2. Europe Day
On the 9th of May annually is Europe Day, but this year the celebration in the UK is slightly different because on the on the 23rd of June people of voting age will be voting in the UK whether to say in or leave the European Union.

3. What is the European Union?
The European Union - often known as the EU - is an economic and political partnership involving 28 European countries.
It began after World War Two to foster economic co-operation, with the idea that countries which trade together are more likely to avoid going to war with each other.
It has since grown to become a "single market" allowing goods and people to move around, basically as if the member states were one country.
It has its own currency, the euro, which is used by 19 of the member countries, its own parliament and it now sets rules in a wide range of areas - including on the environment, transport, consumer rights and even things like mobile phone charges.

4. How it works

5. The European Union: 500 million people – 28 countries
Member States of the European Union
Candidate countries and potential candidates 5

6. Founders of the European Union
New ideas for lasting peace and prosperity…
Konrad Adenauer
Alcide De Gasperi
Winston Churchill
Robert Schuman
Jean Monnet

7. The EU symbols The motto: United in diversity The European anthem
The European flag
Europe Day, 9 May

8. 24 official languages Български Čeština dansk Deutsch eesti keel
Ελληνικά
English
español
français
Gaeilge
hrvatski
Italiano
latviešu valoda
lietuvių kalba
magyar
Malti
Nederlands
polski
português
Română
slovenčina
slovenščina
suomi
svenska 8

9. Enlargement: from six to 28 countries

10. The big enlargement: uniting east and west
1989
Fall of Berlin Wall – end of Communism
EU economic help begins: Phare programme
1992
Criteria set for a country to join the EU:
• democracy and rule of law
• functioning market economy
• ability to implement EU laws
1998
Formal negotiations on enlargement begin
2002
Copenhagen summit agrees to a big enlargement of 10 new countries
2004
Ten new EU members: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
2007
Bulgaria and Romania join the EU
2013
Croatia joins on 1 July 10

11. Candidate countries and potential candidates
Country
Area
(x 1000 km²)
Population
(millions)
Wealth
(gross domestic product per person)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 51
3.8
7 600
Montenegro 14
0.6
10 900
Kosovo under UN Security Resolution 1244 11
1.8 :
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 25
2.1
9 100
Albania 28
2.9
7 500
Serbia 77
7.2
Turkey
783
76.7
13 800
The 28 EU countries together
4 272
507.4
25 700

12. The treaties – basis for democratic cooperation built on law
1952
The European Coal and Steel Community
1958
The treaties of Rome:
• The European Economic Community
• The European Atomic Energy Community
(EURATOM)
1987
The European Single Act: the Single Market
1993
Treaty on European Union - Maastricht
1999
Treaty of Amsterdam
2003
Treaty of Nice
2009
Treaty of Lisbon 12

13. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Binding for all the EU's activities
54 articles under 6 titles:
Dignity
Freedoms
Equality
Solidarity
Citizens’ rights
Justice 13

14. EU population compared to the rest of the world
Population in millions (2015) 14

15. EU surface area compared to the rest of the world
Surface area (x 1000 km²) 15

16. How rich is the EU compared to the rest of the world?
Size of economy:
GDP in trillions of euro (2013)
Wealth per person:
GDP per person (2013)

17. How does the EU spend its money?
2015 EU budget: € billion = 1.02 % of gross national income
Global Europe:
including development aid
6 %
Other, administration
Smart and inclusive growth:
jobs, competitiveness,
regional development
46 %
Security and citizenship, justice
2 %
Sustainable growth –
natural resources:
agriculture, environment
40 %

18. Climate change – a global challenge
To stop global warming, EU leaders decided in 2014 to:
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 % by 2030, compared to 1990
raise the share of renewable energy to 27 % by 2030 (wind, solar, hydro power, biomass)
increase energy efficiency by 27 % by 2030 18

19. The single market: freedom of choice
Four freedoms of movement:
goods
services
people
capital
The single market has led to:
significant reductions in the price of many products and services, including airfares and phone calls
more choice for consumers
2.8 million new jobs 19

20. Free to move ‘Schengen’
No police or customs checks at borders between most EU countries
Controls strengthened at the EU’s external borders
More cooperation between police from different EU countries
Buy and bring back any goods for personal use when you travel between EU countries

21. Going abroad to learn Erasmus+
Every year, more than young people study or pursue personal development in other European countries with the support of the EU’s Erasmus+ programme for education, training, youth and sport.

22. An area of freedom, security and justice
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Joint fight against terrorism
Cooperation between police and law- enforcers in different EU countries
Coordinated asylum and immigration policies
Civil law cooperation

23. The EU – a major trading power
% of global exports
goods
(2012)
% of global exports
services
(2012)

24. The EU is the biggest provider of development aid in the world
The EU provides over half of all development aid
Official development aid, billion € (2013)

25. Protecting consumers' rights
As a consumer you are protected by basic laws all over the EU, even when you travel or shop online
Clear labelling
Health and safety standards
Unfair practice in contracts prohibited
Passengers’ rights, such as compensation for long delays
Help to resolve problems

26. The 23rd of June 2016
The date above will be a very important time not just for the EU but also for Great Britain.
Whether we decide to stay a part of the EU will be down to the citizens of the UK