Unit 4. The EUROPEAN UNION

1. UNIT 4: THE EUROPEAN UNION

2. THE EUROPEAN UNION
• What is the EU?
• How many countries belong nowadays to this
organization? Can you name them?
• When was the EU formed?
• Which Treaty was signed?
• How many countries signed this first Treaty?
• Why did those countries set up (create) the EU?
• Which were these first countries?
KEY QUESTIONS: Pg. 50

3. The European Union is a group of countries
whose governments work together.
It's like a club. To join you have to agree to follow
the rules and in return you get certain benefits.
This group of countries have to pay taxes but they
have benefits. For example, if there is a natural
disaster in one of the member countries the others
give them money or also in wars.
What is the EU?

4. How many people live in the EU?
Population in millions (2015)
508 million in total

5. EU population compared to the rest of
the world
Population in millions (2015)

6. 1945
The end of the II WORLD WAR

7. II WORLD WAR
WINNERS LOSERS
France
United
Kingdom
The USA
GERMANY
Russia
(Soviet Union)
?West
East

8. IRON CURTAIN (telón de Acero): 1945-1991
WESTERN
COUNTRIES
SOVIET
UNION
Europe after the II WORLD WAR

9. BERLIN WALL

10. TIMELINE
THE END
OF THE
II WORLD
WAR
TREATY OF
ROME
makes the
EUROPEAN
ECONOMIC
COMMUNITY
(EEC).
Single Market
(6 countries)
TREATY OF
PARIS:
creation of
EUROPEAN
COAL AND
STEEL
COMMUNITY
(ECSC)
Euro
banknotes
and coins
replaced
national
currencies
in member
states.
2013,Croatiabecame
the28thEUmember
1945 1951 1957
The European
Union was formally
established when
the MAASTRICHT
TREATY came into
force setting clear
rules for the future
currency. Single
market completed
1992 2002

11. How the EUROPEAN UNION
has grown: Enlargement: from 6 to 28 countries
2004 is the
biggest
expansion
(enlargement)
of the Union
since it started

12. Do all EU countries use the euro?
EUROZONE
consists of the EU countries
that have adopted the euro.
WHAT IS THE EU CURRENCY?
POUND
ZLOTY
Danish and Swedish
Krona/e

13. EUOBJECTIVES The purpose of the EU is protect and strengthen the rights of its members
Political
Objectives
•To promote democracy and freedom in Europea and
around the world
•To prevent diseases and promote medical research
•To fight cybercrime, terrorism and human trafficking
•To improve working conditions and promotes equal
opportunities
Economic
Objectives
•To create jobs and promote economic growth
•To develop small businesses and encourage
innovation
•To act together to help member states with
economic problems.
•To make it posible for goods, money and services to
move freely between countries

14. EUROPEAN UNION SYMBOLS
•The flag consists of circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background.
•They stand for the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among
the peoples of Europe.
•The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of
member countries, though the circle is a symbol of unity.
The Council of Europe adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" theme as its
anthem. This anthem expresses the European ideals of freedom, peace
and solidarity.
FLAG
ANTHEM
It shows how Europeans have come together, in the form of the EU, to
work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time being enriched
by the continent's many different cultures, traditions and languages.
THE MOTTO "United in diversity" EURO

15. The European flag
The European anthem
The euro Europe Day, 9 May
The motto:
United in diversity

16. INSTITUTIONS: HOW IS IT RUN?
EUROPEAN UNION
EXECUTIVE
POWER
JUDICIAL
POWER
LEGISLATIVE
POWER
The court of
justice of the EU
Council of the
European Union
European
Parliament
European
Commission
Proposes laws
Makes sure every country
respects that lawPasses/approves laws

17. INSTITUTIONS: HOW IS IT RUN?
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Location: BRUSSELS
ROLE: Proposes and enforces new laws for the EU. It’s the
executive body of the EU.
MEMBERS: A team of 28 Commissioners, 1 from each EU country.
Once they have agreed what law to propose, they send their
proposal to the European Parliament and the Council of the
European Union.

19. INSTITUTIONS: HOW IS IT RUN?
EUROPEAN UNION
EXECUTIVE
POWER
JUDICIAL
POWER
LEGISLATIVE
POWER
The court of
justice of the EU
Council of the
European Union
European
Parliament
European
Commission
Proposes laws
Makes sure every country
respects that lawPasses/approves laws

20. INSTITUTIONS: HOW IS IT RUN?
• ROLE: make/pass laws and helps
to decide how much money the
EU should spend (budget).
• MEMBERS: There are 751 members.
Members of the European
Parliament (MEPs) are elected
every 5 years. The last elections
were in May 2014.
EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
Location: STRASBOURG-FRANCE
Congress of
Deputies
IT’S THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THE EU
In Spain…

22. ROLE: discuss and adopt laws and coordinate EU policies.
MEMBERS: Government ministers from each EU country (28 in total),
according to the area to be discussed.
Depending on the policy that is discussed, each country sends their minister
responsible for that area. For example, when the Council meeting is about
economic affairs, each country's finance minister will attend to it.
After discussing a proposal, the Council votes on it.
Once the Council and the Parliament have passed a new law, EU countries
have to respect it.
INSTITUTIONS: HOW IS IT RUN?
The COUNCIL of the EU
Location: BRUSSELS

24. Every six months a different country gets the
presidency of the EU.
The NETHERLANDS is nowadays the leader from
January to June.
Spain led the EU in 2010.
THE PRESIDENCY
INSTITUTIONS: HOW IS IT RUN?

25. INSTITUTIONS: HOW IS IT RUN?
EUROPEAN UNION
EXECUTIVE
POWER
JUDICIAL
POWER
LEGISLATIVE
POWER
The court of
justice of the EU
Council of the
European Union
European
Parliament
European
Commission
Proposes laws
Makes sure every country
respects that lawPasses/approves laws

26. ROLE: The Court’s job is to ensure that EU laws are
respected and are applied in the same way everywhere.
MEMBERS: It has one judge from each EU country.
INSTITUTIONS: HOW IS IT RUN?
THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
Location: LUXEMBOURG

27. EUROPEAN COUNCIL
Location: BRUSSELS
ROLE: The European Council brings together EU leaders to set the
EU's political agenda. It defines the priorities of the European
Union.
MEMBERS: Heads of state or government of EU countries.

28. THE EURO
It was introduced in 2002
It is a symbol of unity
There are 7
banknotes
The coins have the same
design on one side but the
other side is country-specific
It is based on a Greek
letter. The two bars across
the middle are a symbol
of stability
8 coins
SPANISH €
FRENCH €

29. THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL
BANK (ECB)
•It is located in Germany
•It is responsable for maintening price stability in the EUROZONE
Mario Draghi

30. SINGLE MARKET
In 1993, the most of the trade barriers
(physical, fiscal, technical) have been... REMOVED!
GOODS, MONEY, PEOPLE
AND SERVICES COULD
MOVE FREELY
ALL GOODS ARE
PRODUCED ACCORDING
TO THE SAME
STANDARDS/QUALITY
SO…
THIS MAKES THIS MARKET
MORE COMPETITIVE
All companies are under the
same trading rules and
standards
SO…
SO…
BECAUSE…

31. WHAT ADVANTAGES ARE THERE OF
BEING AN EUCITIZEN?
Employment Mobility: FREEDOM TO WORK
ANYWHERE WITHIN THE EU.
HAVING THE SAME CURRENCY MAKES IT EASIER TO
BUY (IMPORT) AND SELL (EXPORT).
NO BORDER TAXES.
Residential Mobility: FREEDOM TO LIVE IN OTHER
EU COUNTRIES.
As a citizen of the European Union, you deserve all the rights and privileges
offered by the country in which you live: Health, education, unemployment
programs, pension...

33. INTERESTING LINKS
• http://europa.eu/kids-corner/index_en.htm
• http://europa.eu/kids-
corner/countries/flash/index_en.htm
• http://europa.eu/about-eu/index_en.htm