European Union WORD

8/2/2019 European Union WORD

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Celebrating the European Union:A Half Century of Change and Progress

Since the creation of the EU half a century ago, Europe has enjoyed the longestperiod of peace in its history. European political integration is unprecedented in history.

EU enlargement has helped overcome the division of Europe contributing topeace, prosperity, and stability across the continent. A single market and a common currency conditions for companies and consumers. EU has united the citizens of Europe while preserving Europes diversity.What is the European Union? Shared values: liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamentalfreedoms, and the rule of law. Largest economic body in the world. Worlds most successful model for advancing peace and democracy. A unique institution Member States voluntarily cede national sovereignty in manyareas to carry out common policies and governance.

Not a super-state to replace existing states, nor just an organization for internationalcooperation. Worlds most open market for goods and commodities from developing countries.Goals of the EC

To continue to improve Europes economy byregulating trade and commerce.

To form a single market for Europe's

economic resources.

As these goals were accomplished, other

goals were developed: Environmental movements Regulatory acts Human rights concerns.

Principal Objects of the EU

Establish European Citizenship

Ensure freedom, security, and justice

Promote economic and social progress

Assert Europes role in the worldBasis of the EUThe European Union is based on the rule of law and democracy. It is neither a new State

replacing existing ones nor is it comparable to other international organizations. Its

Member States delegate sovereignty to common institutions representing the interests of

the Union as a whole on questions of joint interest. All decisions and procedures are

derived from the basic treaties ratified by the Member States.


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EU InstitutionsEuropean Commission

27 Commissioners, representing the European perspective, each responsible for aspecific policy area.

EUs executive branch proposes legislation, manages Unions day-to-day businessand budget, and enforces rules. Negotiates trade agreements and manages Europes multilateral developmentcooperation.Council of the European Union

EUs main decision-making body, comprised of ministers of 27 Member States,representing Member States point of view. Decides on foreign policy issues. Council presidency rotates among Member States every six months.EU InstitutionsEuropean Parliament

Voice of European citizens members elected forfive-year terms. With the Council, passes EU laws and adopts EU budgets. Approves EU Commissioners.

European Court of Justice

Highest EU judicial authority. Ensures all EU laws are interpreted and applied correctly and uniformly. Can act as an independent policy maker but unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, theECJ can only deal with matters covered by the Treaties.What Does it Take to qualify for Membership in the EU:

1. The candidate country has achieved stability of institutionsguaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights andrespect for and protection of minorities.

2. The candidate country has the existence of a functioningmarket economy, as well as the capacity to cope withcompetitive pressure and market forces within the Union.

3. The candidate country has the ability to take on theobligations of membership, including adherence to the aims ofpolitical, economic and monetary union.

European Central Bank

The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank for Europe's single currency,the euro.


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The ECBs main task is to maintain the euro's purchasing power and thus pricestability in the euro area. The euro area comprises the 15 European Union countries that have introduced theeuro since 1999. The ECB operates independently from Member State governments.

United in Diversity - The uroEUROPEAN UNION DEPOSITORIES The European Union has a long standing tradition of maintaining EuropeanDocumentation Centers (EDCs) throughout the EU member countries, with a total of 275EDCs world-wide.

The EU presently supports over fifty depositories in the United States.

The earliest of these depositories were established with the creation of the ECSCin the 1950s.

EU Depositories Holdings

*Depositories and EDCs automatically receive one copy of amajority of EU produced items free of charge, in thedesignated language.

* The only items that are not part of this agreement are theTechnical Reports and the Press Materials issued by theCommission's Offices located outside of Brussels.

*The public can purchase official EU documents from the Officefor Official Publications (EU-OP). Purchase requests canbe made via the internet.

*There is a large cache of free current information on EU webpage.

OU has been an EU Depository since 1973

The uro1951:

In the aftermath of World War II, the aim was to secure peace among Europesvictorious and vanquished nations and bring them together as equals, cooperating withinshared institutions. Based on a plan by French Foreign MinisterRobert Schuman.


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Six founding countries Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy,Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed a treaty to run heavy industries (coal and steel)under common management.Treaty of Rome The six founding countries expanded cooperation to other economic sectors,

creating the European Economic Community (EEC) or common market. As a result, people, goods, services, and capital today move freely across the Union.

EU PUBLICATIONS

* The EU publishes on a multitude of topics in a variety of formats.Statistics, parliamentary reports, current events, debate,regulations, and news items all fall within the range of EUpublication topics.

*The type of publications includes periodicals, monographs, andannuals.

*The format of publications is either paper, fiche or electronic,with Internet being heavily utilized since 2000.

Types of Publications

EU publications fall into a number of EU-specificcategories: Green Papers, White Papers,Bulletins, Communications, Reports,Memorandum, and Press Releases.

The main division of these items is between GeneralInformation and Official Documents.

EUROPA

THE SERVER FOR THE EU

Born: 1995Name: europa.eu.intParents: EU-institutions

Characteristic:

Portal to all EU institution and bodiesMult-lingual (11 official languages)


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37 million visitors per month1.5 million documents consulted daily1.3 million documents available

Purpose:

Openness and transparancy Give citizens access to information Involve as many as possible in the decision making-process

http://www.europa.eu.int/

One-stop Shopping Fully searchable Divided into six main

areas: ABC

News Activities Institutions Official Documents Information Sources

50 Years of EU IntegrationEnlargement has: Inspired reforms and consolidated common principles of liberty, democracy,respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, and market economy. Enhanced the EUs weight in the world and made it a stronger and more attractiveinternational partner.

Addressing Global Challenges

Peace & Security

Works for global peace and security alongside the United States and multilateralorganizations including NATO and the United Nations. Undertakes humanitarian and peacekeeping missions and has provided militaryforces for crisis management around the globe.

Counterterrorism & Homeland Security

Taken steps to improve intelligence sharing, enhance law enforcement and judicialcooperation, curtail terrorist financing. Boosts trade and transport security to support the struggle against terrorism.

Democracy & Human Rights

Works globally for free elections and open democratic processes. Fights racism and intolerance at home and abroad. Campaigns globally against capital punishment.
http://www.europa.eu.int/http://www.europa.eu.int/


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Development Assistance & Humanitarian Relief

The EU and its Member States are the worlds largest aid donor, providing 55% oftotal official development assistance. Provides billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to more than 100 countries inresponse to crises and natural disasters.

Trade

European Commission represents all 27 EU Member States before the World TradeOrganization. Supports free trade and open markets, within the rules-based structure of the WTO,to promote growth and jobs in both industrialized and developing countries. The world's most open market for products and commodities from developingcountries 40% of all EU imports are from developing countries.

Environmental Protection

A leader in global efforts to protect the environment, maintaining rigorous and

comprehensive systems at home. Plays a key role in developing and implementing international agreements, such asthe Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. Executing a cap and trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Takes the lead in the fight against global warming with the adoption of bindingenergy targets (cutting 20% of the EUs greenhouse gas emissions by 2020).The European Union and the United States

Partners in Global Leadership

EU and U.S. work together to develop international standards: Fighting terrorism and transnational crime Advancing global trade liberalization Combating piracy and intellectual property violations Spreading benefits of globalization EU and its Member States are helping restore peace and stability in Afghanistan. EU and U.S. work together in the Middle East Quartet to advance the peaceprocess. When the EU and U.S. agree, others tend to follow.Shared Values and Responsibilities

Freedom & Democracy

Support free elections, good governance, human rights, and the rule of law aroundthe world.

Security

Cooperate to fight terrorism, limit the spread of nuclear weapons, and work forglobal peace.

Development

Together, EU and U.S. provide 80% of global development assistance and an evenlarger share of global humanitarian aid in times of disaster and conflict.


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A Dynamic

Transatlantic Economy

EU and U.S. together account for 40% of total global trade (more than $1.5 billionin transatlantic trade every day). The $3 trillion EU-U.S. transatlantic economy employs 14 million workers on both

sides of the Atlantic. In 2005, Europe accounted for roughly two-thirds of total global investment flowsinto the U.S. by far the most significant source of foreign investment in the U.S.economy.

European companies are the leading foreign investors in the U.S. The UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands top four sources of jobs createdby foreign investment in the United States.

American companies invest far more in EU countries than in Asia. U.S. businesses make 5 times the profit in the Netherlands - alone - as they make in

China. In 2005, EU investments in Texas alone surpassed all U.S. investments in Chinaand Japan, combined.Future of Transatlantic Relations EU and U.S. face common challenges that are global in origin and impact. Withglobal challenges, come global responsibilities.

EU and U.S., with our shared values and common interests, are natural partners togive a lead in four key areas: Promote peace, human rights and democracy worldwide. Confront global challenges, including security and non-proliferation. Foster prosperity and opportunity. Advance strategic cooperation on energy security, climate change and sustainabledevelopment.

Education & Research

EU and U.S. cooperate on science and technology education through: Exchange programs More than 700 institutional partnerships Vocational training Scholarship programs R&D cooperatives EU and U.S. provide joint or dual higher educational degree programs. EU funds Centers of Excellence at leading U.S. universities.