Transcript European Unionx

European
Union
European Union
• The EU is a unique economic and political
partnership between 28 European countries
that together cover much of the continent of
Europe.
Each individual
country has their
own flag, but this
is the flag for the
European Union.
Reason the EU was created
• It was created after World War II. The first
steps were to encourage economic
cooperation: the idea was for countries to
trade with one another and become
economically interdependent (need each
other) so they would be more likely to avoid
conflict (War).
At first countries joined
the European Union to
encourage trade with
member nations.
Why would a country
want to join the
European Union?
It has also helped raise the
standard
of living for member nations.
People can travel freely and
live and work anywhere in
the European Union.
Member nations agreed to do
away with tariffs when trading
with one another. (free trade)
Tariffs
The EU created a common
currency called the Euro.
This makes trade easier.
How does having a
common currency
make trade easier?
Money does not have
to be exchanged each
time it crosses a border
to a new country.
The EU has delivered half a century
of
peace, stability, and prosperity.
What does a country
have to do to join the
European Union?
To be a member of the
European Union a country
must be a democracy with
market economy and agree
to the rules of the EU.
• The EU is founded on treaties, it is
voluntary ( You don’t have to join.)
Remember that a confederation means that
each individual country has more power than
the central authority.
France
Italy
EU
Germany
Spain
An easy way to think about a
confederation is to think about a
community pool. You choose whether
you want to join. You must obey the
rules of the pool, but the lifeguard
can’t come to your house and tell you
what to do. You have the authority
over your own house.
Spain
Italy
Poland
Germany
E.U.
France
Portugal
Belgium
• Each house represents a member of the European Union.
• The pool represents the European Union
• The pool guy can not come to your house and tell you what to do.
• You must obey the rules of the pool to be able to join.
• http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
• http://europa.eu/
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
The total value of goods and
services in a country for a year.
What is the purpose
of GDP?
• GDP is used to show the wealth of a country.
• GDP can be used to compare the growth of a
single country from one year to the next.
• It can also be used to compare the wealth of
two or more countries.
GDP per Capita of EU Countries
The average income per person
(This is the GDP ÷ by the population)
What is the Purpose
of GDP per capita?
GDP per capita is used to
show how wealthy the
citizens are in a country.
What is literacy rate?
What is literacy rate?
The amount of people
in a country that can
read and write
How does literacy rate affect the
standard of the GDP?
How does literacy rate affect the
standard of the GDP?
A high literacy rate =
a better education=
a better job=
higher pay=
higher standard of living=
a higher GDP