Transcript Slide 1
A Union of sovereign European states, joining their respective authority into one cohesive economic and political state Most of Europe has come together to form an International Community in order to deal with today’s growing problems 27 Countries have joined the E.U. thus far: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the U.K. The E.U. has many goals: - promote peace inside and outside E.U. - provide member states with common economic markets - provide freedom of travel of goods and ideas throughout E.U. - celebrate and promote cultural diversity Founded as ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) and then EEC (European Economic Community) in 1957 order to keep peace between France and Germany Designed to provide a common marketplace for Europeans to sell their goods. Changed the name to E.U. in 1993 with Maastricht Treaty. In 1999, some countries began using the new currency: the Euro. Assembly of European Coal and Steel Community Euro notes and coins European Parliament Headquarters Strasbourg, France In accordance with the Maastricht Treaty of 1993, the E.U. is composed of three Pillars: - The European Community - The Common Foreign and Security Policy - Police and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (Matters in the second two pillars largely left to individual states) European Parliament U.S. House of Representatives Spanish MEP, Miguel Medina Ortega gives a speech European Parliament made up of 785 democratically elected Members (MEPs) Makes up half of the E.U.’s bicameral legislative branch Responsible for voting on legislation, but cannot introduce it themselves Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium Also known as the Council of Ministers Comprised of Prime Ministers of all member states Composes other half of legislative branch and also cannot introduce legislation (pertaining to 1st Pillar) Headed by a President elected every 6 months Council of the European Union U.S. Senate Council President and Czech Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek Commission President, Jose Miguel Barroso European Commission Commission President U.S. Executive Branch President of the U.S. Made up of 27 Commissioners chosen by the Council and approved by the Parliament Each member state has one Commissioner who is obligated to act in the interests of the E.U. Makes up the executive branch of the E.U. Responsible for proposing legislation, and keeping treaties Composed of two high courts: - Court of First Instance - European Court of Justice Each are composed of 27 Judges, one from each CVRIA, symbol for the E.U. High Courts member state The ECJ is the Highest European Court of Justice Court in Europe Practice Civil as opposed to Common Law U.S. Supreme Court Court of First Instance U.S. Federal Courts ECJ Courthouse in Luxembourg Foreign Policy - CFSP responsible for administering foreign aid, peace-keeping and oversight of human rights Security Policy - member states responsible for own defense - CFSP works in conjunction with NATO in times of conflict - encourages nuclear disarmament Common Foreign and Security Policy U.S. State Department E.U. CFSP High Representative Javier Solano Police and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters U.S. Justice Department & FBI Headquarters of the E.U. Police (Europol), The Hague PJC responsible for: - combating terrorism - helping to minimize racism and xenophobia - fighting drug cartels and organized crime Also responsible for: - cooperating with state law enforcement to make sure criminals are brought to justice Recently, the Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, was charged with several counts of fraud and corruption, and was removed by the legislature A similar situation occurred in 1999 when the European Parliament accused the Commission of Jacques Santer of fraud and budgetary mismanagement A Committee of Independent Experts was assembled to investigate inconsistencies in 1996 budget Committee found a handful guilty of wrongdoing, and the rest of being unwilling to take responsibility. On March 15, 1999, Santer Commission resigned The following Commission enacted policy outlawing fraud and setting up oversight office (OLAF) Rod Blagojevich Head of the E.U. Commission 95-99, Jacques Santer •Although the Blagojevich scandal was a black eye for Illinois, I believe the speedy response of the State Legislature and of now-Governor Pat Quinn spared Illinois from any lasting infamy. E.U. has strict regulations for agricultural quality control, treatment of livestock and restriction of genetically modified organisms The E.U. promotes Common Agricultural Policy Most of E.U. land is arable farmland E.U. is devoted to preserving Europe’s ecology in addition to agriculture Map of High Nature Value Farmland within the European Union CAP Logo Breakdown of E.U. budget in 2006. Agriculture = 47% CAP has several objectives: - increase productivity - stabilize markets - preserve traditional agriculture - secure availability and price of goods Responsible for 46.7% (2006) of E.U. spending (EPHA) Criticized for rewarding large farms instead of subsistence farms E.U. does not accept U.S. biologically modified corn or soybeans. While these crops are more efficient and resistant to pests, many raise concerns about their safety. The E.U. has sponsored the Co-Extra program to investigate coexistence of GM and non-GM crops. The use of bovine growth hormone is banned by the European Union. Co-extra, an E.U. panel on the research and safety of GMOs Bovine growth hormone is banned in the E.U. as it is unhealthy to cows. Many raise concerns that feeding livestock antibiotics leads to more resistant bacteria in humans. Like the European Union, Illinois is almost 80% farmland (Dept of IL Ag) Illinois is the second leading producer and exporter of maize and soybeans in the country Illinois is the birthplace of modern agriculture: John Deere invented the steel plow here in 1837. The State recently launched an initiative to provide subsidies to local markets to encourage domestic sales. (Dept of IL Ag) Map of High Value Farmland in Illinois Deere’s steel plow enabled more efficient farming in hilly, rocky areas like Greece, Sicily and Spain Illinois is a proponent of GM crops, while the E.U. will not accept them E.U. Co-Extra Panel found that GM and non-GM can coexist but may still be unsafe CAP forces food prices too high and costs to much for its output (46.7% of budget vs. 3% of GDP) Morrow Plots at the University of Illinois, first experimental test field Possible solutions for policy makers: - Illinois and the U.S. must reduce dependence on GM crops and end conversion of corn into ethanol - U.S. must ban bovine growth hormone - E.U. must further explore GM crops that have been deemed “safe” - CAP must be reworked so that most subsidies do not go to large commercial farms Steam cooling towers Locations of nuclear facilities in and around France Euratom originally set up by Treaty of Brussels in 1967 to combat a Middle East oil embargo Currently makes up 30% of the E.U.’s nonimported energy However, it imports 97% of its uranium (EU energy) France is by far the leading consumer of nuclear power in the E.U. Coal makes up more than 20% of E.U.’s nonimported energy (EU energy) E.U. still imports 55% of its total energy, 85% of which in the form of oil and natural gas E.U. plans to phase out 20% of fossil fuels by 2020 and 50% by 2050 Availability of fossil fuels is uncertain following uneasiness with largest supplier, Russia E.U. Commission President, Jose Miguel Barroso with Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin An ambitious energy grid that would provide solar and wind power to Europe and North Africa Renewable energy sources currently make up 14.6% of non-imported energy, or 7% of E.U.’s total (wikipedia) The E.U. plans for largescale wind energy, solar energy and bio-fuel projects called the Strategic Energy Technologies Plan Finally, they plan to make the energy grids throughout smarter and more streamlined. Illinois derives the majority of its energy from coal and nuclear power - Illinois has the largest supply of coal in the U.S. and coal is a billion dollar a year industry (IL A view of Argonne National Laboratory (Fermilab) Dept of Commerce) - Nuclear power first tested at Argonne Nat’l Laboratory outside Chicago Regulating coal power and nuclear energy and their respective markets were some of the E.U.’s first tasks Today, the two are only a quarter of Europe’s total energy, and are being phased out A coal mine in Coulterville, IL Illinois must gradually phase out coal in favor of renewable, more environmentally friendly energy sources in order to stay competitive internationally The E.U. has been swift in generating policy to slow further global warming In 2007 the Council laid out these plans for the future: - cutting 20% of greenhouse gasses by 2020, 50% by 2050 - 10% bio-fuel use by 2020 - improve relations with Russia - development of the SET Plan - establishment of AfricaEurope energy partnership The U.S. is the only Western non-signer of the Kyoto Protocol Role of the U.S.- The E.U. is miles ahead of us on energy policy. We must sign the Kyoto Protocol to show our commitment and pass legislation to limit greenhouse gasses. We must also develop renewable energy sources with money allotted by the stimulus. European Central Bank, Frankfurt, Germany Only one main objective: keep inflation down The European Central Bank is responsible for monetary policy European Central Bank President, Jean Bank is designed to be Claude Trichet independent from European European Bank political forces Central Bank President U.S. Federal Reserve + Treasury Dept. Chairman of the Federal Reserve Countries in gold accept the Euro as their primary currency Euro notes and coins Designed to be the standard currency of the E.U. Accepted by 16 of the 27 member states, the “eurozone” Was originally intended to match dollar, however has outperformed it Was introduced as an accounting currency in late ‘90s, becoming print currency on January 1, 1999 The E.U. has a single market and a customs union between all states - freedom of movement of goods, services, people and ideas - no internal tariffs - tariffs on goods entering the market to protect domestic prices European Economic Community boasts world’s highest GDP Stability and Growth Pact allows Commission and Legislature manage fiscal policy The E.U. is home to many financial centers Per capita Gross Domestic Product (blue is high) In an International Role Chicago is a leading contender for the Olympics in 2016. This would put The Windy City in the forefront of the global community, leading to greater investment An Olympics in would encourage long-awaited repair of infrastructure A proposed new Olympic Stadium Barack Obama was, the 44th President of the United States, is the first African-American to hold that office One of the smartest, maybe the most eloquent President yet Sees America as member of the International Community His policies hope to bring us out of this recession and encourage new technology, promote environmentalism, bridge the gap between rich and poor and renew the status of the United States as a leader in the global economy. One of my objectives was to inform the listener of who, what, when, where and how, but also why? Who- European politicians and policy makers What- The European Union, a Commonwealth of the European nations When- Now Where- 27 member states of Western and Eastern Europe How- Through treaties and alliances, these countries have united to form one country Why?- To pool resources and authority in order to solve the world’s economic, humanitarian and environmental crises and to ease the transition into a global economy and preserve cultural traditions. It was my goal in this presentation to inform the viewer about the European Union so that they would be better able to understand and appreciate the time we live in. The E.U., upon the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, will become even more influential. Illinois, as home of Barack Obama and possible site of the 2016 Olympics has a chance to become an economic powerhouse in the 21st Century. Yet we must not forget the challenges we have ahead of us: recession, poverty, global climate change. We need forward thinkers like those in Washington, Brussels and Strasbourg to help guide us on our way. 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