European Union

European Union Compare the distances North to South and East to West. Are they similar? What about number of states compared to the number of countries? Imagine traveling from Los Angeles to New York and having the language, currency, prices of goods, and basic laws change every time you went through a different state. What problems might result?

European Union After centuries of competition and frequent wars, the nations of Europe came together in a spirit of unity and cooperation and formed the European Union, commonly referred to as the EU.

European Union 1951 – The European Coal and Steel Community is established by six founding members 1957 – The Treaty of Rome establishes a common market (Britain, Denmark, and Ireland joined in 1973.) 1980s and 1990s – The group expanded and took on the name EU. 1999 – New currency known as the Euro was introduced

European Union A family of democratic countries committed to working together for peace and prosperity Sometimes referred to as the United States of Europe It does not replace existing countries Initial countries were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands

European Union EU: 2007

European Union Requirements Stability of institutions to guarantee democracy, the rule of law, basic human rights, and the respect for and protection of minorities. The existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. The ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic, and monetary union.

European Union The European Union promotes cooperation among its 28 members and over 450 million people in the areas of: Economics and trade Social issues Foreign policy Security and defense Judicial matters Monetary policy Single unified market

European Union Benefits… Fair competition practices among the countries Easier to cross borders – no passports required Strengthens trade (no tariffs, export taxes, etc.) Democracy, freedom, and social justice Saves on exchange costs (billions annually) Single currency known as the EURO Environmentally Conscious Kyota Protocol – Reduce global warming Strict rules for waste disposal Rivers and lakes are cleaner Strict emissions policies on vehicles

Education and Equality Creates educational opportunities for studies in other countries Bans discrimination of any kind Equal pay for equal work Pioneer for women's rights

Jobs and Prosperity Goal is to be the have the most knowledgeable and skilled workers in the world One third of budget is used to stimulate the economy and add jobs Training for unemployed and under qualified Focusing on high tech jobs for the future

Freedom, Security, and Justice Work together to battle terrorism Battle of cross border drug trafficking European arrest warrants Makes it easier to solve border legal conflicts, like marriage and divorce

Peace and Stability War between the countries is almost unthinkable due their unity Trying to spread peace and prosperity Provide more humanitarian aid than anyone in Europe helping poor countries Protects other countries Desire to be a model for the rest of the world

A Place in the Union Any European country can join, provided it has a stable democracy that guarantees the rule of law, human rights, and the protection of minorities Must also have a functioning market economy and civil service capable of applying EU laws It can take up to 10 years to become a member They have a flag, national anthem, and European Union day

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

Brexit Brexit is the words “Britain” and “exit,” and it is the nickname for a British exit of the European Union