EUROPEAN UNION

EUROPEAN UNION

Celebrating the European Union:

A Half Century of Change and Progress

• Since the creation of the EU half a century ago, Europe has enjoyed the longest period of peace in its history.

• European political integration is unprecedented in history.

• EU enlargement has helped overcome the division of Europe – contributing to peace, prosperity, and stability across the continent.

• A single market and a common currency conditions for companies and consumers.

• EU has united the citizens of Europe – while preserving Europe’s diversity.

European UnionUnited in diversity

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.

28

7

30

490million

Member States

Combined population

ofEU Member

States

Percent of world’spopulation

Percent of global GDP

55Percent of combinedworldwide OfficialDevelopment Assistance

EU InstitutionsEuropean Commission• 27 Commissioners, representing the

European perspective, each responsible for a specific policy area.

• EU’s executive branch proposes legislation, manages Union’s day-to-day business and budget, and enforces rules.

• Negotiates trade agreements and manages Europe’s multilateral development cooperation.

Council of the European Union• EU’s main decision-making body,

comprised of ministers of 27 Member States, representing Member State’s point of view.

• Decides on foreign policy issues.• Council presidency rotates among

Member States every six months.

EU InstitutionsEuropean Parliament• Voice of European citizens – members

elected for five-year terms.

• With the Council, passes EU laws and adopts EU budgets.

• Approves EU Commissioners.

European Court of Justice• Highest EU judicial authority.• Ensures all EU laws are interpreted and

applied correctly and uniformly.• Can act as an independent policy maker but

unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, the ECJ can only deal with matters covered by the Treaties.

European Parliament in session

European Central

Bank• The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank

for Europe's single currency, the euro.

• The ECB’s main task is to maintain the euro's purchasing power and thus price stability in the euro area.

• The euro area comprises the 15 European Union countries that have introduced the euro since 1999.

• The ECB operates independently from Member State governments.

The euro was introduced in 1999

United in Diversity - The €uro

Quick Facts: The EURO• The euro started with 11 countries on

January 1, 1999 – but Euro cash was only introduced in January 2, 2002.

• 16 of the 27 member countries are now part of the euro area.

• One of the striking benefits of a single European currency are low interest rates due to a high degree of price stability.

• The euro is as stable and credible as the best-performing currencies previously used in the euro area countries.

10

Quick Facts: The EURO• The euro banknotes

(and coins) easily circulated around the euro area, unlike national banknotes that moved across borders but to a more limited extent.

[www.ecb.int]

BUT…

• EU membership does not automatically guarantee membership to the Economic and Monetary Union– However, member states pledge to become

members of the euro zone as part of their EU membership agreement

1951:

• In the aftermath of World War II, the aim was to secure peace among Europe’s victorious and vanquished nations and bring them together as equals, cooperating within shared institutions.

• Based on a plan by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman.

• Six founding countries – Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – signed a treaty to run heavy industries (coal and steel) under common management.

European Coal

and

Steel Community

Jean Monnet and other leaders with the first “European” ingot of steel

Treaty of Rome• The six founding countries expanded

cooperation to other economic sectors, creating the European Economic Community (EEC) – or “common market.”

• As a result, people, goods, services, and capital today move freely across the Union.

1957:

Signing of the Treaty of Rome

1951

Founding Members

BelgiumFrance

GermanyItaly

LuxembourgNetherlands

1973

DenmarkIreland

United Kingdom

1981

Greece

1986

PortugalSpain

November 1989

Fall of theBerlin Wall

sets thestage forunifying

Europe andEU

enlargement

1995

AustriaFinlandSweden

2004

CyprusCzech Republic

EstoniaHungaryLatvia

LithuaniaMaltaPoland

SlovakiaSlovenia

2007

BulgariaRomania

Candidate Countries

Croatia

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Turkey

Potential

Candidate Countries

Albania

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Montenegro

Serbia including Kosovo under UN Security Council

Resolution 1244

Years of EU

Integration Enlargement has:• Inspired reforms and

consolidated common principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, and market economy.

• Enhanced the EU’s weight in the world and made it a stronger and more attractive international partner.

“Enlargement has been a success story for the European Union and Europe as a whole. It has helped to overcome the division of Europe and contributed to peace and stability throughout the continent.”

European Council Declaration

Dec. 15, 2006

The EU is a global player.

Its soft power promotes

stability, prosperity,

democracy and human

rights, delivers concrete

results in the fight to

eradicate poverty, and in

achieving sustainable

development.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, and EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner

The EU in the World

Addressing Global Challenges

• Peace & Security– Works for global peace and security

alongside the United States and multilateral organizations – including NATO and the United Nations.

– Undertakes humanitarian and peacekeeping missions and has provided military forces for crisis management around the globe.

• Counterterrorism & Homeland Security– Taken steps to improve intelligence sharing,

enhance law enforcement and judicial cooperation, curtail terrorist financing.

– Boosts trade and transport security to support the struggle against terrorism.

• Democracy & Human Rights– Works globally for free elections and

open democratic processes.– Fights racism and intolerance at home

and abroad.– Campaigns globally against capital

punishment.

• Development Assistance & Humanitarian Relief– The EU and its Member States are the

world’s largest aid donor, providing 55% of total official development assistance.

– Provides billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to more than 100 countries in response to crises and natural disasters.


• Trade

– European Commission represents all 27 EU Member States before the World Trade Organization.

– Supports free trade and open markets, within the rules-based structure of the WTO, to promote growth and jobs in both industrialized and developing countries.

– The world's most open market for products and commodities from developing countries – 40% of all EU imports are from developing countries.


• Environmental Protection– A leader in global efforts to protect

the environment, maintaining rigorous and comprehensive systems at home.

– Plays a key role in developing and implementing international agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change.

– Executing a “cap and trade” system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

– Takes the lead in the fight against global warming with the adoption of binding energy targets (cutting 20% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2020).


Source: German Information Center USA

Education

EUROPEAN UNION