The European Union

Some slides taken for Europa: Gateway to the European Union http://europa.eu

THE EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union: 493 million people – 28 countries

How has crossing country borders in

Europe become easier?

The euro – a single currency for Europeans

EU countries using the euroEU countries not using the euro

Can be used everywhere in the euro area

Coins: one side with national symbols, one side common Notes: no national side

The single market: freedom of choice

Since 1993:

2.5 million new jobs prices of phone calls and airfares halved

Four freedoms of movement:

goods

services

people

capital

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Free to move

“Schengen”:

No police or customs checks at borders between most EU countries

Controls strengthened at EU external borders

More cooperation between police from different EU countries

You can buy and bring back any goods for personal use when you travel between EU countries

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What does supra mean? In the

context of the EU?

-”above” or “over”

- EU govn’t/laws are above the individual nation’s

Define Centripetal & Centrifugal

Forces

-Centripetal: forces that bring things together

- Centrifugal: forces that divide things

Who was Robert Schuman & what

were his suggestions to

Europe?

Founding fathers

New ideas for lasting peace and prosperity…

Konrad Adenauer

Robert Schuman

Winston Churchill

Alcide De Gasperi

Jean Monnet

Roots of the EU: European Coal & Steel Community

• Idea that Europe should work together to manage steel and coal production --> peace to Europe after WW2

• European Coal & Steel Community = set a common market for all steel & coal products– made trade free & easy!– 6 countries: W. Germany, Italy, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, &

Netherlands

European Economic Community (EEC: 1958)

• Removed trade barriers for ALL good through Europe

• 1993: European Union created! :)– Goals:

• promote peace & prosperity/economic well-being– What it does

• creates jobs• protect citizens' rights• preserve the environment• create EU programs

Eight enlargements

1952 1973 1981 1986

1990 1995 2004 2007

Eur. Coal & Steel Community

EEC: Common Market (‘58)

European Union (’93)

12 original members

The EU symbols

The European flagThe European anthem

Europe Day, 9 May

The motto: United in Diversity

Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

Schuman’s Speech

12 stars = 12 countries in 1993 (EU)

http://youtu.be/zHtBaVliQ2Y

Improving health and the environment

Pollution knows no borders – joint action needed

EU action has helped bring us:

Cleaner bathing waterMuch less acid rain Lead-free petrol Free and safe disposal of old electronic equipmentStrict rules on food safety from farm to fork More organic and quality farming More effective health warnings on cigarettesRegistration and control of all chemicals (REACH)

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Economic Cooperation

What are the centripetal &

centrifugal Forces?

Centripetal Forces in Economics (brings together)

• How does a common market unite Europe?– Breaks down tariffs (taxes) trade between

countries is MUCH easier!!– Goods are cheaper & easier to buy– People can travel freely between countries to find work

• How does the creation of an EU trade bloc unite Europe?– Trade bloc = group of countries that act together to

increase influence over world trade (want to be more involved with trading with other countries)

– Trade bloc outside nations (like USA!) want to do business with them BETTER ECONOMY!!

Centrifugal Forces (pull apart)

How do the differences between western & eastern nations divide the EU?

• More money is spent on the poorer countries in the east, which makes the West unhappy

• Fear of outsourcing jobs from the west to the east (cheaper labor!)

• Eastern immigrants are coming to the western countries fear of wage drop in the west

• What divisions are created by the use of the Euro?

• Not ALL countries use it (the United Kingdom uses the British pound)

• New EU countries aren’t allowed to use it until they prove to the EU that they’re strong enough to handle it

Political Cooperation

What are the centripetal &

centrifugal Forces?

Centripetal Forces

• How does the development of a supranational level of government unite Europe?

• Brings members together to focus on issues they have in common

• EU members are EU citizens….they’re united!!

• How does the development of a European citizenship unite Europe?

• They can live and work anywhere in the EU

• They can vote in any EU election

• They have ALL EU rights in every EU country

• EU Parliament = ONE GOVERNMENT

Centrifugal Forces

• How does the desire of European countries to keep their independence divide Europe?

• They have to give some power up when they join the EU– They MUST carry out

decisions made by the EU, even if the individual countries disagree

• How can the expansion of EU membership cause division?

• More people in EU more (differing) opinions harder for cooperation

CulturalCooperation

What are the centripetal &

centrifugal Forces?

Centripetal Forces

• How has the European Union united Europe by promoting a common culture?

• European flag created unity

• European national anthem is in the “universal language of music”—has no words!

• Europe Day on May 9

• EU Wind Orchestra for young musicians

• How does increased travel unite Europe?

• Encourages people to learn other languages

• GOAL: learn two languages + your home language

Centrifugal Forces

• How do languages divide the EU?

• MANY languages difficult communication

• All speeches and documents of the EU must be translated into 20 different languages!

• What are some other forces that continue divisions among European countries?

• Hard to put personal interests aside for EU benefit competition and conflict between countries