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The European Union Notes
c. Analyze the importance of Europe’s coastal location, climatic characteristics, and river systems regarding population, economic development, and world influence.
Quick Facts
• The EU is a confederation in Europe that allows the individual countries to retain their own governments while cooperating on other issues.
• There are currently 28 member nations in the EU
• The EU was primarily a western European organization prior to 1989 because of communism in the Soviet Union.
• The EU often tries to work together when dealing with world affairs & won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012.
Enlargement: from six to 28 countries
1952 1973 1981 1986
1990 1995 2004 2007 2013
Recent History of the EU
2007
Criteria set for a country to join the EU:• democracy and rule of law• functioning market economy• ability to implement EU laws
Formal negotiations on enlargement begin
Copenhagen summit agrees enlargement
10 new EU members: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
1992
1998
2002 2004
Bulgaria and Romania join the EU
CandidatesFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey
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2013 Croatia joins the EU
Current EU Info
•The Lisbon Treaty=most recent treaty
•The intention of this treaty is to make the EU:
•More efficient •More democratic •More transparent•More united on the world stage•More secure
•Challenges facing the EU now•Globalization•Demographics•Climate change
Benefit 1: The Euro
EU countries using the euroEU countries not using the euro
Can be used everywhere in the euro area
Coins: one side with national symbols, one side common Notes: no national side
Benefit 2: Single Economy
Four freedoms of movement:
goods
services
people
capital
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The single market has led to:
significant reductions in the price of many products and services, including internet access and airfares.
40% drop in price of phone calls from 2000-2006
2.8 million new jobs
Benefit 3: Free to move
“Schengen”:
No police or customs checks at borders between most EU countries
Controls strengthened at EU external borders
More cooperation between police from different EU countries
You can buy and bring back any goods for personal use when you travel between EU countries ©
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Benefit 4: Expanded education
Over 2 million young people have studied or pursued personal development in other European countries with support from EU programmes:
Comenius: school education Erasmus: higher education Leonardo da Vinci: vocational trainingGrundtvig: adult education Youth in Action: voluntary work and non-formal education
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Benefit 5: Environmental Action
Pollution knows no borders – joint action needed
EU action has helped bring:
Cleaner bathing waterMuch less acid rain Lead-free petrol Free and safe disposal of old electronic equipmentStrict rules on food safety from farm to fork More organic and quality farming More effective health warnings on cigarettesRegistration and control of all chemicals (REACH)
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