Презентация «THE EUROPEAN UNION» подготовлена студентами четвертого курса факультета иностранных языков

специальности «Английский язык» при изучении темы «Европейские и всемирные международные организации»

под руководством ст. преподавателя Гуд В.Г. . Данная творческая работа может быть в дальнейшем

использована в ходе изучения дисциплины «Общественно-политический дискурс» студентами 4 курса ф-та иностранных языков при ознакомлении

с темой «Международные организации и сообщества».

THE EUROPEAN UNION

EUROPEAN UNION FLAG

EU symbols• The European flagThe 12 stars in a circle symbolise the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony

among the peoples of Europe.

• The European anthemThe melody used to symbolise the EU comes from the Ninth Symphony

composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven.

• Europe DayThe ideas behind the European Union were first put forward on 9 May 1950 by

French foreign minister Robert Schuman. This is why 9 May is celebrated as a key date for the EU.

• The EU motto"United in diversity" is the motto of the European Union.

It signifies how Europeans have come together, in the form of the EU, to work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time being enriched by the continent's many different cultures, traditions and languages.

The motto in all official EU languages• Bulgarian: Единство в

многообразието• Croatian: Ujedinjeni u različitosti• Czech: Jednotná v rozmanitosti• Danish: Forenet i mangfoldighed• Dutch: In verscheidenheid

verenigd• English: United in diversity• Estonian: Ühinenud

mitmekesisuses• Finnish: Moninaisuudessaan

yhtenäinen• French: Unie dans la diversité• German: In Vielfalt geeint• Greek: Ενωμένοι στην πολυμορφία

• Hungarian: Egység a sokféleségben

• Irish: Aontaithe san éagsúlacht• Italian: Uniti nella diversità• Latvian: Vienoti daudzveidībā• Lithuanian: Suvienijusi įvairovę• Maltese: Magħquda fid-diversità• Polish: Zjednoczeni w

różnorodności• Portuguese: Unidade na

diversidade• Romanian: Unitate în diversitate• Slovak: Zjednotení v rozmanitosti• Slovene: Združeni v različnosti• Spanish: Unida en la diversidad• Swedish: Förenade i mångfalden

How the EU worksThe EU is a unique economic and political partnership between 28 European countries that together cover much

of the continent.

The EU was created in the aftermath of the Second World War. The first steps were to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries who trade with one another

become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict. The result was the European Economic

Community (EEC), created in 1958, and initially increasing economic cooperation between six countries: Belgium,

Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Since then, a huge single market has been created and

continues to develop towards its full potential.

One of the EU’s main goals is to promote human rights both internally and around the world. Human dignity, freedom, democracy,

equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights: these are the core values of

the EU. Since the 2009 signing of the Treaty of Lisbon , the EU's 

Charter of Fundamental Rights brings all these rights together in a single document. The EU's institutions are legally bound to

uphold them, as are EU governments whenever they apply EU law.

Living in the EU

• Each EU country is unique. This means that gross domestic product (GDP) and population growth – for example – can be very different from one country to the next. Each country also has its own approach to key policy areas such as education.

Size and population• The EU covers over 4 million km² and has 503 million inhabitants —

the world’s third largest population after China and India. By surface area, France is the biggest EU country and Malta the smallest.

EU administration - staff, languages and locationThe EU spends around 6% of its annual budget on staff, administration and

maintenance of its buildings.

Staff• The European Commission is divided into departments known as

Directorates General (DGs), roughly equivalent to ministries. Each covers a specific policy area or service such as trade or environment, and is headed by a Director-General who reports to a Commissioner. Around 33 000 people are employed by the European Commission.

• In the European Parliament, around 6 000 people work in the general secretariat and in the political groups. They are joined by Members of Parliament and their staff. In the Council of the European Union, around 3 500 people work in the general secretariat.

Languages• Multilingualism is central to the EU’s cultural diversity. The EU has 24

official languages. Choose a language to read and/or hear a short text in that language.

Locations• The European Commission is mainly based in Brussels and 

Luxembourg. It also has offices throughout the EU, and offices outside the EU. Agencies have been set up in many EU countries to deal with specific technical, scientific or managerial tasks. For example, the European Food Safety Authority in Italy provides independent scientific advice on all matters related to food safety.

• The European Parliament holds its Committee meetings in Brussels and its plenary sessions in Brussels and Strasbourg. Administration is located in Luxembourg. It regularly sends delegations to regions outside the EU.

• The Council buildings  are in Brussels, where most of its meetings also take place. Occasionally meetings of the Council of the European Union are held in Luxembourg. Meetings between the heads of state and governments – the European Council – take place in Brussels.

EU Presidents

European Parliament president –

Martin Schulz• Term: August 2014 - January 2017• Elected by: Members of the European Parliament• Role:

Ensures parliamentary procedures are properly followed

Oversees Parliament's various activities and committees

Represents Parliament in all legal matters and in its international relations

Gives final assent to the EU budget

• European Council president –

Donald Tusk • Term: December 2014 - May 2017• Appointed by: national leaders

(heads of state or government of

EU countries).• Role:

Leads the European Council's work in setting the EU's general political direction and priorities – in cooperation with the Commission

Promotes cohesion and consensus within the European Council

Represents the EU externally on foreign and security issues

• European Commission president -

• Jean-Claude Juncker• Term: November 2014 - October • 2019• Appointed by: national leaders

• (heads of state or government of EU

countries), with the approval of the European Parliament.• Role:

Gives political guidance to the Commission

Calls and chairs meetings of the college of the Commissioners

Leads the Commission's work in implementing EU policies

Takes part in G7 meetings

Contributes to major debates both in the European Parliament and between EU governments in the Council of the European Union

EU institutions and other bodies

• There are 3 main institutions involved in EU legislation:

the European Parliament, which represents the EU’s citizens and is directly elected by them;

the Council of the European Union, which represents the governments of the individual member countries. The Presidency of the Council is shared by the member states on a rotating basis.

the European Commission, which represents the interests of the Union as a whole.

Other EU institutions• Two other institutions play vital roles:

the Court of Justice of the EU upholds the rule of European law

the Court of Auditors checks the financing of the EU's activities.• The EU has a number of other institutions and interinstitutional bodies that

play specialised roles:

the European Central Bank is responsible for European monetary policy

the European Economic and Social Committee represents civil society, employers and employees

the Committee of the Regions represents regional and local authorities

the European Investment Bank finances EU investment projects and helps small businesses through the European Investment Fund

the European Data Protection Supervisor safeguards the privacy of people’s personal data

the Publications Office publishes information about the EU

the European School of Administration provides training in specific areas for members of EU staff

Member states of the EU (year of entry)

• Austria (1995)• Belgium (1952)• Bulgaria (2007)• Croatia (2013)• Cyprus (2004)• Czech Republic (2004)• Denmark (1973)• Estonia (2004)• Finland (1995)• France (1952)• Germany (1952)• Greece (1981)• Hungary (2004)• Ireland (1973)

• Italy (1952)• Latvia (2004)• Lithuania (2004)• Luxembourg (1952)• Malta (2004)• Netherlands (1952)• Poland (2004)• Portugal (1986)• Romania (2007)• Slovakia (2004)• Slovenia (2004)• Spain (1986)• Sweden (1995)• United Kingdom (1973)

On the road to EU membershipCandidate countries

• Albania

• Iceland

• Montenegro

• Serbia

• The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

• Turkey

The euro was introduced in 2002, replacing 12 national currencies. Six countries have since

joined; the latest entrant, Latvia, in 2014.