1

The European Union

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Why do individuals want to move into the European Union?

2

The European Union

500 million people

– 27 countries

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The European Union

What is the European Union?

• Shared values: liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.

• Largest economic body in the world.

• World’s most successful model for advancing peace and democracy.

• A unique institution – Member States voluntarily cede national sovereignty in many areas to carry out common policies and governance.

• Not a super-state to replace existing states, nor just an organization for international cooperation.

• World’s most open market for goods and commodities from developing countries.

27

7

30

500million

Member States

Combined population of

EU Member States

Percent of world’spopulation

Percent of global GDP

56Percent of combinedworldwide OfficialDevelopment Assistance

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The European Union

Push Factors• Political instability

• Economic oppression or instability

• Ethnic strife

• Religious oppression

• Natural disasters

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The European Union

• Economic freedom

– Jobs

– Prosperity

• Social stability

– Social welfare

– Peace

• Political freedom

– Women’s rights

– Minority rights

• Religious pluralism

• Ethnic Pluralism

Pull factors

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The European Union

Immigration by Age

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The European Union

Immigration by BroadGroup of Citizenship

The European Union

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GDP per Inhabitant: the spread of wealth

2008 GDP per inhabitant

Index where the average of the 27 EU-countries is 100

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The European Union

An area of Freedom, Security and Justice

• Charter of Fundamental

Rights

• Joint fight against terrorism

• Police and law-enforcers from

different countries cooperate

• Coordinated asylum and

immigration policies

• Civil law cooperation

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