1. L’Union EuropÉenne
The European Union

2. L’Union EuropÉenne
After the Second World War, 6 countries formed the European Coal and Steel Community to share their resources.
These countries were: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
In 1957, they signed the Treaty of Rome to become the European Economic Community (EEC)

3. L’Union EuropÉenne 1973: Denmark, Ireland, United kingdom 1981: Greece
1986: Portugal, Spain
1995: Austria, Finland, Sweden
2004: Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
2007: Bulgaria, Romania
2013: Croatia

4. L’Union EuropÉenne
Current applicant countries: Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Interested applicants: Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine
Have applied, but froze the application: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland

5. L’Union EuropÉenne Treaties
1957 – Treaty of Rome -> created the EEC
1986 – Single European Act -> establish single market
1993 – Maastricht -> establish EU, replacing EEC / political union (citizenship, foreign and internal affairs policies) / economic and monetary union
1997 – Amsterdam -> cooperation on employment, asylum and immigration
2001 – Nice -> enable enlargment

6. L’Union EuropÉenne
Lisbon -> new posts: President of the European Council and High Representative for Foreign Affairs / Charter of Fundamental Rights / “Citizen’s Initiative” / more democratic and efficient

7. L’Union EuropÉenne The Euro €
Countries joining after 2004 must adopt the Euro
Denmark and the United Kingdom have “opt-outs”
Was adopted in 2002
Current exchange rate is: $1.14
The European Central bank is located in Frankfurt, Germany

8. L’Union EuropÉenne Flag = 12 gold stars on an azure sea
Anthem = Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
“Europe Day” = 9 May, because on 9 May 1950 French foreign minister Robert Schuman put forth the idea of an European Union
Motto = ‘United in Diversity’

9. L’Union EuropÉenne
What are the benefits?
What are the draw backs?