THE EUROPEAN UNION 50 Years of Peace, Prosperity and Partnership

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 Union
United in diversity

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

490
million

Member States

Combined population of
EU Member States

Percent of world’s
population

Percent of
global GDP

55

Percent of combined
worldwide Official
Development Assistance

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.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso

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

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

currency in eleven of the then fifteen EU Member States.

Of

the 27 EU Member States today, fifteen have adopted the euro.

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.

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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

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

& Herzegovina
Montenegro
Serbia including Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution 1244

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

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

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.

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.

Addressing Global Challenges

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.

Addressing Global Challenges

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).

Addressing Global Challenges

Source: German Information Center USA

essential to peace and
prosperity around the globe.
No temporary

debate, to
passing disagreement
among nations, no power
on earth, will ever divide us.”

President George W. Bush

“The relationship between the United States and Europe is the world’s strongest, most comprehensive, and strategically important partnership. The United States, and a united Europe – this is really the indispensable partnership.”

President of the European Commission
José Manuel Barroso

international standards:
Fighting terrorism and transnational crime
Advancing global trade liberalization
Combating piracy

and intellectual property violations
Spreading benefits of globalization
EU and its Member States are helping restore peace and stability in Afghanistan.
EU and U.S. work together in the Middle East Quartet to advance the peace process.
When the EU and U.S. agree, others tend to follow.

EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner & U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

human rights, and the rule of law around the world.

Security
Cooperate

to fight terrorism, limit the spread of nuclear weapons, and work for global peace.

Development
Together, EU and U.S. provide 80% of global development assistance and an even larger share of global humanitarian aid in times of disaster and conflict.

of total global trade (more than $1.5 billion in transatlantic

trade every day).
The $3 trillion EU-U.S. transatlantic economy employs 14 million workers on both sides of the Atlantic.
In 2005, Europe accounted for roughly two-thirds of total global investment flows into the U.S. – by far the most significant source of foreign investment in the U.S. economy.

The UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands – top four

sources of jobs created by foreign investment in the United States.

American companies invest far more in EU countries than in Asia.
U.S. businesses make 5 times the profit in the Netherlands - alone - as they make in China.
In 2005, EU investments in Texas alone surpassed all U.S. investments in China and Japan, combined.

BMW’s assembly plant is South Carolina’s
largest private sector employer.

are global in origin and impact. With global challenges, come

global responsibilities.

EU and U.S., with our shared values and common interests, are natural partners to give a lead in four key areas:
Promote peace, human rights and democracy worldwide.
Confront global challenges, including security and non-proliferation.
Foster prosperity and opportunity.
Advance strategic cooperation on energy security, climate change and sustainable development.

global challenges such as climate change, counterterrorism, non-proliferation, pandemics and

natural disasters on its own, we commit ourselves to strengthening our cooperation to address these challenges.”

EU-U.S. Summit Declaration Vienna, July 2006

education through:
Exchange programs
More than 700 institutional partnerships
Vocational training
Scholarship programs
R&D cooperatives
EU

and U.S. provide joint or dual higher educational degree programs.
EU funds Centers of Excellence at leading U.S. universities.

EU supports R&D to increase Europe’s growth and global competitiveness.