitude of topics in a variety of formats.formats. Statistics, parliamentary reports, current events, Statistics, parliamentary reports, current events, debate,debate,

regulations, and news items all fall within the range regulations, and news items all fall within the range of EUof EU

publication topics. publication topics.

*The type of publications includes periodicals, *The type of publications includes periodicals, monographs, andmonographs, and annuals. annuals.

*The format of publications is either paper, fiche or *The format of publications is either paper, fiche or electronic, electronic,

with Internet being heavily utilized since 2000. with Internet being heavily utilized since 2000.

Types of PublicationsTypes of Publications

EU publications fall into a number of EU-specificEU publications fall into a number of EU-specific

categories: Green Papers, White Papers,categories: Green Papers, White Papers,

Bulletins, Communications, Reports,Bulletins, Communications, Reports,

Memorandum, and Press Releases. Memorandum, and Press Releases.

The main division of these items is between The main division of these items is between General General

Information and Official Documents.Information and Official Documents.

EUROPA EUROPA THE SERVER FOR THE EUTHE SERVER FOR THE EU

Born: 1995Name: europa.eu.intParents: EU-institutions

Characteristic:Portal to all EU institution and bodiesMult-lingual (11 official languages)37 million visitors per month 1.5 million documents consulted daily1.3 million documents available

Purpose:Purpose:– Openness and transparancyOpenness and transparancy– Give citizens access to informationGive citizens access to information– Involve as many as possible in the decision making-Involve as many as possible in the decision making-

processprocess

http://www.europa.eu.int/

““One-stop Shopping”One-stop Shopping” Fully searchableFully searchable Divided into six Divided into six

mainmain

areas:areas:– ABCABC– News News – ActivitiesActivities– InstitutionsInstitutions– Official DocumentsOfficial Documents– Information SourcesInformation Sources

EUROPEAN UNION EUROPEAN UNION DEPOSITORIESDEPOSITORIES

The European Union has a long The European Union has a long standing tradition of standing tradition of maintaining European maintaining European Documentation Centers (EDCs) Documentation Centers (EDCs) throughout the EU member throughout the EU member countries, with a total of 275 countries, with a total of 275 EDCs world-wide. EDCs world-wide.

The EU presently supports over The EU presently supports over fifty depositories in the United fifty depositories in the United States.States.

The earliest of these The earliest of these depositories were established depositories were established with the creation of the ECSC with the creation of the ECSC

in the 1950’s.in the 1950’s.

EU Depositories HoldingsEU Depositories Holdings

*Depositories and EDCs automatically receive one copy of *Depositories and EDCs automatically receive one copy of aa

majority of EU produced items free of charge, in majority of EU produced items free of charge, in thethe

designated language. designated language.

* The only items that are not part of this agreement are * The only items that are not part of this agreement are thethe

Technical Reports and the Press Materials issued Technical Reports and the Press Materials issued by theby the

Commission's Offices located outside of Brussels. Commission's Offices located outside of Brussels.

*The public can purchase official EU documents from the *The public can purchase official EU documents from the OfficeOffice

for Official Publications (EU-OP). Purchase requests for Official Publications (EU-OP). Purchase requests cancan

be made via the internet.be made via the internet.

*There is a large cache of free current information on EU *There is a large cache of free current information on EU webweb page. page.

OU has been an EU Depository since OU has been an EU Depository since 19731973

From 1973-1976 The EC/EU From 1973-1976 The EC/EU items were housed in items were housed in Librarian’s Office in the Great Librarian’s Office in the Great Reading Room until they Reading Room until they were moved to the closed were moved to the closed stacks of the Government stacks of the Government Documents, and shelved Documents, and shelved under the EU call number. It under the EU call number. It was useful to have them was useful to have them located in one collection, but located in one collection, but difficult to access because of difficult to access because of the difficult call numbering the difficult call numbering system. system.

In 1993, the EU Documents In 1993, the EU Documents were moved to the Main were moved to the Main Library and cataloged under Library and cataloged under the LC call number. The the LC call number. The resources are now accessible resources are now accessible from the main computer, but from the main computer, but are scattered through-out the are scattered through-out the building.building.

University of Oklahoma EU University of Oklahoma EU

CenterCenter http://www.ou.edu/eucenter/

In 2001, OU received a In 2001, OU received a

grant from the grant from the European Commission, European Commission, to support a European to support a European Union Center for the Union Center for the school.school.

OU’s EU Center is one OU’s EU Center is one

of fifteen in the of fifteen in the nation.nation.