European Economy

European EconomyHealth Care

•Has Universal Health Care

•This means that the government provides the health insurance, not individual insurance companies- The cost of paperwork and submitting claims is about 25% of our healthcare system. This can be greatly reduced by having universal healthcare.

•The government decides which procedures are and are not covered

• The average life expectancy for someone in Europe is around 79 years compared to the US at about 78 years.

• Europe (and the rest of the world) depends on the US for advancement in medical research and procedures. We spend the money on research and the European governments decided which successful procedures they will allow and pay for.

European EconomyWork Week

• Europeans work the fewest hours of any industrialized nation (35 hour work week)

• Studies have shown that going from 40 to 35 hour work weeks has had no impact on productivity

• This has reduced unemployment because companies have to hire more people

• Companies don’t have to pay for health insurance because it is provided by the government (fewer costs for companies)

• Countries who are part of the European Union (EU) must give all employees at least 4 weeks of paid vacation. (Even for new employees.)

European EconomyEducation

• Just like the US, students complete twelve levels, or grades prior to attending a college or university

• School year is divided in to 2 semesters:• Two separate 15 week sessions OR…

• 4 Quarters:• 4 eleven week sessions

• Several years ago most European countries did not charge students to attend college.

• High tax rates have started to change that.

• In the UK and Ireland, there is a maximum amount that can be charged to residents of EU countries, but much more for international studentshttp://www.studyineurope.eu/tuition-fees

European EconomyEuropean Union (EU)

The European Union: 500 Million People – 27 Countries

Member states of the European Union

Candidate countries

The EU SymbolsThe European flag

The European anthem

Europe Day, 9 May

The motto: United in diversity

Link to European Union Flag Information: http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/symbols/flag/index_en.htm

23 Official Languages

Enlargement: From Six to 27 Countries

1952 1973 1981 1986

1990 1995 2004 2007

The Big Enlargement: Healing the Division of Europe

Fall of Berlin Wall – end of CommunismEU economic help begins: Phare programme

Criteria set for a country to join the EU:• democracy and rule of law• functioning market economy• ability to implement EU laws

Formal negotiations on enlargement begin

Copenhagen summit agrees enlargement

10 new EU members: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

41989

41992

41998

42002 42004

42007 Bulgaria and Romania join the EU

CandidatesCroatia, Iceland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey

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Requirements of Member Countries

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Member countries must have:

stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities

a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union;

the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including support for the aims of the Union. They must have a public administration capable of applying and managing EU laws in practice.

EU Population in the WorldPopulation in millions, 2009

500

1339

128 142

307

EU China Japan Russia United States

The Area of the EU Compared to the Rest of the World

Surface area, 1 000 km²

EU China Japan Russia United States

16 889

9327 9159

4234

365

How Rich is the EU Compared to the Rest of the World?

EU China Japan Russia United States EU China Japan Russia United States

12 508

1 326

3 329

468

9819

25 100

4 400

27 800

12 200

38 700

Size of economy: 2008 gross domestic product in billion of euros

Wealth per person: 2008 gross domestic productper person

How Many People Live in the EU? Population in millions, 2009

500 million total

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2011 EU budget: €141.9 billion = 1.13% of gross national income

Citizens, freedom,security and justice

1%

Other, administration6%

Sustainable growth:jobs, competitiveness, regional development

46%

The EU as a global player:including development aid

6%

Natural resources:agriculture,

environment41%

How Does the EU Spend Its Money?

Climate Change – A Global ChallengeTo stop global warming, EU leaders

decided in 2007 to:

4 reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 (30% if other developed countries do likewise)

4 improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 

4 raise the share of renewable energy to 20% by 2020 (wind, solar, hydro power, biomass)

Jobs and Growth Challenges:

4Demography: Europeans live longer, have fewer children 4Globalisation: European economy faces competition from other parts of the world4Climate change: Emission of greenhouse gases must come down

Solutions:

European leaders have therefore agreed on a joint strategy for:

4More research and innovation4A more dynamic business environment4Investing in people4A greener economy

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

4Coins: one side with national symbols, one side common 4Notes: no national side

Beating InflationEuropean Economic and Monetary Union: stable prices

Average annual inflation in the 15 EU-countries that used the euro in 2008

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The Single Market: Freedom of Choice

Four freedoms of movement:

4 goods

4 services

4 people

4 capital

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The single market has led to:

significant reductions in the price of many products and services, including internet access and airfares.

40% drop in price of phone calls from 2000-2006

2.8 million new jobs

Free to Move“

4 No police or customs checks at borders between most EU countries

4 Controls strengthened at EU external borders

4 More cooperation between police from different EU countries

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

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Going Abroad to Learn

Over 2 million young people have studied or pursued personal development in other European countries with support from EU programmes:

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Improving health and the environmentPollution knows no borders – joint action needed

EU action has helped bring:

4 Cleaner bathing water4 Much less acid rain 4 Lead-free petrol 4 Free and safe disposal of old electronic

equipment4 Strict rules on food safety from farm to fork 4 More organic and quality farming 4 More effective health warnings on cigarettes4 Registration and control of all chemicals

(REACH)

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The EU: an exporter of peace and prosperity

4 World trade rules

4 Common foreign and security policy

4 Development assistance and humanitarian aid

EU runs the peacekeeping operations and the rebuilding of society in war-torn countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina.