An introduction to the EU.

International Culture 2012.

1) Expansion of EU- look at how the EU has expanded over the years.

2) History of the EU, using your homework

3)objectives of the EU

4) institutions of the EU- how it operates, politically, legally and economically.

Don’t worry about writing everything! You will be emailed a copy of this presentation after the lesson!

1) Expansion of EU.

In pairs, identify the countries in each stage of EU expansion.

EU expansion.

In pairs identify all the countries in the EU.

Turkey will be the first Muslim country, Do you think that’s a good thing for the EU?

Which stage was the biggest?

The 2004 Eastern Expansion

What were these countires before?Soviet bloc, therefore Communist.

Which South American country is a member of the EU?

French Guyana as it’s a territory of France.

Homework

In groups check your answers to HW.

Homework1. 1951: The European Coal and Steel Community is established by the six

founding members

2. 1957: The treaty of Rome establishes a common market

3. 1973: The Community expands to nine member states and develops its common policies

4. 1979: The first direct elections to the European Parliament

5. 1981: The first Mediterranean enlargement

6. 1993: Completion of the single market

7. 1993: The Treaty of Maastricht establishes the European Union

8. 1995: The EU expands to 15 members

9. 2002: Euro notes and coins are introduced

10. 2004: Ten more countries join the Union

Homework Questions1. Why did a number of European leaders become convinced that they had to unite

economically and politically?

2. Who were the six countries that formed the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)?

3. For how many years are members of the European Parliament elected?

4. When did the member “states” of the European Union (EU) finally remove all of the barriers to trade (I.e., no tariffs, a Single Market)?

5. When did the Euro it come into use?

Stop another conflict and bring nations together as equals, cooperating with shared institutions.

Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxemburg and the Netherlands.

5 years

1st July 1987

1999 for financial transations, 2002 for regular use

What are the images on the notes?

Each represents a different architectural style:

classicalRomanesque

Gothic

Baroque & Rococo Art nouveau

modern

Renaissance

What do the Spanish call the 500 Euro notes?

The ‘Bin Laden’ because they are almost impossible to find!!

The objectives of the EU-

The EU has 6 objectives, you have to make a list of all of them by talking to other classmates.

The winner gets a prize.

EU objectives the promotion of peace and the well-being of the

Union’s citizens an area of freedom, security and justice without

internal borders. sustainable development based on balanced

economic growth and social justice a social market economy - highly competitive and

aiming at full employment and social progress. a free single market (or common market)- big free trade

area that includes movement of labour (EU member can live in any other country)

Combat social exclusion and discrimination, and quality between men and women.

In groups discuss which do you think is the most important objective, and why?

EU Structure of the EU: how it operates .,

European Council

European Parliament

European Commission

Council of ministers

watch the video and make notes on the functions of the following EU institutions:

The European Council

Consists of members of governments of all the EU countries.

At summits there is always a conflict between ministers doing best for their countries and best for Europe.

Meet 4 times a year

The European Parliament

Agrees on decisions from the Council

Is the most powerful if the EU's institutions.

Has overall control of EU objectives/ duties.

The European Commission

Takes the legislation from the parliament and enacts it.

Can propose new laws

Approves budgets

Has individual departments, e.g. fisheries

Can investigate the council of ministers

council of ministers

Consists of departments who discuss the different areas, e.g ministers of justice.

Meet every 3 months

Questions on video- answer in groupsWhich part if the most powerful?

European parliament

Which had its own departments and has meetings based on those departments?

Council of ministers

If a new law is to be created, what different institutions does it pass through?

1) European commission proposes new laws

2) European council discuss it

3) Parliament has to agree on it next

4) Then back to commission to make it happen

EU policy areas.

Fishing (see Greenland example)

Farming

Finance/ economics: single currency, common market . Is one block in the WTO

Aid- in 2010 gave 53.8 billion to projects in developing countries. Largest single donor in world.

Foreign policy- potential superpower. Growing as a 'soft power' through enlargement and aid.

However foreign policy is sometimes disunited, look at Iraq vs Kosovo (uni vs multilateralism.

Climate change- EU aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020.

In groups pairs guess the areas of national government which the EU controls, using the pictures as a guide:

Law- EU law is more powerful that domestic law in any member state.

Public health- aims to stop major illnesses and diseases and promote healthier lifestyles

SummaryEU is huge and constantly growing, economically powerful,

and has the potential to be a huge politically strong bloc.

EU is a common market, which means good, services AND labour can move without trade barriers.

EU’s objectives are peace, security and sustainable development with equality for it’s citizens.

The EU is controlled by the council of ministers, European council, European Commission and the European parliament.

Too good to be true?

This has given you quite a positive image of Europe.

Can you think any obvious problems we're having right now?

Next class- European Debt crisis. See pre-reading at EAN English.