Transcript European Union May 9, 2011

European Union May 9, 2011
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
www.eurunion.org | www.facebook.com/EUintheUS | www.twitter.com/EUintheUS
Ambassador João Vale de Almeida with
President Barack Obama
History of the European Union
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
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The Original Purpose of the EU
To secure peace between
former enemies
How?
By controlling the
production of coal and
steel
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
www.eurunion.org | www.facebook.com/EUintheUS | www.twitter.com/EUintheUS
Key Milestones
1951
1957
1985
ECSC
Production of coal and steel put under
control of a High Authority
Treaty of Rome
Creation of the EEC and
establishment of the common
market
Internal Market
Freedom of movement of
goods, services, persons and
capital
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
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Key Milestones
1986
1989
1993
Single European Act
First major revision of the Rome
Treaty: Single Market and
European Political Cooperation
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Reunification of Germany and
democratisation of Eastern
Europe
Maastricht Treaty
Creation of the European
Union and the pillar structure
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
www.eurunion.org | www.facebook.com/EUintheUS | www.twitter.com/EUintheUS
The Treaty of Lisbon
- Entered into force in December 2009
- Amends current treaties without replacing them
Key improvements:
Democracy and
Transparency
Rights and Values
Visibility on the
Global Stage
Efficiency
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
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EUin
Today
TheThe
ECSC
1957
500
million
174 million
people
people
234 languages
languages
276 countries
countries
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
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The EU Today
7.5%
World Population
30%
World GDP
60%
World Official Development Aid
History of Enlargements
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
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Economic and Monetary Union
and the Euro
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
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History of the EMU
The Euro is the single currency of the
EU, introduced in 1999
Today 17 of the 27 countries use it
It has become an attractive world
currency like the US dollar
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
www.eurunion.org | www.facebook.com/EUintheUS | www.twitter.com/EUintheUS
The European Central Bank
Ensures price stability
Controls money supply and
decides interest rates
Works independently from
governments
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
www.eurunion.org | www.facebook.com/EUintheUS | www.twitter.com/EUintheUS
Major EU Institutions
European Commission
European Parliament
Council of the
European Union
European Council
European Commission
Executive Arm of the EU
Composition
27 independent members, one from each EU country
Functions
Proposes new legislation
Represents the EU on the international stage
Commission President
Jose Manuel Barroso
European Parliament
Voice of the People
Composition
736 MEPs from all member states
Functions
Decides on EU legislation together with CoEU
Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work
Council of the European Union
Voice of the Member States
Composition
One minister from each member state
Functions
Decides on EU legislation together with
parliament
Manages common foreign and security policy
Council President
Herman Van Rompuy
The EU-US Relationship
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
www.eurunion.org | www.facebook.com/EUintheUS | www.twitter.com/EUintheUS
Shared Values
Promoting peace, human rights and
democracy worldwide
Confronting global challenges, including
security and non-proliferation
Natural
Partners
Fostering prosperity and opportunity
Advancing strategic cooperation on
energy security, climate change and
sustainable development
Comparative Statistics
501
million
310
million
Population
US$
14.8
trillion
US$
14.3
trillion
GDP
1.8 mil
sq
miles
3.5 mil
sq
miles
Area
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
www.eurunion.org | www.facebook.com/EUintheUS | www.twitter.com/EUintheUS
Inauguration of new EU Delegation to the USA
September 2010