European Union 6

The European

Union

By Gabriel Sánchez

During the Second World War (1945), millions of people were killed and cities and towns were destroyed.

Governments decided that, in order to prevent future wars, some kind of union should be created.​

​

THE ORIGINS

Coal and steel were the two main products for industry, and for war.

They thought that, if coal and steel production and trade were controlled and divided between countries, they would not begin a war.​

The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)

1952: Treaty of Paris

Also known as the Common Market, the EEC's aim was that countries should trade freely with one another. If every country can trade with the rest without restrictions, they would not want to go to war.

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Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy and West Germany.​

The European Economic Community was created.

1957: Treaty of Rome

Now people, goods, services and money can circulate freely throughout the EU. Citizens of the EU can live, work, study... in any EU country.

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Spain joined the European Union before this change, in 1986

The European Union was created.

1992: Treaty of Maastricht

The government of the EU become more effective

2007: Treaty of Lisbon

​In 2002 there was an attempt to create an European Constitution. Although some countries voted "yes", they were a minority, so the Constitution wasn't created.

Instead, EU members decided to change the way the Union exercises its existing powers and some new (shared) powers, by enhancing citizens’ participation and protection

Multiple Choice

Teatry of Rome happened in...

• 1997

• 1967

• 1947

• 1957

Multiple Choice

The European Union was finally created in

• 1993

• 1995

• 1991

• 1997

Multiple Select

In 1952, a group of countries decided to join into a Community, to control what?

• Coal

• Weapons

• Steel

• Plastic

In 1952 only Belgium, West Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands participated.​

​

HOW MANY COUNTRIES FORM THE EU?

​

In 2013 Croatia joined the European Union. This is the lastest addition.

In 2013, 28 countries were members of the EU. But, in 2020, the UK left the EU.

​

Nowadays, the European Union has 27 country members.

Spain joined in 1986.​

Any country that wants to join the EU can do so if it complies with the following three conditions:​

It has a stable democracy that guarantees human rights.

​

It has a market based on supply and demand.​

​

It accepts European Union laws and regulations.

Multiple Select

Mark the European Union members

• Finland

• Latvia

• Armenia

• Hungary

• Iceland

Multiple Select

Mark the European Union members

• Estonia

• Malta

• Sweden

• Macedonia

• Switzerland

• to protect the Union's borders

• to promote peace and security through solidarity and respect between countries

• to promote rural development by helping farmers

• to pro​tect the environment

• to defend human rights

• to provide food safety

• to make EU institutions more democratic

POLITICAL OBJECTIVES

THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC AIMS OF THE EU

education and employment

foreign affairs and security

home affairs and justice

culture

fishing, agriculture

transport

environment

health

customs

human rights​

• to raise the standard of living in poorer regions

• to promote scientific and technological advances

• to encourage sustainable development

• to develop small businesses and encourage innovation

• to promote economic growth and help member states with economic problems​

ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES

THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC AIMS OF THE EU

trade

budgets

enterprise

competition

the single market​

ADVANTAGES OF BELONGING TO THE EU

THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC AIMS OF THE EU

• POLITICAL BENEFITS: Citizens of the EU have European citizenship. That means that they can live, work or study in any of the EU countries.​

• ECONOMIC BENEFITS: You can sell or buy anything freely throughout the European Union, and also travel freely.

• SOCIAL BENEFITS: The EU promotes equality between men and women, healthcare in other EU countries, consumer protection and student exchanges.​

Multiple Select

Choose only political objectives of the European Union

• to promote peace and security

• to raise the standard of living in poorer countries

• to develop small businesses and encourage innovation

• to provide food safety

• to protect the environment

Multiple Select

Choose only economic objectives of the European Union

• to encourage sustainable development

• to raise the standard of living in poorer countries

• to promote economic growth

• to help member states with economical problems

• to protect the Union's external borders

Multiple Select

As citizen of a country that belongs to the EU, we...

• can travel freely around the world

• can study in an European Union country member

• we can have healthcare in any country of the world

• we can live in France

• we have European Citizenship

EUROPEAN UNION: POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

The EU is governed by a group of institutions that work together to achieve common goals.

Multiple Select

From these institutions, which ones are from the Legislative branch?

• The European Council

• Court of Auditors

• Council of the European Union

• European Parliament

• The Court of Justice

Multiple Select

From these institutions, which ones are from the Judicial branch?

• The European Council

• Court of Auditors

• European Parliament

• European Central Bank

• The Court of Justice

Multiple Choice

From these institutions, which ones are from the Executive branch?

• European Central Bank

• European Commission

• Council of the European Union

• European Parliament

• The Court of Justice

Multiple Choice

What is the main function of the European Parliament?

• To ensure that EU funds are used correctly

• To execute laws

• To approve the budget and create laws

• To coordinate the general member states’ economic policies

EUROPEAN UNION: SYMBOLS

The flag

Blue with 12 gold stars in a circle. They stand for the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among people.

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The anthem

Europe Day

The EU motto

Part of the 9th Symphony composed by Beethoven, from a verse called "Ode to Joy", as a expression of freedom, peace and solidarity.

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9th of May, as the anniversary of Schuman declaration. In 1950, Robert Schuman, the French foreign minister, held a speech where he set out the idea of an European Union.​

"United in diversity"

Since year 2000​

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THE SINGLE MARKET AND THE EURO €

It refers to ​the EU as one territory without any internal borders or obstacles to the free movement of the goods and services.

What is it for?

It began in 1986, when European Union members created a common market law.

Then, in 1993, trade borders within the EU were removed.​

History

What is the single market?

There are coins and ​banknotes:

1, 2, 5​, 10, 20 and 50 cents coins

1, 2 Euro coins

5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro banknotes​

​It is the form of money for more than 335 million people. It is managed by only one central bank, the ECB.

It is shared by 19 countries, that form the EUROZONE.​

Each Euro is divided into Euro cents. Every one hundred cents it is an Euro.​

The EURO ​

​The name “EURO” was chosen in a meeting in MAdrid!

The EURO symbol is €

€ comes from a Greek letter, Epsilon ϵ

The 500€ banknotes are discontinued

The two parallel lines symbolises stability

Banknotes have holograms, watermarks... for security

Each Eurozone country has it own special coins

One side of the coin is common for all EURO countries​

In the year 2000 it started to be used by every citizen of the Eurozone

It started to be used in 1999, only in electronic payments

The EURO was created in 1995,

It was chosen by the European Council

THE

EURO

€​

Nowadays, 19 EU countries use Euro as their common official currency.

​At first, when the idea of Euro was created, all state members (there were 28 at that time) said that they were okay with it.

But to use the Euro they needed to meet certain economic criteria and some of them, later on, couldn’t participate. ​

Nine EU countries were left behind on the Euro idea. ​

History

The Eurozone​

Multiple Choice

How many countries use Euro as their official currency?

• 28

• 27, because the UK left the EU

• 19

• 20

THE

SCHENGEN

AREA

It is an area without internal borders.

Inside the Schengen area, many people, from citizens to business people, tourists and non-EU nationals can freely circulate without being subjected to border checks.

It started in 1985 and, since then, it has gradually grown and encompasses today almost all EU states, and a few non-EU associated countries.​

​Replace with sub-headr

​The Schengen Area

Multiple Choice

The countries that started the process of European integration were...

• Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxemburg and the Netherlands

• Belgium, Switzerland, France, Luxemburg, Germany and Sweden

• Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Latvia and Denmark

• Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Greece and Portugal

Multiple Choice

Which of these is not one of our rights as EU citizens?

• We can travel, study and work worldwide

• We must be treated fairly

• We are protected by EU laws

• Inside the EU, we have health security

Multiple Choice

What institution makes the EU budget?

• The European Council

• The European Parliament

• The Council of the European Union

• The European Commision

• The European Court of Justice

Multiple Choice

What institution decide if a law will be passed or not?

• The European Council

• The European Parliament

• The Council of the European Union

• The European Commision

• The European Court of Justice

Multiple Choice

What institution makes sure that laws are respected by all member states?

• The European Council

• The European Parliament

• The Council of the European Union

• The European Commision

• The European Court of Justice

Multiple Choice

The European Union is...

• member countries

• "United in diversity"

• an international organization

• the rights of all its citizens

• the economic and social development of the member countries

Multiple Choice

In the EU, there are twenty-seven...

• member countries

• "United in diversity"

• an international organization

• the rights of all its citizens

• the economic and social development of the member countries

Multiple Choice

The European Union motto is...

• member countries

• "United in diversity"

• an international organization

• the rights of all its citizens

• the economic and social development of the member countries

Multiple Choice

The EU works to improve...

• member countries

• "United in diversity"

• an international organization

• the rights of all its citizens

• the economic and social development of the member countries

Multiple Choice

The EU protects...

• member countries

• "United in diversity"

• an international organization

• the rights of all its citizens

• the economic and social development of the member countries