Transcript Slide 1
The European Union What is the EU ? • A “family” of 27 European countries What is the EU: The Origins • The old dream of European brotherhood • From enemies to “Family” • From war to peace What is the EU: The Origins • Making war unthinkable among Europeans • Together managing main materials used in war: coal and steel What is the EU: Its birth • 9 May 1950: Schuman calls for a European Coal and Steel Community • 6 founding States decide to share and comanage coal and steel. What is the EU: Its birth • The 6 founding States decide to share and comanage other policy areas and to build up an economic union (Treaty of Rome, 1957) • Other members joined gradually in the following years A few facts • 27 Member States • Some European countries would also like to join • Others prefer not to join for the time being, like Norway and Switzerland A few facts • The EU is over 10 times the size of Japan A few facts • The total population of the EU countries is approximately 4 times the population of Japan. Almost 500 million What the EU means for its citizens • More and more laws that citizens have to follow are decided in Brussels, by the 27 Member States What the EU means for its citizens: examples Cheap and easy flights around Europe EU laws pushing for: • The opening of more routes • Lower prices What the EU means for its citizens: examples Mobile phones EU laws pushing for: • Investment in research • Making mobile phones work all around Europe • Lower Prices Previously different systems in each country, a common one now. How it is organised: The institutions • The European Commission: common interest of the Union, proposes legislation ≈ government • The European Parliament: represents the people, decides legislation ≈ Diet • The Council: Ministers of the Member States, decides legislation (no equivalent in Japan) Unity in Diversity • The people of the EU are all different but united as Europeans • These differences make up European culture • The EU has 23 official languages: Dobre rano ! God Morgen ! Goedemorgen ! Good morning ! Tere hommikust ! Hyvää huomenta ! Bonjour ! Guten Morgen ! Kalimera ! Jo reggelt ! Buon giorno ! Labrīt ! Labas Rytas ! L-Ghodwa t-tajba ! Dzień dobry ! Bom dia ! Dobre rano ! Dobro jutro ! Buenos días ! God Morgon ! Some historical developments Completion of the single market in 1993, free movement of persons, goods, services and capital No need to show passports inside Schengen area Some historical developments The Euro • A single European currency • Introduced in 2002 • 15 countries use the Euro today • Bank notes are illustrated with examples of European architecture • One side of the coins is different in each Euro country, the other is the same for all Some historical developments Enlargement: • The fall of the Iron Curtain Reunification of Germany More countries joined the EU “family” in 2004 (+10 countries) and 2007 (+ Romania and Bulgaria) • This is how we came to be 27 Member States! More countries to join ? Some countries have declared that they want to join and are preparing for it, such as Turkey EU in the World: a trading power • EU is the main exporter in the world • EU is the second largest importer • EU is the third largest export market for Japan, and its third largest source of imports EU in the World Sharing the European way with the world • Culture of constant consultation and compromise • Global challenges to be handled together • Just as Japan and the EU will do with their partners at the G8 Facing Climate Change • Situation of emergency • EU in a leading position Responsibility of developed economies to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions all have to participate Helping the developing world Facing Climate Change Affordable, ambitious goal EU goals for 2020 • 20% of renewable energy • - 20% of GHG emissions • - 30% if others do their part Benefits from action • Lower dependency on imported energy • Better health for all • A new impetus for our economies EU in the World: top donor of development aid Development aid (Global solidarity) The EU provides 55% of total international aid Promotes peace, prosperity and stability in less-favoured parts of the globe E.g.: EU emergency and reconstruction help to Afghanistan The Lisbon Treaty • The functioning of the EU is based on Treaties, not on a constitution • Last Treaty agreed in Lisbon in December 2007 • For the first time, there will be an EU president • And a new EU “minister of Foreign Affairs” The Lisbon Treaty • Greater cooperation on more issues • More democracy and transparency • Fairer voting system and more efficient decision making To learn more about the EU: www.europa.eu • Suggestion: for junior high schools the following slide should substitute slides 21 and 22. Climate Change • Situation of emergency. If global temperature increases by more than 2°C: Sea-level rising, animal species disappearing, etc. • We can all contribute to slow down global warming: Switching lights off when not necessary, walking instead of driving cars etc.