European Union. What’s the difference between Europe & the European Union? Europe European...

European Union

What’s the difference between Europe & the European Union?

Europe European Union

Current Member States…27 of them

AustriaBelgiumBulgariaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIreland

ItalyLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenUnited Kingdom

EU in 5 minutes

EU population in the worldPopulation in millions, 2007

497

1322

128 142

301

EU China Japan Russia United States

The European Union: 493 million people – 27 countries

USA population?

The area of the EU compared to the rest of the world

Surface area, 1 000 km²

EU China Japan Russia United States

16 889

9327 9159

4234

365

The EU symbols

The European flagThe European anthem

Europe Day, 9 May

The motto: United in diversity

23 official languages

Eight enlargements

1952 1973 1981 1986

1990 1995 2004 2007

Notice the pattern of growth.

What is the European Union?Collection of countries which are

economically dependent on each otherGoal is to eliminate trade barriers, promote

trade and give Europe a collective voice.

No more tariffs…

French Foods

German Cars

Italian Fashions

It is easier to for these itemsto diffuse acrosscountry borders.

No more border control…

What used to once look like this…

And when you needed one of these…

Now looks like this…

WARis how some would summarize Europe’s history.

List of wars in Europe since 1200 A.D

Why is it unlikly that there will be another major war in Europe today?

MONEY!

European countries today are so intertwined economically that it would devastate their economies to go to war with each other.

ECSC to EEC to EUSince 1950 many agreements have been made between the members, making them more dependent on each other1958 became the European Economic Community

1993 became the European Union

Additionally more countries have been added

1973- Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom

1981 – Greece 1985 – Greenland granted

“home rule” from Denmark and decided to leave

1986 – Portugal and Spain

1995 – Austria, Finland, and Sweden

2004 – Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia,

2007 – Bulgaria and Romania

2004

2007

2004

2004

1995

EnlargementNotice the movement

of membership gradually moving

Eastward…

What do all the members of the European Union have in common economically?

They are all developed countries.

Membership requirementsDemocratic law, respect for human rights

Competitive market economy“you like us, and we like you” feeling

Why are the Eastern European countries the last to join the EU?

2004 2007

Their economies were far behind Western Europe’s since they had Communist/command economies for almost 50 years.

West German Mercedes and Volkswagon

Russian Lada and East German Trabant

BenefitsEach country’s economy is

stronger by being a member (their money is more valuable around the world, especially if they use the euro)

Together the EU has a larger “voice” to speak to the rest of the world

Free movement of workers

The euro – a single currency for Europeans

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

How rich is the EU compared to the rest of the world?

EU China Japan Russia United States EU China Japan Russia United States

10 793

1 326

3676

468

10 035

24 700

6 400

27 800

10 000

37 300

Size of economy: Gross Domestic Product inbillion of euros, 2006

Wealth per person: Gross Domestic Productper person in Purchasing Power Standard, 2007

Lack of bordersThis speeds assimilation of culture since

people are encouraged to travel more often and perhaps even live in other countries within the EU

Increases the need to learn more than one language

Security risks?

Why wouldn’t you want to join?

Non-MembersSwitzerland – has a strong economy that

it believes would not benefit from joining the EU, has a desire to be neutral in international disputes

Norway – wants to protect, not share, its fishing waters, and oil revenues since this is a large portion of its GDP… has actually applied a few times but always withdraws application because Norwegians voted against joining

Future Members?

Croatia, Macedonia, and Turkey are in the

application process

MoroccoWhy are they not in the EU?

Their application has been denied on the basis of geography.

Where is Morocco?

Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia Iceland – people may not want to

join; fishing rights (33% in favor)

Montenegro – waiting…they want to join

Serbia – issues with recognizing Kosovo. Some think the EU is trying to use EU membership as a bargaining chip.

Macedonia

Why has Macedonia not been accepted yet?

It’s all in the name.

the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)

TurkeyWhy are they not in the EU?

Geographic reasons Only part in Europe

Size (would be 2nd largest EU country)Religion (unofficial reason)

The world wide recession since 2008s strained relations in Europe.

The Germans have poured billions of euro’s in to Greece to keep the economy from collapsing.

Lavish social programs and early retirements are breaking the Greek government as they go deep into debt.

Many European countries are simply spending more money than they have.

The Greek economy would have collapsed if the Germans hadn’t bailed them out.

The future of the EU, like the USA, depends on working out of the worldwide recession.

That can only happened by cutting spending, raising taxes, or a combination of both.

What would you do?