The European Union. What is it? * What is the European Union? A unique economic

it? * What is the

European Union? A unique economic and political partnership between 28 democratic European countries. * What are its aims? Peace, prosperity and freedom for its 500 million citizens — in a fairer, safer world. * What results so far? Frontier-free travel and trade, the euro (the single European currency), safer food and a greener environment, better living standards in poorer regions, joint action on crime and terror, cheaper phone calls, millions of opportunities to study abroad … and much more besides. * How does it work? To make these things happen, EU countries set up bodies to run the EU and adopt its legislation. The main ones are: - the European Parliament (representing the people of Europe); - the Council of the European Union (representing national governments); - the European Commission (representing the common EU interest).

The European Union. What is it?

again
Safety and security
Economic and social solidarity
Identity and

diversity in the globalised world
Values

countries
Member states of the European Union
Candidate countries

Members: Austria,Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
the Czech Republic Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom

De Gasperi
Jean Monnet

9 May
The motto: United in diversity
Euro

Passport

of the European Union: a circle of twelve golden stars

on the site hours on a clock face on an azure background. The number of stars is unchanged.
                                                         
The stars symbolise the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe.
             
The originators of the flag are: the Spanish diplomat Salvador de Madariagay Rojo and the French artist Arsene Heitz. The flag was acquired in 1986 from the Council of Europe, which approved the project in 1955.

Schiller

The anthem of the European Union is a piece

of the Ninth Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1823, the text of Friedrich Schiller's poem "Ode to Joy” of 1785.

An instrumental version of the anthem reflects the European ideas of freedom, peace and solidarity.

In 1972, the Council of Europe adopted a fragment of Beethoven's IX "Ode to Joy" as the anthem.

The Anthem - Ode to Joy

In 1985, the Heads of State and Government decided that this tune will be the official anthem of the European Union.

in diversity"
The message of this slogan is that through

the European Union, Europeans are united in efforts to promote peace and prosperity, and that the multiplicity of cultures, traditions and languages ​​in Europe is its major asset.

For the first time the motto was used in 2000.

9 May - Europe Day

On 9 May 1950, Robert Schuman - French foreign minister, proposed the creation of an organized Europe, as a prerequisite for the maintenance of peaceful relations. This proposal, known as the "Schuman declaration", is considered to be the beginning of the creation of the present European Union. To commemorate this day, he is celebrated as the Day of the European Union, in which we celebrate the peace and unity in Europe

euro is the official currency of 18 out of 28

member states of the European Union (EU). The euro was introduced to world financial markets as an accounting currency on 1 January 1999, replacing the former European Currency Unit (ECU)

The euro coins and banknotes entered circulation on 1 January 2002.
The euro can be used everywere in the euro area.

* Coins – one side with national symbols, one side common
* Notes – no national side

The following members of the European Union do not use the euro:
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Croatia, Lithuania, Hungary,
Poland, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Passport

The European Union does not issue passports,
but ordinary passports issue by its 28 member
states share a common design.  

Common features include the burgundy
coloured cover, the use of the words
"European Union" in the country's official
language or languages on the cover,
as well as common security features
and biometrics.

which have not yet applied for membership: Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo (status disputed).
six

countries; France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg .

Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom

Greece

Spain, Portugal

Austria, Finland, Sweden

Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Bulgaria, Romania

Croatia

Croatia

Germany is unified, and the Länder of the former East Germany become part of the EU

of Berlin Wall – end of Communism
EU 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, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

41989

41992

41998

42002

42004

42007

Bulgaria and Romania join the EU

© Reuders

42013

Croatia joins on the 1st of July

European Steel and Coal Community
1958 The treaties of Rome:
The European

Economic Community
The European Atomic Energy Community
(EURATOM)

1987 The European Single Act: the Single Market

1993 Treaty of European Union – Maastricht

1999 Treaty of Amsterdam

2003 Treaty of Nice

2007 Treaty of Lisbon (signed)

The European Union is based on the rule of law. This means that the foundation of all its activities are treaties adopted voluntary not democratically by all Member - States. For example, if a given policy area is not mentioned in the Treaty, the Com-mission cannot propose legislation on this area.

The treaty is a binding agreement between the Member States of the EU.
It sets out the objectives of the EU, the principles of the functioning of EU institutions, decision making and the relationship between the EU and its Member States

Social Committee
Committee of the Regions
Council of Ministers
(Council of the EU)
European

Commission

European Investment Bank

European Central Bank

Agencies

European Council (summit)

European Parliament

Is made up of Elected Members of the European Parliament (MEP’s). Elections are held every 5 years.

Council of the European Union

The council is made up of national ministers who with the European Parliament, adopt EU
law..

European Commission

Is made up of appointed Commissioners and the EU’s civil service. The Commission is responsible for the day-to-day running of the the EU and ensures EU treaties are being complied with. The Commission is also responsible for proposing legislation and carrying out decisions made by the European Council and Parliament

Court of

Justice of the European Communities
* EU law courts.
* Is responsible for interpreting the EU law and ensuring it is carried out.

European Court of Auditors
* Reviews and audits the financing of the EU’s institutions
activities. * Is composed of one member from each EU member state.

European Ombudsman
* Investigates complaints made by a citizen or resident
of the Union about maladministration by EU institutions and bodies

European Data Protection Supervisor

* It’s duty is to uphold data protection standards in EU institutions and bodies and plays advising role on data protection legislation.

government of all EU countries 4Held at least 3 times a

year 4Sets the overall guidelines for EU policies

are elected in direct elections, which are held every five

years. Parliament is, together with the Council of the European Union (the "Council"), one of the main institutions responsible for lawmaking in the EU.

The European Parliament has three offices in: Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg.
The main meetings of the Parliament, called the plenary sessions are held in Strasbourg and committees in Brussels. Luxembourg became an administrative seat of the Parliament.
The Parliament has three main functions:
* debating the acts of the European law, and resolves them with the Council * exercising supervision over the other EU institutions particularly the Commission to ensure that operate in a democratic manner
* debating the EU budget and adopting it with the Council.

- voice of the member states (Council of the EU
As

a part of this institution, informally also called the Council of the EU, ministers from all EU countries meet and adopt laws and coordinate policies in particular areas.

Rotating presidency - 6 months.

What does the Council of the EU do?
Enacting the EU legislation.
Coordinating the broad economic policies of the Member States of the EU.
Signing agreements between the EU and other countries.
Approving the annual budget of the EU.
Specifing the direction of foreign policy and defense policy of the EU.
Coordinating cooperation between the courts and the police authorities of the Member States

Commission is one of the main institutions of the European

Union. Its mission is to represent and protect the interests of the whole Union. It drafts proposals for new European laws. It manages current issues related to the implementation of EU policies in particular areas and spending EU funds.

27 independent members, one from each EU country 4Proposes new legislation 4Executive organ 4Guardian of the treaties 4Represents the EU on the international stage

, President of the European Parliament

The European Council and the Council - voice of the Member States Herman Van Rompuy , Presidentl of the European Council The European Commission - promoting the common interest José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission

one from each EU country 4Rules on how to interpret EU

law 4Ensures EU laws are used in the same way in all EU countries

independent members 4Checks that EU funds are used

properly
4Can audit any person or organisation dealing with EU funds

Catherine Ashton

Double hat: chairs the Foreign Affairs Council meetings +

Vice-president of the European Commission

Manages the common foreign and security policy

Head of European External Action Service

Bank (ECB, based in Frankfurt,
Germany) manages

the euro – the EU's single currency – and safeguards price stability in the EU.
The ECB is also responsible for framing and
implementing the EU’s economic and monetary policy.



Mario Draghi
President of the Central Bank



The Bank works with the central banks in all 28 EU countries. Together they form the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).
It also leads the close cooperation between central banks in the euro- area  – the 18 EU countries that have adopted the euro, also known as the eurozone. The cooperation between this smaller, tighter group of banks is referred to as the ‘Eurosystem’.

people study or pursue personal development in other European countries

with support from EU programmes:

4 Comenius: school education
4 Erasmus: higher education
4 Leonardo da Vinci: vocational training
4 Grundtvig: adult education
4 Youth in Action: voluntary work and non-formal education

© Getty Images

between most
EU countries

4 Controls strengthened

at EU external borders

4 More cooperation between the police from different EU countries

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

© Corbis

makes formal proposals
Parliament and Council of Ministers: decide jointly

Commission and Court of Justice: monitor the implementation

National or local authorities: implement

action needed

The EU action has helped to bring:

4 Cleaner

bathing water
4 Much less acid rain
4 Lead-free petrol
4 Free and safe disposal of old electronic equipment
4 Strict rules on food safety from farm to fork
4 More organic and quality farming
4 More effective health warnings on cigarettes
4 Registration and control of all chemicals (REACH)

© Van Parys Media

Rights

4 Joint fight against terrorism

4 Police and law-enforcers from

different countries cooperate

4 Coordinated asylum and immigration policies

4 Civil law cooperation

© European Union Police Mission

that comes with EU citizenship
4 Dialogue at all levels on

this right and on the future the EU
4 http://europa.eu/citizens-2013/

Europe 2020 strategy:

4Employment
75% of 20-64

year-olds to be employed

4Research and innovation
3% of the EU's GDP to be invested in research

4Climate change/energy
Greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than 1990
20% of energy from renewables
20% increase in energy efficiency

4Education
School drop-out rates below 10%
40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third-level education

4Poverty
20 million fewer people in, or at risk of, poverty and social exclusion