1. THE EUROPEAN UNION

2. 1. The Beginning
The European Union (EU) began in 1952 not long after WWII. Members of this community met together to find ways to improve industry, trade and commerce (business) throughout Europe which was still suffering the after-affects of WWII.
* The six founding states were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands

3. By 1967 this group of nations called themselves the European Community
By 1967 this group of nations called themselves the European Community . Later they would change their name to the European Union or EU.
1973: The United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland joined
1981: Greece joined.
1986: Spain and Portugal joined
1995: Finland, Sweden, and
Austria joined.
2. EC Becomes the EU

4. 3. Early Goals In the early years of the EU, the main goals were simply to improve trade and commerce throughout Europe. To do this meant allowing people and goods to move freely from country to country. So, the EU established the Four Freedoms to improve trade:
Free Movement of Goods
Free Movement of Citizen Workers
Free Movement of Services
Free Movement of Capital (money)

5. This was no easy task!
Free movement of goods: meant no tariffs on imports coming from another European country.
Free movement of workers: meant no passports for workers traveling between countries
Free movement of services: meant letting companies expand their business from one country to another
Free movement of capital: meant that all the countries would use the same currency. Now that was the BIG problem. More about it later.

6. 4. Goals of the EU To continue to improve Europe’s economy by
regulating trade and commerce.
To form a single market for Europe's
economic resources.
As these goals were accomplished, other
goals were developed:
Environmental movements (What is pollution damaging?)
Regulatory acts (Are products safe?)
Human rights concerns. (Are workers being treated fairly?)

7. 5. Principle Objects of the EU
Establish European Citizenship
Ensure freedom, security, and justice
Promote economic and social progress
Assert Europe’s role in the world

8. 6. The EU Headquarters Brussels, Belgium
Selected as the headquarters of the European Union because of its central location in Europe.

9. 7. THE EURO
One of the most important accomplishments of the European Union is the establishment of a single currency called the euro.
Now countries that use the euro do not have to worry about exchanging currency. The euro makes trade easier, more efficient and less costly.

10. United in Diversity - The €uro

11. 8. CURRENT EU CHALLENGES 1. Enlargement:
*Twelve countries joined the EU since 2007, making 27 total
* There are 439 million people in the EU.
2. The Euro:
*The Common Currency for the EU Countries.
3. Multilingualism:
*23 official languages (as of 2007) for 27 countries.
4. Openness, Access and Transparency:
*How to get the documents to the people?
5. Safety & security of Europe:
*Against terrorism.

12. ENLARGEMENT 10 more countries became EU Member States in 2004
Cyprus - 3 July 1990
Malta - 16 July 1990
Hungary - 31 March 1994
Poland - 5 April 1994
Slovakia - 27 June 1995
Latvia - 13 October 1995
Estonia - 24 November 1995
Lithuania - 8 December 1995
Czech Republic - 17 January 1996
Slovenia - 10 June 1996

13. 25 EU COUNTRIES (2004) Austria Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom

14. 1951
Founding Members
Belgium
France
Germany
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands

15. 1973
Denmark
Ireland
United Kingdom

16. 1981
Greece

17. 1986
Portugal
Spain

18. 1995
Austria
Finland
Sweden

19. 2004
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Poland
Slovakia
Slovenia

20. 2007
Bulgaria
Romania

21. Candidate Countries Potential
Croatia
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Turkey
Potential
Albania
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Montenegro
Serbia including Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution 1244

22. Trade
The EU supports free trade and open markets to promote growth and jobs in both industrialized and developing countries.

23. 9. Peace and Security
One of the EU’s main goals is to create a peaceful and stable environment between European countries.
But it also works for global peace and security . It often supports the United States and other countries in the struggle against terrorism around the world.