Estonia and the European Union NGO Eurohouse Europe Direct Kuressaare inforelay 10A Tallinna str., Kuressaare Phone and fax:

Founding of the EU Goals: To create political union with common structure To create forms of the economical cooperation Founders: Belgium The Netherlands Luxembourg Italy France The Federal Republic of Germany

Enlargement There has been five enlargements in the EU. Every enlargement brings along changes. EU has always had to adjust its’ policies, financing principles and activities to prepare itself for new members.

Enlargement Goals: To set up common market – free movement of the products, services, humans and capital; Closer integration and enlargement of the European Union; To hurry up the integration and political cooperation; To induct new timetable for creating economical and financial union; Common economical-, commercial- and transport policies.

Enlargement Joining countries: Ireland Denmark The United Kingdom

Enlargement Goals: To create European Regional Development Fund; To even up employment, living and working conditions; To put in use the European passport; To create common fishing policy. Joining countries: Creek

Enlargement Goals: To reform institutions; To start integration according to the Common European act. Joining countries: Spain Portugal

Enlargement Goals: To reform EU structure funds; To create economical and monetary union in three steps, to put in use common money and to even up economical policies of the EU member countries; To lose border control between member countries.

Enlargement Joining countries: Austria Finland Sweden

Enlargement Goals: To make union’s institutions more efficient; To make decision making process more effective;

Enlargement Joining countries: Estonia Cyprus Poland Slovenia Czech Republic Hungary Malta Latvia Lithuania Slovakia

EU institutions European Parliament; Council of the European Union; European Commission; European Court; European Data Protection Supervisor.

EU common money The euro is the currency of twelve European Union countries, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle (namely Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland).

EU common money The euro symbol was designed by the Commission services. The final choice from among several proposed designs was made following a qualitative assessment by the general public conducted by a specialised organisation. The € is inspired by the Greek epsilon pointing back to the cradle of European civilisation and the first letter of Europe, crossed by two parallel lines to indicate the stability of the euro.

The symbols of the EU The European flag The European anthem – the melody comes from the Ninth Symphony by Beethoven. When used as the European anthem, it has no words. Motto of the EU – United in Diversity Common money euro € Europe Day, 9 May