Transcript European Union - Mid-State Technical College

European Union
What is the European Union?
• Economic union of 25 European countries
• http://www.europa.eu.int/abc/maps/index_e
n.htm
Map courtesy of Europa Online:
http://www.europa.eu.int/abc/eu_members/index_en.htm
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
• 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
Organization
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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
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.
Europe Day
• May 9
• Commemorating the declaration by Robert
Schuman in 1950 which is regarded as
marking the creation of the European
Union.
Eu Jargon
• Brussels has decided…
• Copenhagen criteria
• Eurosceptic
Money
Euro coins and banknotes will be used
throughout the world
• 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
Euro Notes
On 1 January 2002, seven banknotes were
introduced in 12 Member States of the European
Union.
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
• 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
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.
For more information….
• Europa Online
Cairns Group
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Forum (APEC)
North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA)
U.S. Trade Agreements
• http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Sec
tion_Index.html