European Union

1
European Union
2
What is the European Union?

• Economic union of 25 European countries
• http//www.europa.eu.int/abc/maps/index_en.htm

3

• Map courtesy of Europa Online http//www.europa.e
  u.int/abc/eu_members/index_en.htm

4
History

• 1951 European Coal and Steel Community
• 1957 Treaty of Rome established the European
  Economic Community (EEC)
• Called for creation of common market among six
  member states

5

• 1986 Single European Act set the creation of
  single market
• 1993 European Union (Maastricht Treaty)
• Created the three pillars of the EU
• Economic, social and environmental
• Foreign policy and military matters
• Justice and home affairs (crime)
• July 2003 Constitution drafted which would
  replace existing agreements

6
Organization

• European Parliament
• Commission initiates legislation
• Court of Justice ensures compliance with law
• Court of Auditors audits accounts
• Economic and Social Committee
• Committee of the Regions
• European Central Bank
• European Investment Bank

7
Symbols of the EU

• National Anthem
• Music from the last movement of Ludwig van
  Beethoven's Ninth Symphony Musical
• Arrangement Herbert von Karajan
• Recorded at Teatro da Trindade - Lisboa - 1994
• Orchestre d'Harmonie des Jeunes de l'Union
  Européenne, conducted by André Reichling.

8

• Europe Day
• May 9
• Commemorating the declaration by Robert Schuman
  in 1950 which is regarded as marking the creation
  of the European Union.

9
Eu Jargon

• Brussels has decided
• Copenhagen criteria
• Eurosceptic

10
Money

• Euro coins and banknotes will be used throughout
  the world

11

• Euro coins
• One side will show one of three common designs
  involving a map of Europe nad the twelve starts
• Other side will have a country specific design
  with the 12 stars around it

12

• Euro Notes
• On 1 January 2002, seven banknotes were
  introduced in 12 Member States of the European
  Union.

13
History of the Euro

• 1999 exchange rates were set among eleven
  participating countries
• Fixed exchange rates were set
• Euro became the official currency on paper, and
  other currencies were considered subdivisions of
  the Euro
• Greece joined on 1 January 2001

14

• 12 Member States of the European Union are
  participating in the common currency.
• Belgium Finland
• Germany Greece
• Spain France
• Ireland Italy
• Luxembourg The Netherlands
• Austria Portugal

15

• Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom are
  members of the European Union but are not
  currently participating in the single currency.
  Denmark is a member of the Exchange Rate
  Mechanism II (ERM II) which means that the Danish
  krone is linked to the euro, although the
  exchange rate is not fixed.

16
For more information.

• Europa Online

17
Cairns Group
18
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC)
19
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
20
U.S. Trade Agreements

• http//www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Section_Index
  .html