1. 1 To be or not to be European

2. 2 To be or not to be European? Is that the question for our future Peace? Less difficult than the Shakespearean, But surely profound thoughts it must release. Whether ‘tis better to keep one’s border, The dividing line of space and of mind, Or take political arms to reorder And leave separatism behind. To travel, to study, to work anywhere That is a dream devoutly to be wished. To work, perchance to live; ay, the rub’s there; For a lot has still to be accomplished. Fewer frontiers, better trade and Euros All contribute to material wealth, But the EU institutions and bureaus Focus on moral and ethical health. Social justice, democracy, freedom Are values to be shared and defended, Diversity should not check wisdom A constitution is recommended. European identity is near, Different languages and traditions We sincerely hope will not interfere; Be sure to choose the right politicians! To be European is the best choice, It’s the right answer for Peace to rejoice.

3. 3 PEACE The idea of the EU was born to spread peace and stability after the events of the II World War. Europeans were determined to prevent such killing and destruction ever happening again. In the early years, the cooperation was between six countries and mainly about trade and the economy. Now the EU embraces 25 countries and 450 million people, and it deals with a wide range of issues of direct importance for our everyday life.

4. 4 Commerce and frontiers At the beginning the driving force behind European unification was economic. The first step was when six countries founded the European Coal and Steel Community in which basic industries important for the conduct of war were placed under a common authority. From this came the European Economic Community, and eventually the European Union, in a process which led to peace between the member states and a higher standard of living than any previous Generation in Europe had experienced. Under the Maastricht Treaty, European citizenship was granted to citizens of each member state. Customs and immigration agreements were modified to allow European citizens greater freedom to live, work, and study in any of the member states. EU’s frontier-free single market has driven quality up and prices down. Phone calls, internet access and air travel have all become cheaper. You can travel across most of the EU without carrying a passport and without being stopped for checks at the borders.

5. 5 EURO The euro (€), is probably the EU’s most tangible achievement. It is the single currency, shared by 12 countries, representing two thirds of the EU population. This number will rise as the new member countries adopt the euro, once their economies are ready. You can shop in another country where goods are cheaper without paying any additional taxes so long as what you buy is for your own use. The single currency, the euro, allows shoppers to compare prices directly in the 12 countries that use it. As a result, manufacturers and retailers have taken steps to cut unjustifiably high prices. Travel for shopping, leisure or business from one euro country to another is cheaper because no money needs to be changed and no commission paid.

6. 6 Jobs – Equal Opportunities One third of the EU’s €100-billion-a-year budget is used to stimulate the economy and to create jobs in disadvantaged regions and to provide training for unemployed or underqualified people. The EU’s frontier-free single market and the creation of the single currency, the euro, have already generated billions of euro of wealth and created several million new jobs. European Union leaders have pledged to make the EU the world’s most dynamic knowledge-based society with a competitive economy and a skilled workforce. That is why the EU is working to ensure that people have high-speed Internet access at school, at home and in the workplace. It is urging business and governments to make greater use of the internet so as to give better service. Another priority is to train workers in information technology skills and to keep people learning all their lives.

7. 7 Education Nearly 2 million young people have already taken advantage of EU programmes to pursue their studies and personal development in another European country. As a result, the EU schemes for educational exchange and trans-border partnerships such as Erasmus, Leonardo, and Socrates are well-known names. The EU does not decide what you learn in school, but it does work to ensure that your educational and professional qualifications are properly recognised in other EU countries.

8. 8 Values Being a European is not a question of birth, but of education. Freedom, peace, the dignity of mankind, equality and social justice are our greatest goods. To protect and further develop these aims, Europe needs a morally acceptable political structure and policies which strengthen the sense of common purpose while establishing the credibility of the European Union and making its citizens proud to be Europeans. When that point has been reached, then a stronger, more European identity will also exist. The aim of European unification is to realize, test, develop and safeguard these values. Fundamental European values are based on tolerance humanity and fraternity. After an age of unrestrained nationalism, imperialism and totalitarianism, Europeans worked to establish freedom, justice and democracy as the principles for international relations, thereby opening the way to a free and peaceful future, though until recently the division of our Continent made it impossible for all European countries to take part. European identity requires the free exchange of persons and ideas, and finds its expression in the common protection of our values. The 1950 Convention for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the EC Charter of Fundamental Social Rights of 1989. and the creation of European Union citizenship constitute important steps in this direction. For the citizens, democracy in the European Union must become a living reality.

9. 9 Environment People in Europe are very environmentally conscious. Consequently, the EU is spearheading world efforts to preserve the environment and promote sustainable development. It has taken the lead in implementing the Kyoto protocol to reduce emissions of the "greenhouse gases" blamed for global warming and climate change. As part of its effort, the EU introduced in 2005 an innovative "emission trading scheme", which allows manufacturing companies to buy and sell a limited number of pollution permits. Not surprising then that Europe’s rivers and beaches are cleaner, vehicles pollute less, and there are strict rules for waste disposal.

10. 10 Worldwide Prosperity The best way to prevent conflicts from arising in the first place is to create greater prosperity worldwide. As the world’s largest trading power, the EU is using its influence to establish fair rules for world trade. It wants to make sure that globalisation also benefits the poorest countries. The EU already provides more humanitarian assistance and development aid than anyone else.